Saturday, August 27

Candy Land

Yesterday was a chemo day. This time was the maiden voyage for my port, and much smoother sailing all around. Ed & Julie Turner from the church joined us, and we had a great deal of fun. They brought Candy Land for us to play. I've not made my rounds through the color coated board in a long time, so Julie and Matt both trumped me (I’ll get you Plumpy and your sugared plums too!). All of the nurses were amused, and at one point we were so lound (who ME? loud never) they shut our hospital room doors- so we wouldn't distrub the other patients.

Once Matt and I returned home I promptly fell asleep on the couch, while Mr. Krings became a lean mean laundry machine. I woke up in time to listen to our favorite NPR show This American Life and fold towels. This was our exciting Friday night on Chemo. On the agenda for today, picking up our co-op produce and maybe yoga at Glida's Club-- and lots more napping.

Big thanks to Ed and Julie for a fun chemo session on Friday!

Thursday, August 25

Schools In Session

Thanks for returning once again. Or, Welcome if this is your first time checking the site out.

This week classes resumed. It's my second and final year at UIC, upon completion in the Spring I'll graduate with a Masters in Social Work. This fall I'm be taking three classes that meet once a week. When not in class I'll be at my internship three days a week. I'm excited to get things started, but I’m always sad to see the summer coming to an end. As summer's go, I think I'm finally ready to write the best 'What I did on my summer vaction' paper ever.

Tomorrow is my second chemo treatment. Ed & Julie Turner parishoners at 1st UMC Arlington Heights, and fellow Cancer Ass Kickers will be joining us. They have partnered with us from the very beginning of this journey, and are great sources of strength and humor. I’m glad to have them on the team.

In other news. After four grueling Starbucks shifts, I've turned in my apron today. Sniff, Sniff. I wear out quickly, and I just couldn't keep up. It was a great experience. After I've defeated every single malignant cell in my body I'll consider returning. In the mean time I'll just have to get and line and pay full price for my Decaf Grande Vanilla Non Fat No Whip Stired Mocha.

Wednesday, August 17

back to life

Yesterday Matt and I embarked on another one of our daylong adventures to the hospital. I had a port placed in my chest so that the next time I go in for chemo I don't have to be poked five million times before we find a suitable vein. The port procedure was an out patient surgery, which I was mostly out of it for. The port is on my right side upper chest; I have two new scars that will run parallel with the scar from July's biopsy. I've spent much of the last day or so riding out the painkillers, and working on thank you notes from the wedding (almost done!).

Things are returning to normal here. I go back to working at Starbucks tomorrow (another one of those great 4.45 a.m. shifts), and next week school starts. I've purchased most of the books on line, and I'll be doing my annual school shopping after the professors tell me what I need. In the mean time my laptop will be sent out for a few small repairs. I will no longer be bogging from home as often, but I'll definitely keep on top of things.

All and all chemo treatment 1A wasn't so bad. I was tired and had an upset stomach for several days, most of that wore off after the first three days or so.
Thanks for all the groovy post cards!

Friday, August 12

one twelveth of the way there!

Chemo Session One Part A.
attendants: Kratt Mings, Kathy "Mom" Krings, Annie (music teacher and sis-in-law extraordinaire), and myself loaded up in Matt's little civic and went to Chemo today. We arrived to a crowded waiting room and used the time wisely. This is the first time I've seen Kathy post wedding, so we shared photos and filled each other in on our experiences of that day, and our honeymoon.ccIget called to have my vitals checked. Soon afterwards my room is ready, and the four of us cram into a tiny room- (or a very large closet with windows), with 2 recliners, 2 less comfortable looking chairs, a tv with a vcr, drawers and shelves filled with medical supplies, 2 iv racks, and what looks to be the evidence of another patient. Now I know that I'm not the only person in the entire world who has cancer right now, but I was really hoping for my own room- or even one of those hospital dividing curtains. None the less Mrs. Carlson was there when we got there and remained there when I was cleared to leave. As the room became over crowded Matt and Kathy would take turning chilling with the Chemo Queen.

The actual process of having the drugs administered really isn't all that bad. I had the most difficulty with the needles. Now I'm not afraid of needles, and my mother with attest that I have great veins (She, a professional hospital vampire, claims that she could hit my vein in the dark from across the room). So after the first two sticks do not work -I'm hurting and Kathy requests a new nurse to try. Nurse #2 tries twice and finally gets it in on the third try after proclaiming that I am tense, and that I need to relax my veins. (umm, not to be a complete jerk to this sweet lady but- I'M TENSE could be one of the milder adjectives I would choose to describe myself right now). Tuesday I'll be getting a a 'port' installed in my chest that will eliminate the needles and allow the nurses to administer the chemo through a value. Any way they got the IV started, then gave me a sample does of one of the drugs. We waited for an hour to see if I would have any adverse reaction- during which time we viewed the wedding video that our buddy Tonio-T shot. Once the hour or so had passed I was given a TON of anti nausea meds, and then the four 'gold standard' Hodgkin’s Chemo meds were given to me. Actual Chemo didn't take more than a little over an hour.

The experience wasn't horrible, or even bad, definitely annoying. On the lighter side, I feel fine now 6 hours after treatment, it was great to be surrounded by my new family members, I got my first super cool post card, and next time i'll know better what to expect. I may need a little help on tuesday. I have minor inpatient surgery that morning to insert the port, and much later that afternoon I have a CT scan scheduled. - Any one game for a day at UIC?

Thursday, August 11

Chemotherapy Starts Tomorrow!

About six years ago I embarked on a wonderful journey that took me half way across the globe for six months, and changed the way I will forever view the world. Today as I enjoy my last 'normal' day in the next six months, many of my questions and fears are similar to those I had when I departed Columbus, Ohio for Nairobi, Kenya. Questions like; What will I eat? What will things taste like? Who will I meet? Will they like me? What will it feel like? What will I look like? How will I change? Despite all the reading I did and all the pictures I saw nothing ever compared to the actual experience of being a college student in Africa. Similarly I know that all the reading and questions I've asked have helped me gather an idea of what this experience will be, nothing will compare to the experience.

Now that I have completed the several scans, tests, and shots I've finally received my full diagnosis. I have stage 2A Hodgkin’s (a really good prognosis). For the next six months I'll be going to chemo every other Friday. Dr. Chen is leaning towards me not having radiation (yah!). I'm told chemo will make me feel very fatigued especially the days immediately following treatment, and nausea is a common side effect (although it sounds like they've come a long way with the anti-nausea drugs). My taste may change, I'll probably loose my hair, I can't change the cat box (sorry cleo) or diapers, I can't drink, I need to avoid sick people and children. BUT I've always kinda wondered what my scalp looks like (and it's not forever), and through this I get to embark on journey (not as exciting as going to Africa) but a journey that will leave an even bigger impact upon who I am, for the better.

I'll try to blog on Sunday, and fill everyone in on all the juice details on what chemo is 'really' like. In the mean time this weeks chemo party consists of Ma-in-law extraordinaire Kathy (seriously, she's great) and Kratt Mings Chinese Super Spy- should be a good time. Much Love-- Megs!

Wednesday, August 3

Bone Marrow Biopsy & Ways to HELP OUT!

Today Matt and I returned to Dr. Chen's office for the first time post honeymoon for a bone marrow biopsy. This is a test where doctors take a very wide and long neddle insert it into one's hip bones, take a sample of marrow and samples of bone from both the left and right side. This is an in office procedure that took about a half an hour. They gave me demerol and a local anestic near the two 'insisions'. By far this was the most 'uncomfortable' of the tests thus far, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it sounds (pain killers are a wonderful thing).

New information that we've recieved would include that after a EKG, X-ray, and a Muggel test (I know it's not really called that, but I like the way this one sounds best) I will probably start Chemo Friday next week. (WOAH).

In other cancer related news I got my hair chopped off last night. I love my new hair cut (I'll try to post photos of this too), but I will need to get it cut shorter once again pre-falling out.

Again thanks to all who have offered support and help. The following is a list of possible ways you can lend a hand (if interested respond to the post):

Help we could use

  • PRAY!
  • Fun Mail- Please, save our mail box from the boredom of bills. Cool & Weird postcards are the best! Be creative! Please avoid the typical get well card's. (contact us if you’ve lost our mailing address).
  • Grocery runs- in the same line with cleaning, between jobs, doctors appointments, and just feeling yucky it’s happening on a meal by meal basis.
  • Rides- We’re happy to be a one car family, but we don’t want Matt to miss work for the not as important stuff- so rides occasionally would be great.
  • Cleaning our apartment- not that our place has ever been spotless, but vacuuming, dishes, cat box, and dusting have not been on the top of our list.
  • Chemo Party teams-- We haven’t quite figured out what Chemo will look like, but from what we’ve heard it will be a couple hours of being connected to a tube. So rather than twiddling thumbs we’ve decided to make it fun and game (themes will be announced by the ‘team captain’).

Tuesday, August 2

Hey There

I've just updated the blog with photo's from the wedding. We only took one roll of photos in Mexico (Hey! We were busy!)- and if you're good I'll post those too.
Click on wedding photo's for the images.

Love -- Megan

wedding ceremony photos

Kurt "The Opossum" Walking My Mom down the Asile

My lovely sister Gwen, as the Matron of Honor
Get a load of these hotties in suits!
Beautiful & Talented Anne






Raya the well practiced flower Girl.
Me and My Dad



Woah! It's been an amazing couple of weeks! The wedding was wonderful- it felt sureal. The reception truly lived up to the hype and it was a 'Bitchin' Hitchin,'"

Sunday Matt and I returned from Playa Del Carmen, Mexico where we spent a wonderful week (well, up until the end when we both got sick). Snorkelling, zipping over lakes, repelling into Cenontes (underground fresh water rivers found only in the Yuctan), eating wonderful rich food, shopping, and of course THE BEACH! We had a blast. Maybe we should have bought that time share :-) .

When we returned home we found our apartment had been booby trapped by my beloved parents and their buds John & Luanna. In addition to tons of yarn strung through out the entire space, there were loads of wedding gifts. When opening gifts more than anything we recieved there was just a great feeling of being loved and supported by countless numbers of loved ones. Thanks everyone!

Now that it's Tuesday we've begun back to the routine, we're both back to work. Matt is helping his church prepare for one HUGE rummage (french for crap'). I've been pulling shots at the 'bucks. Cruely I'm reminded that school starts on Aug 22 -only 3 more weeks of summer. Otherwise I have been sitting in waiting rooms for a CAT scan and a gallium test. Tomorrow we we see Dr. Chen again - I think for the bone marrow test, and on Thursday I go back to Nuclear medicine to have the results of the gallum test read.

Thanks to all for coming out to the hitching. I'll try to post photos.

Meg

ps-- I'm going in for the hair chop tonight!