Sherryl has been feeling better the past few days and her energy has been pretty good -- just in time to celebrate another Fourth of July get-together at her house. The entire family was there. After a yummy barbecue, we gathered on the front deck where we again watched in silence close to a dozen fireworks displays occurring simultaneously from Vallejo to San Francisco. It's always a beautiful sight. And the party continued into Sunday as several family members stayed overnight at Sherryl's house. We love tradition, and sometimes the simpler it is, the more treasured it becomes. Here's a musical reminder that it is the simple things in life that make it so precious.
Chemo begins again this week, so Sherryl is taking full advantage of feeling great. This weekend's activities included dinner with a good friend, shampooing the carpet at day care, babysitting for a few hours, grocery shopping, planning her next painting project at home, and getting lots of rest. This week brings more routine, and that's always good.
It's been too long since we've listened to Sherryl's favorite music, so here one of her songs. Enjoy!
Sherryl seems to be metabolizing the new chemotherapy pretty well. She had a good weekend. Even before Friday, her resilience kicked in by way of humor. We didn't know until last week that she gives names to each of her chemotherapy medications. For example, Adriamycin was named Adrian. And now that it has stopped working, Sherryl told us, "Adrian broke up with me. We spent a lot of time together -- since before Halloween. I really wanted that relationship to last."
The new chemotherapy is called CMF by both Sherryl and her team of providers. We won't say here what Sherryl says the "MF" stands for because this is a family-oriented website. Given that hint though, it shouldn't take very much imagination to figure out part of the name for this one. Regardless of its name, Sherryl wants to become very, very good friends with CMF.
From time to time, Sherryl speaks about the cancer cells that are still inside her body. Last week she told us that she wants to "kick the cells' little butts." Really? Gives a whole new image to the detailed cell anatomy we learned in high school biology, doesn't it?
Sherryl just ended her first two-week cycle on CMF and now she'll go 2 weeks without any chemotherapy. Overall, Sherryl is feeling great and went for a long walk both Saturday and Sunday mornings. Beautiful spring California sun shone as Sherryl walked and talked about life and those she loves.
We'd insert here the "Walking On Sunshine" video by Katrina and The Waves, but, because there have been so many other videos posted here from the same era, some of you might begin to think we "live" in the 1980s. Nope, not us. Much. If you don't live in the 80s either, click on this link: Walking On Sunshine.
This week, RaRa reminded us that laughter truly is the best medicine.
Times Square in New York City is famous for its New Year's Eve parties. Even with the temperature below a freezing 32 degrees in The Big Apple, crowds amassed for this annual tradition. Along with the commentary by famous personalities, there were three songs that bellowed through the streets of New York City once the stroke of midnight had passed.
The first was a recording of "New York, New York" sung by Frank Sinatra and the third was a recording of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" sung by Izzy. The middle song was one of RaRa's favorites and one we've included here frequently.
As we wish you and your families a very Happy New Year, here is Louis Armstrong singing "What A Wonderful World." And may RaRa continue to shine in 2009!
Monday morning: Sherryl received a call from Nancy this morning and learned that her tumor marker has dropped from 283 383 to 127! Her tumor marker has not been that low in a very long time. (To follow the history of Sherryl's tumor marker, click here.) She is thrilled beyond words, and so are the rest of us! And now it's on with our lovely holiday season!
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The following update was written before Nancy's call to Sherryl.
RaRa is feeling so great these days that she just keeps going. In fact, she is wearing us all out! Her level of energy could not be more perfectly timed as there is always much to do during the holiday season. Decorating, gift-buying and wrapping, and food preparation are on the docket for both home and day care this week, and RaRa is on schedule to finish it all in time for the big day. Hurray for her!
Sherryl saw Nancy last Thursday and, after learning Sherryl's experiences over the past couple of weeks, a few options are on the table relative to chemotherapy treatment. The dosage can be lowered or the schedule can be rearranged. For the latter, what is currently 3 weeks on and 1 week off would change to perhaps 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off.
Sherryl and Nancy also discussed Zometa, which is causing some havoc with Sherryl's knees. Based on new information Nancy learned at a recent conference, changes in the prescribed treatment plan are being considered here, too.
As for blood work, tests show that, although she is not anemic, Sherryl's white blood cell count is low. She was told this is not uncommon and she only needs to continue prescribed therapies; there are no related proactive opportunities to improve the count. Sherryl had her blood drawn last week, too, which she has come to refer to as "giving blood." She should learn very soon the most current tumor marker.
She has two appointments scheduled for next week: "giving blood" on Christmas Eve and a round of chemotherapy the day after Christmas. In the meantime, be assured that RaRa is making spirits bright!
Our cousin Marie is doing a bit better, so thank you all for the prayers you're sending her way. They are working and very much appreciated. And, thanks to connections our Auntie Pattie makes with just about everyone in the world, Sherryl received an email from one of our cousins in Ireland!
For those of you visiting from "the old country," lest you think we've forgotten our roots, we've not! We're queuing up an Irish version of our mother Anna Mae's favorite Christmas carol, we're handing out hankies to Auntie Pattie and a few of us cousins who are known to cry at the drop of a hat (ahem, we'll start with Arleen, Nadine, Marie, and Jeanette, then others will join us!), and we're wishing an early Merry Christmas to those of you across the sea!
In honor of our relatives in Ireland, here are the Celtic Women performing "Oh Holy Night."
Sherryl's having a very nice weekend. Following several consecutive days of making sure she got plenty of sleep, she woke up very early Saturday morning, read her email, then headed out for the day. A baby shower, visiting with family, and shopping at a favorite discount store, The Dollar Tree, rounded out her afternoon. Then she returned home for dinner with Richard and a restful evening.
Sunday brings a full day at home. In addition to naps as needed and babying some back pain that is still present, Sherryl has many, many plans brewing. The holidays are on their way, so RaRa's imagination and creativity are heading for high gear. Isn't she just amazing?
While in The Dollar Tree, where music is piped through the store's speakers, one of Sherryl's favorite songs began to play. It's one we forgot to include in last summer's concert series for RaRa. We shouldn't forget this one, and RaRa loves the long version.
Sherryl's PET scan is scheduled for Thursday morning and she has a follow-up appointment with Nancy to learn the results on Monday, October 13. She's feeling relatively well with some fatigue, so she is getting lots of sleep and she's planning to have a low-key weekend.
We'll let you know as soon as we have the PET scan results. In the meantime, let's hold good thoughts as we listen again to one of Sherryl's favorite songs.
Sherryl met with Nancy yesterday and learned all her blood counts, in Sherryl's words, "continue to be wonderful." In the advent of radiation treatment, Sherryl's health care team anticipated the tumor marker would go up. Their prediction was correct. Prior to radiation, the tumor marker was 185. Yesterday, it was 234.
No change in treatment has been prescribed since continuing the same therapies should lower the tumor marker over the next couple of weeks. Sherryl will continue to take Xeloda cyclically and is scheduled to receive another dose of Zometa on September 5. A status check of the tumor marker, along with ongoing blood work, will occur in another 3 weeks.
As the summer draws to a close, Sherryl's spirits remain high. So, here is the last musical number in our summer concert series for RaRa. Another flashback, this time to the 1980s. So fluff up that rock star hair and tuck in those fullback shoulder pads. It's Queen performing "Bohemian Rhapsody."
Sherryl is feeling well these days and continues to work at day care on a regular basis. There have been no recent appointments with her medical team; a routine check-in is scheduled in the next week or two.
This weekend, Sherryl is joining Austin and Haley, with their mom Rachael, on a trip to visit Rachael's parents in the South Bay. Among other activities, they will be attending a little fair. Austin has informed RaRa he will be "hanging off [her] all weekend." Sherryl wouldn't have it any other way.
Continuing our summer concert series for RaRa, here's another one of her favorites. The song is a classic but the video could not be more late 1960s, as in "Psychedelic, man." So consider yourself warned.
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