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Oncology Check-in

On days when Sherryl has chemotherapy, she sometimes gets updates from staff at the Marin Cancer Institute.  She's come to call those conversations "check-ins."  Today was one of those days. 

Sherryl learned some good news during today's check-in.  Her tumor marker, which has vacillated between 34.4 and 57, is back down to 35!  This number indicates Sherryl's system is responding well to chemotherapy treatment.  Sherryl also learned today that she is "a bit anemic," but none of her healthcare providers are concerned at this time. 

Following several days of fun activities, including an annual day trip to the Gravenstein Apple Fair in Sebastopol last Sunday as well as spending wonderful time with family and friends, Sherryl's spirits are high and she feels more energetic than she has in some time.  Her appetite is very good, and, in conjunction with beginning physical therapy, she has been doing a lot of walking the past several days. 

While the accumulative effect of chemotherapy may tire her in the next week or two, Sherryl is clearly focused on ensuring her life is full of quality, love, creativity, and joy.

No Pneumonia, Chemotherapy Continues

Sherryl's doctors told her the chest x-ray indicated her lungs look really good and that she did not have pneumonia.  Her cough has subsided, and another round of chemotherapy was administered on Wednesday.  Two more weeks to go (one chemo treatment per week), then another scan will be performed to gauge progress following treatment.    

Sherryl began physical therapy today and enjoyed every moment of it.  She would like to extend very special thanks to Kristen and Eric Nelson, aka, Audrey's and Cole's parents. 

She has thoroughly enjoyed the break from chemotherapy, has relished having more energy, and enjoyed spending two mornings at day care earlier this week.  Her appetite is very good these days and she is savoring special cravings.    

Feeling an increased level of energy, Sherryl has also had the opportunity to spend some wonderful time with friends and family, including Erin, a college student and long-time friend, who has been working at daycare this summer. 

As some members of our family head to Tahoe, Sherryl has decided it better not to make the trip this year.  We'll be sure to bring back for her a found treasure or two, and we're all looking forward to having her join us next year.

Call for Photos:  For those who are willing and able to do so, please consider photos you've taken and would agree to have included in an album on Sherryl's website.  Please send digital image files to [email protected].  Thank you!

Sherryl Attends a Very Special Celebration

Sherryl woke up this morning feeling so great that she spent time in the backyard watering the plants -- and she enjoyed every moment of it.  She was thrilled to feel well enough to attend a special family celebration.  Our Auntie Joanie (AJ), aka Sister Joan, celebrated today her 50th Jubilee as a Dominican sister. 

To honor this milestone, which AJ shared with other sisters also celebrating jubilee years (40, 50, 60, 75, and 80!), an afternoon mass was held at St Raphael Church followed by an outdoor reception under an umbrella-shaped lilac-covered arbor on the Dominican Sister's property adjacent to Dominican University.  Sherryl thoroughly enjoyed visiting with family and long-time friends.  Home again, she's resting well and is optimistic her energy will continue through this next week.

Fifty years ago, when AJ entered the convent, the world was very different.  Here is a snapshot of 1957:

• Dwight D. Eisenhower was inaugurated for a second term as President of the United States; Richard M. Nixon was Vice President.
• The U.S. population was 171,984,130 and life expectancy was 69.5 years.
• Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat was published.
• Elvis Presley was 22 years old and bought Graceland for $100,000.
• John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the first time, three years before forming the Beatles.
• United States Marine Major John Glenn flew an F8U supersonic jet from California to New York in 3 hours, 23 minutes and 8 seconds setting a new transcontinental speed record.
• Orvill Faubus, Governor of Arkansas, called out the U.S. National Guard to prevent African-American students from enrolling in Central High School in Little Rock.
• The Ford Motor Company introduced the Edsel on what the company proclaimed as "E Day."
• Toyota began exporting vehicles to the U.S., beginning with the Toyota Crown and the Toyota Land Cruiser.
• The Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth.
• Katie Couric, Caroline Kennedy, and LeVar Burton were born.
• Humphrey Bogart, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Joseph McCarthy died.
• The New York Giants moved to San Francisco, and the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.
• "West Side Story" and "The Music Man" opened in New York.
• The Top 100 Songs of the year included "All Shook Up" and "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley, "April Love" by Pat Boone, "Tammy" by Debbie Reynolds, and "Wake Up Little Susie" by the Everly Brothers. 

While times certainly have changed since 1957, what has not changed in 50 years is Auntie Joanie's commitment to her vocation as a Dominican sister.  At the reception today, one family friend remarked that the day would have been complete if a female had officiated the mass.  AJ would have agreed as she is and always has been a very progressive member of the convent.  If female priests are sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church, you can bet Sister Joan Hanna, O.P. will be the first to celebrate mass in that capacity.   

In honor of Sister Joan's spiritual devotion, the following clip from the movie "Sister Act" (1992) contrasts how times have changed in her 50 years as a Dominican sister.  While stained glass windows, white tapered candles, and gilded crucifixes have been constant icons of Christianity, how religion is celebrated has evolved.  Be sure to watch for two shots of "His Eminence's" hands, as they hint of changing times as well. Happy 50th Jubilee, Auntie Joanie!

Mom and Patchwork Fields of Green

Sherryl had a very restful weekend and spent Saturday night at Arleen's house.  She tells us she's tired, which is in keeping with the cumulative affect of chemotherapy, but she also tells us she is not feeling one bit of pain.  Hurray!!!  This next week is Sherryl's week off the chemotherapy cycle, so she is hoping her energy picks up.

She did feel well enough to get out and about this weekend; much time was spent in the isles of Trader Joe's.  A host of Sherryl's favorites were on the shopping list, including seasonal fruit and vegetables.  Artichokes were the main course for dinner Saturday night and a three-bean salad with a tangy vinaigrette dressing rounded out the menu.  Sunday's outing included a visit to Powell's Sweet Shoppe which recently opened in downtown Novato.  A visit to this store is a trip down Memory Lane as viewed through the lens of assorted confections -- nearly all the candy and gum you can possibly remember from your childhood are there, including chocolates Sherryl enjoyed when she lived in England.  Very nostalgic.

Today would have been Mom's 76th birthday.  Amazing to consider since both our parents were always so very youthful.  We know they never ever would have seemed elderly regardless of their biological ages; "forever young" is a more appropriate measure of time for them.

Let's continue our virtual vacation together.  This time we'll visit a place near and dear to our mom's heart, and one she visited a few times in her life.  Mom and Sherryl were there together, along with Dad and Nadine.  Arleen was a student at Cal at the time, so couldn't join the rest of the family.  Mom's traveling companions on an earlier trip included her own mother and father as well as our Auntie Pattie. 

Enjoy with us now the lilt of fiddles and flutes, the patchwork fields of green and jagged coasts of blue, and the faces and culture of a land our maternal grandparents once called home.  Happy Birthday, Mom. 

Chemotherapy Continues

Sherryl feels tired this week and is experiencing some nausea following last Friday's round of chemotherapy.  She will receive more chemotherapy tomorrow, this time with Avastin. 

As referenced by Sherryl's good friend Janet in her comments a few days ago, this is the time of year when Richard and Sherryl head to Trinity for a well-deserved vacation.  Sherryl will miss this year's camping trip very much, and will miss spending time Janet and her husband Mark.  We are hoping she feels well enough to join many of us in Tahoe next month.  For now, it's one day at a time.

When Sherryl was in the hospital for pain management, she was navigated by one of the angels in the cancer unit through an adventure by way of virtual imagery.  She later described to us in detail the images and feelings she experienced, and told us, "It was so awesome." 

Readying ourselves for the same wonder this imagery evoked in Sherryl, let's all grab each of our children by the hand, step carefully into one of the perfectly painted little boats designed to appeal to everyone's inner child, and take a virtual vacation together . . .