Genetics

Well it is official; I’m on the downhill slide for chemo round one.  I had my 7th treatment yesterday.  It has also happened: I was forced to wear my wig today.  I’m not bald, but thinning and almost balding on the top.  So I thought it was time to get it out and wear it in public.  Thus far the reactions have been positive, but really what can people say? I mean they have to be nice to a cancer patient right???

Arrington says I look like a rock star and Delaney was scared of me this morning and just kept looking at me and then away.  She even had Gavin hold her, and that is rare, so she wasn’t sure what mommy had done to herself.  It was cute though.

Last week did get me down some and I can tell the treatments are slowly wearing on me but I’m still grateful I have more good than bad days.  I’ve been very dizzy after treatment 6 and 7.  Then on Friday I was planning to go to the track meet and woke up feeling horrible: nauseous, dizzy, migraine, and achy.  I thought surely if I shower and get ready I’d be OK, but I wasn’t.  So I had to miss my first event due to the effects of treatments.  Needless to say I was disappointed but Gavin took it OK.  He had people there watching him though.  Mom took the girls, since I was out of commission until about 2 PM.  He had fun and that is what matters but I was upset because cancer got me down.

I also forgot to mention Jon got his BRCA results a few weeks ago and he was negative.  Lucky goose.  We are grateful that both of the boys are negative and don’t have to worry about passing the gene on.  We’re eradicating this in our family!!  We did get some not so great news regarding Dad though.  We’ve known he had cysts on his kidneys since December. They were growing and hurting so he got into a kidney specialist. He was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease. Its progressive and 75% of people end up needing a transplant by age 70. Ugh.  We hope he won’t be in that percentage.  He’s had to make diet modifications and will be kept a close eye on by his doctors.  This is also a genetic disease.  Jon called mom and said so do we need to be tested for this too? Since there’s not much we can do to prevent it, it’s up to us if we get tested.  Right now I’m not planning too, as I don’t need another genetic condition on top of BRCA, but do plan to speak with my geneticist at MD Anderson to get her take on it. So please also keep dad in your prayers as he needs them too. 

Overall all life is good.  I’m thankful every day that I have so much support and care all around me.  From work, to church, to the community at large I’m very blessed.  My life is overflowing with love and sustenance.  I can’t imagine not having a support network during such a trying time and I thank God every day for all of you. 

I also thank God for my continued healing.  It was so funny, Fiona, my niece had an oochie on her toe.  She didn’t want to swim until it healed and was lying on the floor at moms.  I heard her say something like “Thank you for healing me body I knew you could do it” out of the mouth of babes so precious, innocent, and believing.  That is what I have to be and know I can learn from her.   So please continue to pray for me.  I know it is working.  And thank you god, and my body, for my healing.