March 28th 2018

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                    hemianopsia

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     He said no more driving !!!!!! 

There is nothing they can do for me. I have lost my peripheral vision in my whole right eye. My specialist  would like to refer me to the "Association for the Blind or now what is called the Future Insight Organization. An elderly lady once said to me in a nursing home that I worked at:

     The good Lord will give us                no more than we can bare!                  

I will continue to fight this terrible disease called melanoma. Can't drive but still plan to finish my 365 days of walking for "Lend Me A Hand and happy knowing that I can help others. Run a road race or two with someone on my right hand side and most of all continue to stay positive!

                                                                           

March 28th 

I have skipped a week typing in my blog! It was a very busy week and Christa and I want you to know that we have not missed one day of our walking for "Lend Me A Hand." It finally came to me that it is okay if you miss a day or two. Cancer can throw you a curve every now or then and I was getting stressed out about typing in blog ever day. I had lots of doctor's appointments these last couple of weeks.Been to Boston twice this past week and it feels like I have been on a roller coaster ride.Will be starting a clinical trial very soon. Have had all kinds of tests done. Met the team that will be working with me. Thanks Doug and Sandy for driving us to Boston. I have so many dear friends that have offer to help me once again! Praying that this Clinical Trial will work.

 My doctor wanted me to come back for a cat scan of my chest. They were nice enough to schedule my scan at Mass.Medical Hospital that is affiliated with Mass Medical Hospital in Boston. My good friend Valerie and her sister Virene drove me to Waltham Mass on Monday Went up to register and was greeted with two tall drinks that needed to be finished within 45 minutes. "What flavor would you like" the receptionist asked. Would you like banana, strawberry and......I will be honest with you, I didn't hear her say the other two flavors This brought back bad memories of when I was diagnosed with my first melanoma and had my very first body scan. I also had to drink that dreadful flavored drink. At least I had the choice to go to the the cafeteria where I felt a little more relaxed and not feeling uncomfortable among the people in the waiting room this week. My friend Virene stepped up to the plate. She was doing a cross word puzzle. She looked at me and said " Can you help me with my crossword puzzle Bon but every one that one you get wrong you have to take 3 sips. Wish I was good at crosswords! Cat scan was done and waiting to hear about the cat scan from Boston beforewe begin my trial.

One last appointment to see an eye specialist because of the loss of peripheral vision in my right eye. My sister drove down with my mother. Mom hung out with Steve until we got back home. Spent two and a half hours with all kinds of tests. He came in to the room and said that my problem is related to my brain surgery.My right field of vision is gone and will never come back. It is called (oops, continued on next post)

March 21, 2018 Wednesday

Compledted a morninging      1.91 miles. 

Needed a change and had not seen my mother in some time.. My husband, Steve knnew how important it was for to to have a much neened change. I love going up north. So peaceful for me.

Took Mom for a ride and we knew of a place that raised buffalo. Nice day and they were outside. Also took pictures and a few horsed. Happy that my camera has an auto setting on it! I do not think that my vision has improved, Going to a specialist next week.Hopefully he will have some answers.

Still catching up!

March 19 and 20th (Monday and Tuesday)

Christa and I chose a early morning walk! morning walk. Thank goodness! Got home and called my doctor. She squeezed me in to be seen at noon! Continue with chills, loss of appetite and fatigue!!!!  Kinda scary! Withdrawal from a medication that I was taken off from. WOW!  When I even have a pain the first thing that I worry about is cancer. I think that anyone who has dealt with cancer feels the same! Thank goodness that there are other options for me! Hate going to Boston but have so many friends and family that have offered to take me down to Mass General! Hoping that the clinical trial will work

Anyway,Christa and I walked 2.51 miles on Monday and 1.91 miles on Tuesday. So far we have walked 82 days. Only 283 more days to go!   

Sunday, March 18th 2018

Trying to catch up on our blog.. Had a rough couple of weeks!

Remembering that it was a bright and sunny day but cold. We walked 2.37 miles with Christa's two daughters. Maya and Sadie had no problem walking the full 2.37 miles. It is nice to change it up a little and  they were in led the whole walk.

March 15th 16th and 17th

I have combined these three days as they were difficult days for me walking. I was taken off a medication that gave me terrible side effects a little over two weeks ago and continue to have my good days and bad. So tired! Loss of appetite and chills are just a few! My thyroid is back to normal for now but will be checked again in six weeks.

On March 15th we walked 2.32 miles

On March 16th we walked two miles.


On March 17th we walked another 2 miles.

That was a rough week for me. When you don't feel well most people would rather just stay in bed. I continue to remain positive but somewhat disappointed. Keytruda did not work on my lung and my tumor has grown bigger. 

Heading to Boston today for my second appointment to try and find another plan that will be a clinical trial. 

Please say a prayer for me and Christa and I would also like to than the ones that donated to Lend Me A Hand. So far we have raised over $550.00. Also, thank you Christa for being there for me to catch my falls and let me know when to cross the road. My eye appointment is next week! Lets hope they can help me. One day at a time!


                Never be ashamed of a scar. It simply means                       you were stronger than whatever tried to hurt                                                      you.
                          

Tuesday March 14, 2018



Tonight, we decided to change things up a little. The snow was so deep. Christa said "Let's use snow  shoes."I had an old wooden pair of snow shoes and had a hard time lifting my feet. Christa had a light pair of snowshoes and had no problem. I was exhausted. We meet each other half from our houses. Christa carried my heavy snowshoes and I carried the poles to Christa house, They had another pair of snow shoes that were smaller and lighter. THANK YOU!!!!   We did a little over two miles and enjoyed every minute of it.
Still snowing, streets quiet and so peaceful.

Monday        March 12, 2018 

Walked 2.58 miles. Not looking forward to tomorrow. Lots of snow coming our way!  Going to be hard to walk in the deep snow

Feeling lots better now. Eye appointment in Manchester to see if they have any ideas to help me with the the loss of my vision in my right eye.

Sunday March 11, 2018



Christa and I decided to do a night walk. II see to be moving a little bit faster. Walked 1.95 miles. We decided to change it up a bit and walked down some different streets. Love walking at night\but really don't enjoy the cold. 

                          

                            Want to climb Mount Everest??????

Saturday  March 10, 2018




We walked almost three miles today. My friends Valerie and Sandy walk with us. Cool but sunny, It is nice to have people join us. Lots of laughs and many pictures taken! Need to get the rest of the pictures from Val.......

Good friends are like stars.. You don't always see them, but you know they're always there.

Friday March 9, 2018

Got up this morning and walked by myself. Christa had to make popcorn at the school and I had an appointment in Boston at 2:30. I walked 1.97 mils. Our friends Doug and Sandy offered to drive us to Mass General Hospital. 

My doctor seems real nice and would like to do a clinical trial,.He will call me this week and set up a consultation and then my new treatment will begin shortly after. Will learn more about this trial. Not looking forward to the trips back and forth to Boston

I hoping that this trial will shrink the tumor and my life can get back to some normalcy once again.

Wednesday and Thursday  March 7 and 8 2018




We walked 2.19 miles on Wednesday and 1.97 on Thursday.Decided to call the doctor and asked to get my blood work done. So glad I did. I wasn't sleeping much during the night, had the chills and put on 10 pounds in one week. Test results showed that my thyroid was very low. We are still trying to regulat it.
The keytruda that I was taking for 3 months messed up my thyroid.  My tumor in my lung has grown in size..
Very discouraging but off to get a second opinion.

Tuesday March 6 2018

Another night walk. I ached all all and was slow as slow as a turtle, Only walked 2.01 miles. I know that there will be times that I don't feel well but give it my best shot.  Remaining positive.  

Monday    March 5, 2018



Christa and I have been doing night walks. Her children have been on school vacation this week, We walked 3.17 miles tonight. Have not been feeling the greatest. Feeling tired and not having much energy, Pushing myself to keep walking!

Had Steve drive Christa and I down street today so we could do a few errands and walked home. Walked 3.67 miles. Nice day for a walk. Had to go up for a chest x ray today to make sure my lung was doing okay after my biopsy. Guess that you would call that a follow up! Three more doctors appointments this week. Will be so glad when we can get a few things solved and I can have a normal week.

Heard that bad weather is coming in!!!!!! NOT AGAIN!

Christa and I waked 3.45 miles this afternoon. A chilly day and not much sun! We are changing it up a bit and doing some different routes.So glad that the sidewalks are now clear and no more puddles. Have walked 64 days so far. Only 301 days left. Will probably need a new pair of sneakers within the next couple of months.

Quote for the day: "Happiness would lose its importance if it is not be balanced by sadness" 

Needed a change today. Decided to solo and just walk alone. Steve drove me past the State Priso and let me off. I decided to walk to my son's house which was 4.08 miles away. Listened to music and enjoyed the fresh air and enjoying a different route. My friend Christa wasn't happy with me as she doesn't like me walking alone.
I was very careful and every now and then I would see a white truck drive by. I think about 5 times. It was my husband Steve! He was just checking up on me! Kinda made me feel good knowing that he was there if I needed him!


Great walk!!!!! Visited with my family and felt happy that I could do 4.08 miles......

Felt somewhat better today! Woke up to rain and strong winds. Called Christa and asked my husband Steve to watch her children as it is school vacation this week.. IT WAS MISERABLE! 
We were cold, wet and I think we were the only ones out walking. I couldn't stop coughing!!!!! We made it to Base Camp #1. (Rite Aid) and decided that we would be doing another short walk.. We were chilled to the bone and didn't want get sick. I also knew that I had an appointment with an oncologist in Boston this week and need to try and stay healthy. Only walked 2 miles.😪

Our poor umbrellas! 

I know that I may have days like this. Hopefully, my new treatment wont set me back a bit, .I just keep remaining positive and hope that there is a treatment that can take care of the melanoma in my lung. Yes, it has been a long six months, pet scans, cat scans, biopsies , many doctor's appointments and also  the big adjustment of not being able to drive after loosing some of my sight in my right eye.  I will be honest, there are days that I cry and feel sorry for myself but I will be darn if this melanoma is going to win. We who are struggling with  cancer  need to have a positive attitude, fight and take a day at a time. The ones that love us are also having a hard time dealing with our issues. Lots of great support groups out there for us and dear friends that want to help!

Slept most of the day today and was somewhat uncomfortable after my biopsy. I had the samples of my tissues removed from my back with this big needle. Tired and sore the next day but knew that I needed to get out there and walk. I can be stubborn at times. I am not one not to give up easily.

Christa and I chose to do a night. I was as slow as a turtle.   Tired, and knew that I had to stop after 2.28 miles.
I am proud that I got out there and did the best that I could. Got home, showered and went straight to bed......

Quote for the day: "I know everything happens for a reason. But sometimes I wish I knew what that reason was."