365 Days With Bonnie: May 2019

Monday, May 20, 2019

May 19, 2010

I have been really bad about keeping up with my blog Things have been okay! Trying to walk as much as I can but the weather hasn't been that great for the month of May and April! Back and forth to Boston every other week for my treatment. I hate taking the bus, riding the "T" and spending the whole day at Mass. General. I had my scans last Tuesday and then my treatment on Wednesday. Scans good once again!!!!! I usually spend the night at a motel. Scans done on a Tuesday and results and infusion on Wednesday. I have many friends that take turns going with me to Boston! Wish there was someway that I could repay them.

Been down in the dumps lately!! Some of the side effects from treatment bother me but try not to complain. I guess it is the unknown that gets to me. Just want to be around.....

While sitting on the shuttle going to Boston last week I overheard a gentlemen who was with his wife talking about how he has been going to Boston every week for the last year for his treatments. They live up near Bangor, Maine. Mass General is the best place to go to get treatments.... I am lucky to only be an hour away! I wish I could help this couple!!!

Why do we complain about the little things in life?????? Why does god give us more than we can bare????

I am still not driving Prism glasses are working but will wait for my next appointment.

Summer is approaching and that is a good thing! I am enjoying starting my garden and we will be camping soon.

Wanted to do the Race and Race for cancer last week, but knew that I could not run it like I have had in the past. Hard for me to go there! My fishing buddy Finn ran the whole race and had my name on his running shorts. So moving to me.

Finn called me yesterday and said "Bonzo"... Lets go fishing! He had his own boat that he had save money for and purchased. He is my fishing buddy and means the world to me! I sat in the canoe with his Dad and got lots of pointers on how to brush up on my casting and trolling! We fished for four hours.. I caught two bass!!!!! Getting better at my casting and taking the fish off the hook...

I spend everyday to the fullest and love
being with my family and friends! We all need to reach out to someone that we have not been in touch with for a very long time! I love you all that continue to follow my blog!

Finn finished the race in honor of me!!!

One of my bass that I caught. My other other one was much bigger!

One of my other fish that I caught from a previous fishing expedition.

About Us

A Note From Bonnie:

As many of you know, I was diagnosed with melanoma in November of 2010. They found traces of melanoma in two of my lymph nodes. I had the melanoma removed and during a year of treatment with interferon I came up with a bucket list of things I wanted to do in my life. One of these things was to walk 50 miles for Lend A Hand. I made a promise to myself that I was going to do it. This foundation does so many great things for people who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis. I had big plans to do my walk this year but my melanoma returned to my left lung and my brain. I had brain surgery a week after my diagnosis in September of 2017. I am now in treatments for my right lung. Since my brain surgery I lost partial vision in my right eye. I can no longer drive a vehicle which is discouraging for me. I also need a friend to walk or run by my side.

This January, my friend Christa and I did the Runner's Alley Winter Warrior Challenge for the second year in a row. We walked in sleet, blizzards, freezing temperatures and did at least 3 miles everyday for 31 days. It gave me a purpose to keep going and to remain positive. It got me off the couch and into the fresh air. It gave me a reason to get up every morning.

So on January 31, our last day of the challenge my friend said "I will walk by your side for 365 days if you would like to walk for Lend A Hand". So here we are... and so it begins!

A Note From Christa:

I have known Bonnie for 41 years. Since I was 2 years old. Bonnie is my mom's very best friend. To me, Bonnie is a great inspiration of hope and strength. I am honored to be able to walk beside Bonnie for 365 walks (and many many laughs). It makes me happy that I can help her achieve her goal of walking for Lend A Hand. I get to be her second set of eyes and I am honored.