Warmed by the Support of Family and Friends

It is just over four weeks since I had surgery. I am feeling quite well these days. The swelling and numbness in the breast/underarm area has virtually disappeared. The mobility of my left arm is increasing daily, and I am able to get through a few days at a time without napping.

Madison, my granddaughter, was on Spring Break last week and spent the week with us. We all had a great time. I had appointments on Thursday and Helge had meetings. Madison chose to spend the day with her Grandfather. They went to a meeting at the Caroline Complex in the morning to support the opening of a venue for Boys and Girls Club along with theatre on main street. Reg Dean is opposed to this venture. There was a good turn out at the meeting with strong support in favor of the venture. Later in the afternoon Madison and Helge went to Rocky to attend a meeting hosted by West Country Stakeholders. This group, funded by oil and gas companies operating in the Clearwater County, exists to minimize conflict between the companies and landowners. Various companies set up tables and handed out promotional freebies. Madison enjoyed going from table to table visiting with the company reps and collecting goodies like water bottles, magnifiers, magnets, pens and notebooks.

Madison took over the living area with her DVD watching and paper crafts. She enjoys cutting, gluing, drawing and coloring. We watched "Beauty and the Beast" together, and also made chocolate chip cookies. Madison sleeps with a little stuffed puppy that I gave her a couple of years ago. One evening she said to me, "Puppy was scared when he heard you had cancer, but I wasn't scared because I knew you would live."

My Thursday appointment was for a Herceptin treatment, the first since January 21st (last chemo). Linda, the social worker, came to see me during my treatment. We ended up having lunch together in the hospital cafeteria. We get along very well. We are both free spirits who love shoppping for clothes and jewelry. After leaving the hospital I went to Shopper's Drug by Michael's to purchase my mastectomy swimsuit and prostheses. As it was the last Thursday of the month I got a 20% discount.

I have had my blue moments but they are usually short-lived. I had a wonderful surprise phone call a couple of weeks ago from a childhood friend, Penny Giles. We have not had much contact in our adult years. We had a great time catching up over the phone. Penny underwent a lumpectomy and radiation before Christmas 2008. I also had a surprise visit from the lovely Danyle Holmes (Nutting.) She brought a beautiful gift of turquoise leather covered journal, pink marble and silver pen, magnet "Women who change the World," and turquoise decorative tea towel.

On Saturday, March 28th, I met with several colleagues (Cathy, Sherry, Judy, Barb, Pat, and Loralie) for lunch at the Tivoli in Spruce View. Afterwards Barb and Judy followed me home and we had afternoon tea together. My colleagues spoiled me, once again, with fresh-cut spring flowers, homemade pie, applesauce, cookies, and muffins.

Tulips, gerbera, carnations, daisies, statice, heather, iris, alstromeria

Sunday afternoon I enjoyed visiting Jackie Cooper in Caroline. She has resigned her math teaching position. All of our children were taught by Jackie. She has a brilliant mind and is an excellent teacher of math and physics. I would say she has had an epiphany. Financially she is able to retire now due to savings as well as monies from her Mother's estate and from an insurance settlement for a vehicle accident she was in a few years ago. In addition, she has not been enjoying her classes as much as in the past. She has had a struggle with weight and is now at an all-time low which is very motivating for continued weight-loss success. She has decided to make health her #l priority. I know that she will be successful!! Jackie showed me her fantastic bead collection, then we did some bead work. I have several books on beading but Sunday I made my first creation and was so proud of myself. I made a necklace and earrings in pink/wine/silver colors. Jackie also made me a bracelet and earrings in black,silver, and crystal. Like me, Jackie enjoys swimming. We plan to go swimming together after Easter.
This evening I had a phone call and lovely visit from Fred Majocha. He was married to my first cousin Marie who passed after a battle with breast cancer three years ago. Tomorrow Alice, Laurel, Kayli and I are leaving for Canmore for a five-day stay. Alice is on Spring Break. She has a timeshare in Canmore. I talked to Fred about meeting up with him and his new wife Val for supper on Friday evening in Canmore.
I feel so blessed by the support that I have had from family and friends. I can feel my heart bulging!!