So Much To Share

I sit here, wondering where do I begin?

Let's see last Wednesday the Radiation Oncologist decided that the Pneumonia would not be affected with continuing radiation, and that there was no way it was the cause of it. He showed me my actual scans that showed the radiation is only hitting the very top of my left lung. The Pneumonia is on the bottom of both lungs.

The antibiotic started to feel as if it kicked in on Friday. I woke up on Saturday feeling the best I had all week. I had a scheduled lunch date with my friend Deena. Jim encouraged me to go and get out of the house. When we arrived at the restaurant to my surprise there were 16 other women there to give me "An Encouragement Luncheon." Theressa had been planning it for weeks but it couldn't have happened at a better moment.

As I think of it, I call it my "circle of love." These women have been a part of my life for so many years. I looked around the table and thanked God for each of these women. They have blessed me in so many ways during this battle with cancer. Most of the women have known me since our old "Parkridge" days. We call it that because it's when we all attended Olive Branch when it was located on Parkridge avenue. The luncheon was such a special time. Just having them there all at once touched me in a way that words cannot describe. They graced me with their time, with beautiful cards, thoughtful gifts, but most importantly their love. It's a day I will never forget. It was also in the midst of our luncheon that a very important thing happened.

I can't remember who, but someone asked me if my hair was coming in. I asked them, "Do you really want to see?" So, I took off the scarf. Their reaction was overwhelming. They all encouraged me that I didn't need a scarf anymore and I haven't wore one. I can't say I'm very comfortable with short hair. It just doesn't seem like me. I probably haven't ever had it this short since I was a baby. The scarves will be used now for those really bad hair days. Smile.

The strange thing that happened all of sudden was I wasn't a cancer patient anymore. I got so comfortable with my scarves that I forgot they were on. Some times some one would ask a question about treatment or something, and it took me a minute to realize it was because of the scarf that they knew I was going through something. When I had to show my ID and I was wearing my scarf they never mentioned a thing. Now, they mention how short my hair is compared to my ID picture.

How I wish I wasn't a cancer patient anymore. I'm not sure when that happens though. I only have 6 more radiation treatments remaining. One more that covers the full treatment, and five that will only cover the incision area (they call them boosts). My skin was doing great until yesterday. Underneath my arm had turned black and it finally peeled off. It's very sensitive. I have a couple areas that are tender, but I thank God that I didn't get a burnt hole. My plastic surgeon and the Radiation Oncologist are very pleased.

I tried to use the actual Aloe Vera plant that my friend Coreen bought me just for a time like this. Well...I've never done this before and I must have done something wrong. There was this awful orange stuff coming out and it smelled awful. There was no way I was going to put this on me. Yuck. I decided the 99% was good enough.