My Tribe

Today was the Pink Heals event...which was truly amazing. As exhausted as I felt the adrenaline was pumping when I saw everything going on this morning. The beautiful B, Travis ,his wife Melissa and their darling little girl Harper, and Paul's sweet daughter Elise(8 years old and who I have fallen in love with instantly) all donated their hair for cancer patients. I gave them all a kiss and in my heart wished forever goodness on their lives. After the dispensing of my grandma style kissing Susan F. showed up and handed over a 14 inch hank of curly locks like she'd walked off the Tangled set just minutes ago. And Jess - my darling friend Jess - led a Zumba dance with a motley crew of Firefighters, and police officers, and assorted other good sports. You bet I danced too. A complete Zumba dream come true. And there, admist the pancake eating and fire truck signing and the tail shaking and the hair shearing something really super big happened. It first happened when the Fire Chief and I hugged each other tight (he just had surgery for cancer in his colon and I should note we are now sporting twin hair dos) and when Cray's Mom Elaine (47 year cancer surivor) and I held hands while our picture was taken. It happened when I circled up with Frank and Maja (my boss and his spouse who took cancer on at the same time) and when I caught Joel's eye at the event (a recent cancer grad). And Mike from the Police Department who just overcame Hodgkin's Lymphoma - it happened when we couldn't stop talking to each other in terms like, go, fight, win and how it has changed the whole course of his life's mission. I realized that I was part of a tribe - a big beautiful tough courageous tribe. My dear heart friend John, who passed away from non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2005, use to tell me how nice it was when you recognized someone from your tribe - like there you are! Where you been? This cancer tribe exudes love and good wishes and kindness in ways you can't imagine - even when you have never spoken a single word to each other. It's like there is this alternative universe that I didn't even have a clue existed. To the tribe everywhere I would like to thank you for welcoming me with open arms. When I first got diagnosed, Susan M. from work (a two time cancer champion and bone marrow transplant winner) sought me out and filled me with good stories, enthusiasm, and cheer. I didn't realize then that she was the Welcome Wagon Committee Chair for the tribe. But I'm so much smarter now. Maybe I'll be assigned as the Door Greeter for the tribe. I'm ready. And if this tribe is in to tattoos mine would read "forever yours" and I would be proud to wear it knowing the getting is far more than I can ever give back.

Got You a Riddle

What's white and gray and fuzzy all over...?
Not sure if it's real "hair" but there's snow on that mountain,
More down coating than anything...lil bit different...kinda Grandpa DeLaMare style.
Robyn inspected it (in fact, it's high time I named her the Chief Inspector) and Jen confirmed it.
It's addictive...can't keep my hands off the stuff.

This is the Best Story Ever...

Last Friday Robyn and I crossed paths with the lovely Lehua while walking across Library square.  She had her little boys - two darling bright eyed wonders.  They greeted me"HI MARY" in there baby bird voices.  Who doesn't love THAT...today Lehua told me the rest of the story though.  She said that Micah asked (after I went on my way)"Is that the Mary that had the baby Jesus?"


Nope, but I hope to be a close friend.

Chitter Chatter As I Wind Down From....PREDNISONE...

Genius viewed the video of me for the Pink Heals Tour and declared that I look better now!  The video was shot days before my hair fell out following a week and a half after the first chemo in January.  Truth be told, the scarf she had wrapped around my head that day was holding a good portion of my hair on my head and reminding me to not touch it so that it would stay another day before I went home and the Chief Researcher had to shave it off.  I suspect that the chemo flush and the prednisone bloat may be the basis for my "healthy glow".  Looks are deceptive trust me on that.  The prednisone this chemo round was no disappointment.  It's ugly head reared again in the form of a rant about Genius needing to get her apartment packed NOW.  Funny, half the stuff in her place is mine...or not so funny if you ask Genius.  As a means of comforting myself I transported enough stuff to live the rest of my life in complete comfort at Genius's small place.  A lovely little pack rat's nest surrounding by bits and pieces of everything I might ever need - I mean EVER.   Good golly, wish I could toss handfuls of this stuff out the window when it heads south on I15 back home again.  Since that would include a fair amount of underwear I don't suppose it's appropiate...but hey who knows.  Had a lovely conversation with my friend M. who unwittingly filled my head with wisdom that fit me to a "'T" just from her own life experience...isn't that a treat.  Things like "relish life" and "you've filled you're kids with goodness and now you need to sit  back and just be there for them."  Good post chemo coaching.  Am still trying to absorb the good news from the scan which chemo 7 seems to have taken the shine off of - although the delight of my friends and family continues to fill my cup to overflowing.  In a strange way it is a bit disconcerting to be leaving chemo soon as I know that there will no longer be evidence that the lymphoma is being addressed.  Apparently the critters will never be completely gone due to my stage 4 (make that FORMER stage 4) status so there will have to be a vigilant lookout for outlaws and ner-do-wells...but I've seen worse out the door. A lot worse. Last prednisone for this round devoured and gone.  Looking forward to having sleep reinstate itself in my life.  Chit Chat How About That!!  Lovey dovey to everyone dropping in ...am still the luckiest person ever.

Cancer Awareness Partee— June 10th!

Check out Pink Heals SLC for details! Look for moi via video requesting you either get your cancer screening or shave your head!!!!

Feel Like Ms. America of the Lymphoma Universe

Just before chemo Dr. Chemistry told me my scan showed that the lymphoma is almost GONE! I told her she will miss me. Still one more chemo after this one...but then its off to remission mode (drugs and scans for the next two years.) At the chemo bar I was sandwiched between two people who had reoccurrence of cancers or side effects during remission. Reality yes, but for another day. Feel like the freakin Ms. America of the Lymphoma Universe!! To the many, many family and friends who are with me on this journey (and will stay the course with me) I leave you with this little bit my Grandpa wrote me in 1975 at the end of a letter:

"Bushels, tons, mountains,oceans,whole worlds of love and good wishes to you."

Love is the conduit for carrying out the work of these drugs. This much I know.

O-me-hc!

For weeks now I've been whining that I don't want to go to chemo...mind you NOT that I can't do chemo, but I don't want to go...(can't you just hear the shrill of the whine).  To cap off the whining I tried my best to torture both Robyn and Brent at work today on my last day of freedom (prednisone rears it's ugly head tomorrow.)  Robyn even threaten to show me "something worse than cancer missy..." if I didn't settle down.  Isn't she the best?  So since I can't settle down and get to sleep I thought I'd post some alternative ways of thinking of the dreaded chemo:
1.  O-me-hc!  A phrase related to "oh my heck" but a little twisted...the backassward spelling of my friend chemo...the new Utah swearing phrase for the young urban professional.
2.  Chemo - the dark sided twin of Elmo.  Not furry, not adorable, not vaguely cute - but somehow does turn you in to a puppet.  Gives new meaning to PBS (Pretty Bald Situation).
3.  Chemo, chemo, bo bemo, banana fanana fo femo - Chemo
      Starts with a che and ends with mo
      Makes you want to puke from head to toe!
4.  Ch-ch-ch chemo, beautiful chemo, your the only ch-ch-ch chemical I adore...or...or...When the mu, mu, moon shines over the cow shed, I'll be waiting by the ch-ch-ch chemical port....
5.  Give me a "C"
     Give me a "H"
     Give me an "E-M-O"
     T-O-X-I-C Teamo!!
6. Ah...Marezy doats and doezy doats and little lambs eat ivy, a kidddle eat chemo too, wouldn't you???  If the words sound queer and funny to your ear a little bit jumbled and jivey- say mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat chemo (ok it doesn't work but you still read it didn't you??)
7.  Today's Special:  
                                  Fresh Chemo salad greens with a benedryl dressing
                                  Drug spiked pudding with carmelized metallic tasting substances
                                  Aleve chasers provided free of charge
                               
8.  Newspaper Headline:
     Ms. Lym Phoma Rudely Interrupted by Chemo Cocktail:
                   Huntsman Cancer Center Claims Hit
9.   Dear Chemo,
       Please excuse Mary from meeting with you Friday. She has to wash some hairs.
10.  Wikipedia:  What is chemoilliant?
A post chemo glow imitating the look of a blushing shade of red.  Often associated with delusions of grandour about the ability to accomplishments minor household tasks with clarity and work product with efficiency.
Used in a sentence as follows:
"Her chemoilliant presence wowed the crowd into thinking she actually knew what she was doing."