Funny Story - Engelbert Humperdinck

This is one of those stories that is funnier if told in person, but I wanted to share it anyway because it made me laugh. Hannah, my sister's 10 year old daughter, was visiting with my parents and I on Friday when the mail was deleivered. In the mail was a postcard advertisement for a concert in Atlantic City NJ. The postcard has a picture of the singer and his name on it. His name is Engelbert Humperdinck. Well, Hannah first made fun of the way that the singer looked and wanted to know who would go to see someone so "old" sing. But then, she kept trying to say his hame - over and over again, sort of accenting different parts of the name each time she said it. With each pronunciation, we laughed harder and harder. Well, I couldn't stop laughing. It really is a funny name. She kept saying "why would someone name their baby that?". She was very curious as to how one would know that Engelbert was a boys name! Anyway, I saw the post card again and just cracked up. Even in this day and age with the strange names of various singers and artists,the name Englebert Humperdinck is a pretty funny name! Go ahead, say it out loud three times real fast and see if it makes you laugh!

RECOVERY - Just the beginning

I know that this will sound crazy, but I woke up this morning with the thought that I would be perfectly well again (okay, it was a slim hope, but I did think it for a minute). I am a practical person and I know that I am not cured or completely recovered just because my chemotherapy treatments are over - I just wanted it to work that way! Well, That is the way things work in the movies on the Lifetime and Hallmark channels, but not in real life! I woke up feeling all the usual ways that I feel the first Monday out of chemotherapy - fatigued, a little disoriented, out of sorts, kind of sore all over, yucky mouth, weak, etc. I guess the real difference today, from all those other times, is that I know that in three more weeks I won't wake up on a Monday morning waiting for the call from the hospital to be admitted. I still have a lot of recovery ahead of me, but chemotherapy treatments are behind me and that was a real good feeling to wake up to this morning! I am sure thatI have lots of recovery ahead of me, but it is good to know that some of the worst of it is behind me. I just have to continue to focus on one day at a time.

FINAL CHEMO TREATMENT IS OVER!

It has been a long week - every moment in the hospital this time seemed like an hour. Everything went well and the nurses were great, it was just that I was anxious to be DONE with chemotherapy. And I am! I can not explain all of the feelings that are flowing through me right now - joy, happiness, fear, anxiety, and many many more. Chemotherapy is over, but there is still a ways to go before my journey to recovery is over. I will spend this weekend enjoying and savoring the feeling of happiness and completion and I will wait until Monday to think of all that I still have ahead of me.

As most of you know, the chemotherapy treatments started way back on November 1, 2009 (brain surgery was in October 2009). I have now spent most of all four seasons in chemotherapy treatment. I am anxious to enjoy the last few days of summer and am totally hoping to enjoy the Fall this year (most of Fall last year is very vague!).

I thank everyone for all of their support through the first two phases of my recovery - brain surgery and chemotherapy. Both phases were tough and I could not have done it alone, and luckily for me, I didn't have to. I also ask that you continue to support me in the remainder of my journey to recovery. I am hoping that the strength and knowledge that I have gained during the beginning of this journey holds fast and keeps me on the right path. I know that there are no certainties, but I also know that I will tackle every obstacle to the best of my abilities.

I will fill you in later in the week on some of the events during my hospital stay and keep you informed of my progress. Thank you all again and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers!

Off TO CHEMO TREATMENT

In an odd way, I am excited. I want to get to the hospital, get my chemotherapy in and out and get home and put this entire chapter of my road to recovery behind me. I will give you an update when I return. Keep sending those positive thoughts and keep me in your prayers. Please know that I will do the same.

TIME FLIES BETWEEN TREATMENTS

I know, I had an additional week between treatments this time, but the time seemed to go even faster than usual! The fatigue was a lot worse this time, so I did spend a lot of time sleeping and napping and resting. But I also did a few really fun things. Over the last few weeks, I have caught up or visited with some good friends and family. I got out to lunch a couple of times and I went to a couple of dinners with various good friends. I saw a movie ("Eat, Pray, Love"), visited my sister and her family, visited my cousins and took care of some things at my house (some pleasant and some not so pleasant (the basement flood, etc.). I was also able to celebrate a friends 50th birthday. It was great to be part of such a good celebration - time to catch up with old friends, eat good food and share great conversations and some pretty good memories. It was really nice to feel well enough to attend the party and to be a part of all of the fun. I even danced a song or two!

I tried to cram as much as possible into the last few weeks - I hate being in the hospital for treatments. I also had to take care of the "other" stuff - doctors appointments, evaluations, bill paying, MVA paperwork, etc. BUT, chemotherapy treatments are almost over. Soon, very soon.

I'll be in touch again after treatment!

ANOTHER PRESENT FROM ANOTHER NURSE

I have to say, that all the nurses at Franklin Square Hospital, especially the chemo nurses have been exceptionally kind and caring to me. Of course, there is the occasional oddball or bad moment, but for the most part, absolutely wonderful nurses. Well, as per my prior blogs, some of the nurses have given me really special presents. I have probably forgotten to blog about all of them, but I know that I mentioned a few. Well, I received another present in the mail from a nurse and it was super special. It shows just how well some people listen. Nurse Joann happened to drop by my hospital room on the day that I had the origami breakthrough (previous blog) and I gave her one of the origami cranes and told her the story of how I wanted to someday make a dragon. Well, she must really be a good listener and have a super good memory. She found a "Mythical Creature Origami Book and Gift Set" and sent it to me! Can you imagine finding that and remembering that someone told you that she wanted to make an origami dragon??? Amazing. Anyway, the kit actually has a completed origami dragon in it. Too fabulous! I have been too busy with doctors appointments and getting my stuff in order to go back to the hospital for treatment next week, but I will be working on that dragon as soon as I can. I can't stop thinking about it. What a special gift and so very thoughtful! I have met some of the most wonderful people during this difficult time in my life. I will write more later - I have some other stories to tell before going back to the hospital. Keep the positive thoughts coming my way - the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter!

ORIGAMI CRANE - MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH

So, a lot happened during my last hospital stay and chemo treatment. One thing that happened, and in my little world was a major breakthrough. The major breakthrough was that I was able to make an origami crane. You know, a little paper bird that any 8 year old can make! Well, it is kind of a long story, but it was very important to me. Here goes:
A couple of years ago, I was going through some very stressful times (if I had only known then what I know now! That stress was nothing compared to the early part of 2010). My primary care doctor suggested that I take some yoga and maybe even learn origami to help with the stress. I did take a yoga class and I recommend it highly to anyone. I would be stressed out driving to yoga class trying to get out of work on time and get to class on time, but by the time I left there, I was full of peace and calm. It also helped my body be flexible. I also love all the funny names of the poses (downward facing dog; warrior, sun salutation, etc.).
So, then I decided to teach myself how to make origami. I bought a book from Barnes and Noble (on sale, of course) and wanted to make a dragon. Well, the dragon was labeled as difficult and was for a more experienced origamist (is that a word?). So, I settled on trying to teach myself to make an origami crane (a little bird) that I had seen children make and a guy that I went to college with used to make them in class all the time, so I figured that they must be easy. Sure - easy! Well, I should have taken a class and seen the crane made live and in-person, because it took me almost a full year to finally master making all the folds to form the crane and tons of crunched paper. Totally frustrating. NOT good for de-stressing. But, I finally did it and made a lot of origami cranes. They sort of became a signature piece for me - I would put them on gifts and attach them to flower arrangements with skewers and toothpicks, etc. Once I learned to make the origami crane, I could see why people said that it was relaxing. It takes total concentration to make the folds, so your mind is not thinking of a million other things.
So, when I went to the hospital for my first chemo treatment, I knew that I would have a lot of time on my hands and thought that origami would be a great way to spend my time and to relax during chemotherapy. I bought a new pack of origami paper and took the directions, eventhough I knew how to make it, I htought that I might need a refresher. My mom bought me this pretty little box to put my origami stuff in, so I was all ready. NOT! Well, the weird thing was that I could not make an origami crane. I tried and tried and totally frustrated myself trying, but could not make one. I guessed that it had something to do with the brain surgery and it really upset me - I was sure that the neurosurgeon not only removed the tumor, but also removed the part of my brain that was needed to make origami. For future reerence, NEVER ask your neurosurgeon if he removed the part of your brain that is needed to make origami - surgeons do not have much of a sense of humor - or at least mine didn't! Anyway, for the next bunch of trips to the hospital, my dad carried my box of origami stuff to the hospital each time that I was admitted and he carried it back home after being discharged from the hospital, just as empty of completed cranes as when I was admitted. I kept trying and trying until I just couldn't look at the box or a piece of origami paper again. If I had any sense at all, I would have asked someone to show me how to make it and maybe I would have done better, but it became a challenge and I had the feeling that if I could not make an origami crane again, I would never be "myself" again. I know - wacky! Way too much pressure on myself after all the medical stuff that I was going through, but it really bugged me. Well, I finally stopped carrying the box of origami stuff to and from the hospital and I pushed it to the back of the closet at my parents house where I couldn't really see it and be reminded of my origami failure.
I am not certain what made me dig the box out again, maybe just because I had been feeling better or stronger or because I just wanted to drive myself a little more crazy, but I tried again. Well, this time I got a little help from the world wide web. My neice and nephew suggested that I check YouTube for a video of someone making an origami crane and I did. You would not believe how many people have posted videos of themselves making origami! Anyway, I watched a couple of people make them (mostly weirdos with super calm voices) and tried again. It still took me a while, but I finally was able to make one before heading into the hospital. So, much to my father's annoyance, I dragged the box of origami stuff out of the closet and dad carried it to the hospital with us when I was admitted. The day after the chemo started flowing, I set up my area and started working on my origami. It took me a few pieces of crunched paper, but I finally got the hang of it on my own and made some pretty good origami cranes. I really impressed the nurses and care associates with my origami skill! I was so happy and proud of myself that I started handing them out to everyone. Well, I made about thirty of them while there and gave most of them away, but my dad was really happy to carry the box containing some completed origami cranes home with us from the hospital! I know that it seems like a small accomplishment, but to me it was a major breakthrough. Sometimes it is the little things that make all the difference!
A special thank you to the person who remembered how much I liked doing origami in the past and sent me an origami kit with fancy paper when I was first diagnosed and found out that I needed chemotherapy. I am finally able to use it - so what a great gift! PS: I am saving the dragon for after my treatments end - I am not going to jump from easy crane to difficult dragon just yet, but someday, I know that I will master the dragon! For now, I am very happy to be making cranes.