Dog and CAT for the Holidays...

We are thrilled to welcome our new pup, Hubert the Hound, to the family at 59 Ivan St.  This beautiful Blue Tick Coon hound came through PAWS, a national pet adoption service.  Hubert had quite a hard journey - captured and put in a "high kill" shelter in Tennessee, saved by a rescue foster mother - neutered, fattened up, medicated; three days in a transport truck to RI, a week quarantine - finally Dec. 21 came to us!

Hubert is affectionate and needy.  He is a bit of a scaredy cat after all the transition, but is settling in and loving his bed and toys!

It's great to have "new life" in our house since we sent Frankie the Beagle to the great dog park in the sky in November.  We were just casually looking at adoption sites, and Hubert's wonderful face caught our eyes - it was love at first sight for us.

Glad to have this project and distraction - still working and feeling okay, but learned that my tumor marker blood numbers have gone up in the last three months - not a great sign - so will be back on the table for another CAT  scan next week.  So the adventure goes on!  Exciting new research reported in the NY times gives all of us hope!  We need to use our genetic codes to give the message that those big C cells need to go to their "reward"!!  Apoptosis rules!

And of course I continue to fight the insurance company Unicare that is refusing to pay for my radiation!  What a world - stage IV cancer, yet a refusal to pay! 

Wishing all the best of New Years - and for all of us, peace, hope and progress towards the cure!!

Cruising into the Dark, reaching for the Light!!

Greetings all - The Holiday madness has definitely taken over!  Of course, each new season, each new month, each new day - these are my miracles.  We spent last evening decorating our new little charlie brown tree - the traditional ornaments, the sparkle of the lights, the stockings, the Santa and Ms. Santa plus elf - these chochkas of the season reminds us of our childhood holidays!  (Any youngsters reading this wont get the reference - think fifties. Ah the "Fat er Knows Best"ness of those occasions!)

 We just watched a hokey Christmas show called "Christmas with the Fitzgeralds" about a totally dysfunctional (therefore normal) family dealing with multiple issues over the holidays" .  Neither Beth nor I had that kind of dysfunctional stuff so blatantly, but the pressure for "joy" and " merry"ness can be a bit overwhelming.  Nevertheless, I am embracing those themes I wish were the sense of the season - peace, love and hope - rather than "black Friday" and  the Christmas shopping extravaganza!

Just found out that Beth's cousins wife who survived breast cancer now has developed bone cancer - Need to reach out to her this week!  The support of others who have been through this adventure is so important to keep the emphasis on LIFE!!.    My holiday wish is for effective cancer treatment:  my resolution for 2013 is to devote time for cancer outreach.   C'mon, Santa - bring us a REAL gift!!

Go for another blood check this week - think shrink = I need for those marker numbers to go DOWN!!  Til the next post xxx

Reunion, Victory, CAT scan question

Dear readers - I'm sure I've lost you all!  Will send out e mails to reconnect!  Have had an amazingly busy fall - and relief that Obama was re elected.  Now the real work begins.  We have no illusions:  Obama is no radical, but has potential to guide the country towards progressive goals.  We HOPE.

Went to my 50th HS reunion - Thomas Jefferson HS Richmond VA - 1962.  TJ wasn't desegregated until the year AFTER I graduated.  I lived in the white bubble until I found my civil rights teachers at Duke.  Doesn't this look like the model 40's - 60's high school??

Work continues:  am doing much tutoring and recording case studies of challenged students - my work keeps me energized.  My energy level has been great - the last CAT suggested No Evidence of Disease, but Dr. D. is not sure.  Friday we will find out the real story.  Interesting note:  Dr. D. had me sign papers so they can use my tumor tissue for research.  Ah the tradition of Henrietta Lacks!

Am still fighting my insurance co. since they have denied paying for my radiation therapy.  Unbelievable!  They said the hospital could have used a "cheaper" form.  Having great vacations, Unicare CEO??

So I am pledged to keep this blog OFTEN.  Yea, I've said this before - but am back in the saddle.  Will be writing again soon!

A POSITIVE 1 %!!

Greetings dear readers!!  So I always thought I was part of the 99%, but am happy to be part of a different 1% - the 1% that survive my  diagnosis - stage 4 endometrial cancer.   I went to see my Doc who has transferred to Mass General  - am very happy to stay with Dr. D.  Yes indeed, I am  THRILLED to be a part of THIS 1%!!  Dr. D. said I can now officially use the word REMISSION!  The semester has started at BCC, and I love meeting new students, tutors and faculty who are also committed to supporting our challenged readers.          My goal with the Big "C" adventure is to now reach out to those still in treatment, still struggling.  Dr. D. also said he has confidence that I will stay here to see amazing new treatment options " - the genetic breakthroughs that may indeed be the "magic bullet" for cancer.   I will continue to research and report on the latest  new discoveries.   I also plan to continue my expressive arts work and hope to provide workshops for survivors still laboring under the "every 3/6 months tests" pressure.  We always are waiting for the other "shoe" to drop.  

I also plan to research what's happening to Medicare.  My new Cancer Nurse at Mass Gen was saying she is struggling to negotiate Medicare for her 80 + year old parents who just signed up for Medicare as they took care of their own insurance until recently.  Because they didn't sign up at 65 they are being penalized somehow.  These bureaucratic glitches are so frustrating to say the least...  

I am still struggling with my insurance co. that has denied payment for my radiation because they somehow see the treatment as "experimental".  I think I am getting through to them and will be able to settle this, but it's so frustrating to have to fight for coverage for Cancer treatment!  When will this country and our government wake up about universal health care!  

The good news is - I am still here to keep fighting the good fight - and happy to part of THAT 1%!!!  

MOVING INTO SCHOOL DAZE CANCER FREE!

Happy fall, dear readers!  Yes, Dr. D., my doc who has moved to Mass General, confirms that currently there is "No Evidence of Disease"!!  This doesn't mean "remission" necessarily - my tumor marker numbers are a bit high, but I'll find out this week if they are continuing to climb.  Cross fingers, toes, etc!!  Also, my pate is still pretty hairless - maybe I'm a new baldy style setter!  Guess I'll just make it a fashion statement!

I completed my wonderful expressive arts course at Salve Regina U. in Newport - what an inspiring experience!  I have already developed and presented a workshop about using expressive arts in education for student tutors at Bristol Community College - it was very well received, opening doors of perception for sure.  I continue to seek creative outlets, and to meditate - extending my meditation for several friends also battling the big C.  I realize there are so many of us struggling with this condition - certainly not an uncommon   journey these days.   We clearly need to open the pathways so that we can bring our internal healing strength to send those Big C cells into beloved apoptosis.

I move into my teaching months with this strengthened healing perspective - my students so often need healing of their lack of confidence in learning, their self doubt.  There are so many avenues for learning - the expressive arts provide roads less traveled yet full of promise.  As the entire BCC campus is reading "The Imortal LIfe of Henrietta Lacks" this year, I am excited about exploring this extraordinary account with students, especially those wanting to go into the health professions.  Rebecca Skloot demonstrates her expertise as a writer but more importantly her sensitivity and compassion for this family whose lives were caught in the contradictions of race, class and opportunity to learn and know.  The book brings to light the amazing scientific advances made possible with Henrietta's living cancer cells, while exposing the discrimination and exploitation of near recent health practices.  This community reading project brings so many parts of my life together - reading, writing and the world of cancer.  stay posted for reports of our adventure with this amazing story.    I am reminded of new ways to teach and share building on the ways my life has become so enriched.   More to come soon!

TRIPS, TOWERS AND THOUGHTS

So here we are, myself, Beth and friend Lisa, at the tower itself.  What an incredible structure, what a fabulous vacation.  Nothing like traveling to make you feel extra alive!

Beth and I, with our niece Madelin, spent a week in Paris and a week in London (friends in London for the year!).  Seeing the incredible beauty of these two cities, meeting amazing folks, getting an international perspective is always enlightening.

The struggle is world wide, of course - we cheered on a breast cancer march in London.  Returned last week expecting chemo (last one in this round) today, but found my immune counts too low - always something!  Am feeling fine, however, and hoping that one more infusion will again result in remission.

Am excited about working on the next One Book (community read) for Bristol Community college - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - by Rebecca Skloot.  This amazing book recounts the story of a woman in the 50's whose cancer cells were the first human cells to be kept alive in lab culture - and the cells continued to live and reproduce so that even today the cells are alive. (see hela cells in color at right)   These cells have been instrumental in research to find remedies for AIDS, polio, and many kinds of cancer.  The book also tells he story of the Lacks family and how they were not informed about their mother's cells use in research.  According to the book, the family suffered as a result, having been pursued for information, and have felt used and abused by the world of science.   As a low income African American family, they went through years of confusion and anger, finally getting help from Skloot to gain credit for their mother. This book is written with sensitivity and care - I highly recommend it!

Will try to blog more often, friends - thanks  for checking in!!

CHEMO CAT CONTINUES...

Hi Patient readers - a long break, I know!  This is my "dress up" outfit for what I hoped was my final chemo for a while.   The little buggies have other plans - there was still evidence of some malignancy on my last CAT scan, so I they scheduled two more infusions - hopefully putting me back in remission.

Otherwise, I am still working full time and very busy! I am excited about projects at Bristol Community College - I am planning a"developmental reading institute" for instructors with limited academic background in developmental reading for August.   Was chatting with old friend Ginny who reminded me that supporting greater literacy is essential for a functioning democracy!   I do my small piece.

We are VERY excited that we will be taking another trip to England - we have friends (Mare and Lisa!) moving there for a year, so we will visit them in London.  We are also taking Madelin, our 11 year old niece, and will be going over to Paris for several days (her dream - what else for a  fashionista named Madelin...)  We are so lucky to be able to do this - will tell all as I travel!

Finally, I am expanding my consciousness through the "Expressive Arts Institute" I am attending at Slave Regina University in Newport, RI.  As I explore using visual arts, movement and sound to tap into the world of my unconscious, to creativity and the power of imagination to heal, I am energized and amazed at the revelations.  I am exploring the work being done to link art with healing - the powerful evidence that using expression, speaking from our right brain, from our intuition reinforces the immune system and helps to usher diseases like cancer to their natural demise.  I draw, dance and sing with these errant cells to guide them towards the cell death (Apoptosis) they deserve!

I promise to write again sooner - happily, life goes on oh blah di....   xxxxxx