Sunday, January 11, 2009

Time to Cash My Reality Check


Most days I wake up and I'm thankful for everything. Yesterday, not so much. Instead it was tearful, emotional, angry....what an ugly way to spend a day. I woke up coughing so hard I ended up in the bathroom throwing up. My temperature was up for a few days but it seems to be stable now. Although the doctors didn't use the word "pneumonia", I'm pretty sure that's what it is. It's an infection in the area of my lung that has the most cancer in it. I guess antibiotics and rest is the best medicine.

On a side note, I want to thank all of you who sent us Haggen gift cards to use toward the co-pays because we have started with a new insurance company this month and my co-pay for the one antibiotic was $70. Yikes. Thanks again. Knowing that co-pays are covered allows us to focus our attention on other things, like getting well.

Rick's rash continues to worsen and he hates it. His hair has virtually fallen out. He continues to work but he is really fatigued. And all of this is after only one round of chemo. It is amazing how hard this erbitux has effected his body. Although hes not thrilled with the reaction it is causing, he still wants to go forward with it.

Rick and I missed brunch at Jake & Megan's yesterday morning, and then we missed Dawn's 40th Birthday Party. We were feeling down and tired. We thought we could use a day resting around the house more than we needed anything else. Exposing ourselves to extra germs was our biggest concern. Missing these events made me emotional because I felt like cancer won for the day.
Cancer could keep us in the house, but it couldn't keep our loved ones out. Vickie stopped by to visit. She was like a little angel. It seemed as though she brought her beauty shop to our house. She cut my hair and gave rick a pedicure. Angie and Shannon stopped by around that time so they got hair cuts too. We played guitar hero, laughed, and had a good time.... considering. My friend Lynell stopped by to check on us and it was much appreciated. I know we are surrounded by good people and we don't take that for granted.

Today we had another day of lounging around the house. Just so you don't think I'm really a slob, I cleaned up and changed into clean pajamas. :) Jeff and Dawn stopped by tonight with the girls to visit. Amy stopped by on her way home from military training in Tacoma. I've attached a picture of Darlena and Amy, sharing her uniform. Rick went to the office for a while tonight to work on a quick project. He promised not to be out long.

I will write more tomorrow. I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Dream Big-
Dor

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

rick and Doreen,
Hang in there, I know it is hard when my husband hair started falling out he wanted me to shave his head. In 25 years I have never seen him without hair or a mustache. It was hard on both of us, but he kinda likes it. His new treatment his hair is coming back and thank goodness so is the mustache.Oour new treaatment that will will be in seattle for the only side effect is bledding ( I say only ). Keep your postive thoughts.