It's Working!

From Sharon

Ruth and John returned from a fun, 5-day Caribbean Cruise last week and visited the good doctors at Chapel Hill this week.  Ruth's iron level has been low so she's received one of two iron infusion treatments to bring her iron back up.  She's still receiving monthly injections of Octreotide to help manage her cancer symptoms...a big plus after having to get 3 injections daily.  Thanks partly to the cruise, she's gained about 4 pounds.

In Chapel Hill, she had an MRI done to see if the chemoembolization procedure she had done on the right side of her liver in September had done any good.  She waited around to get the results from the MRI the same day and boy, was it worth it!  The cancer is gone from the treated side of her liver!  Gone!  This is the same liver that was "covered in malignant lesions" when her cancer was originally diagnosed. 

The doctors were very pleased, but seemed to expect such positive results.  Thank goodness for modern medicine and cancer research.  Ruth will be undergoing a second chemoembolization procedure this coming week for the left side of her liver.  Assuming the same wonderful results, her liver should be able to go back to what it does best without a cancer handicap for a long time.  This does not guarantee the cancer won't return as it is originating from the small intestine.  However, the type of cancer in the small intestine is very slow-growing and it doesn't seem to be a major concern at this time.  If it does come back to her liver, the procedure can be repeated.

Ruth feels better prepared for her second procedure and expects to have emotional swings and pain in her side and shoulders for up to two weeks following.  Knowing how well the end justifies the means makes it all worth it though.  Kind of like childbirth. 

Sharon

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

From Ruth......

I had a hair appointment Oct 13 to get my hair cut at Milady (place that has been cutting my hair for the past 7 years).  My beautician is Mavis.

Mavis had me come sit in the chair.  She asked me when I last had my hair cut.  I said 4 weeks (looked just now and found it was last cut Aug 5 (6 weeks ago).  She said it has not grown at all.  Unless I wanted it shorter, she could do that.  I let her know it was short enough.  She ran her hand through the top of my hair and announced that I had lost a lot of hair.

My hair needing nothing I made apptmt  for 3 weeks later, but I believe I will have to cancel that.  At least I am not bald........yet.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

From Sharon.

Ruth asked that I update the blog to let everyone know she's doing really well.  Her only complaint is that she isn't able to gain any of her lost weight back.  I'm thinking of trying to liposuction some of my flab and transfer it over to her.  Ah, if only that were possible!  Think of how many cancer patients, Third World countries and runway models we could help with our American fat.  But I digress....

Ruth is back to offering her skills as a substitute organist in New Bern.  She and John attended her 50th college reunion at Wake Forest this past weekend, camping in their new camper instead of hoteling it.  Discovering that their truck strained too much to pull the bigger camper, they have purchased a 6-seater truck with a V-8 engine. 

While they were away in Winston-Salem, some of their neighbors took it upon themselves to give Ruth's yard a makeover.  Ruth loves doing yard work, but has fallen behind lately for obvious reasons.  Rachel, Joe, Ina and Mary Lynn have redefined the word neighbor.  They saw a need and took the initiative as a surprise gift.  Ruth and John came home to a freshly manicured, trimmed and edged lawn.  The plant around the mailbox has been freed from its weed entanglement.  The trash removed, the bushes trimmed, etc.  They even left a beautiful mum for my Mum on the porch.  Major thanks to Rachel, Joe, Ina and Mary Lynn.  Thanks also to Mary Lynn for caring for Boom Boom and Serenity whenever Ruth and John are out of town.  And now that I have this song bouncing around in my head, here are the full lyrics by Mister Fred Rogers:

It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor.
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?...

It's a neighborly day in this beauty wood,
A neighborly day for a beauty.
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?...

I've always wanted to have a neighbor just like you.
I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.

So, let's make the most of this beautiful day.
Since we're together we might as well say:
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor?
Won't you please,
Won't you please?
Please won't you be my neighbor?