September 29, 2010

 Halfway Through!

I am half way through my chemo treatments as of today and I find myself thinking of all of you!  I realize I couldn’t have gotten this far, nor could my family without all your thoughts, cards, emails, prayers, meals, rides and gifts.
Everyday we receive some acknowledgement of your love and support for us.  It really helps us keep going.

I want to thank my very fashionable friends, Mom and sister, who entrusted me with their Hermes scarves.  Unfortunately, it turns out Hermes scarves are way too fine and fabulous for my bald head!  I would have to use velcro or double stick tape to keep them on.  Way too heavy, high quality silk.  Of course now that I have divulged this I guess I will have to return them.  I am starting quite a collection of beanies though!  When Ella hasn’t snagged them all!
I especially love the ones knitted and crocheted by family and friends!  That bald head does get cold even in the heatwave!

I think I am on prayer lists all over the country, which is comforting.  A dear childhood friend send me a prayer quilt made by her congregation.  Each knot in it is a prayer for my for health and (yes!) patience!  My minister since I was 17 brought me a holding cross — it is a beautiful wooden cross you can hold in your hand when you prayer, kind of like a worry stone.

Our darling neighbors in Wilson, Wyoming are keeping the Wilson post office working late sending me pieces of Wyoming every week.  It was the tried sage from our own drive way that really was glorious!

The meals are amazing. I could feed the entire Rustic Canyon Monday Summer potluck with those meals (Our neighborhood gathers in our darling park Monday evenings in the Summer. It is what childhood memories are made of )

It constantly astonishes me when I pick up the phone and yet another friend says “Jill, I’ve been there.  You will get through it.”  This was the one club I never had any intention of joining (and many of you know I am a little long on clubs!) but once you are a member, you are a cherished member and realize it just may be the best, secret club anywhere — an incredible sister hood.

I have kept each and every card and am surfing the web for the perfect, large box to put them in!

I have filed all the email messages. Maybe a book is the answer- self published of course, free to all of you!

Unbelievably, even  family funeral last week was an amazing source of support.  Steve’s dear cousin, Jim Bacon died at age 96.  He lived quite the Hollywood life hanging with Marilyn and the Rat Pack as a trusted gossip reporter.  Spending the day in church, with the family – wife Doris, kids, grand kids and yes great grand kids was a wonderful solace for everyone.  The stories were amazing.  It reminded me of some crazy family funerals we’ve had in San Diego — not that I am thinking about funerals — more I am thinking about family and how important family is.

I have to share with you all how amazing Steve has been.  You may not have realized it but he does have Mr. Mom tendencies. He had to take the red eye to NYC tonight after attending Marlborough’s back to school night.  Last night he went to Wildwood’s and had to give my Annual Fund speech because I was home recovering.  He arranged for rides to get Ella to the bus in the morning and made Andie promise to get up at 6:00!    Who knew that guy with the shoulder length hair was really such an upright citizen, husband and Father  ( I guess I did!)

Last but not least, I am enclosing a picture of the second wig!  I realized my gray hair had become a signature so I gave in and got a gray one!  I haven’t actually worn it yet, but I have it just in case!  You will note I tried my best to use Ella as camouflage!!

Much love to you all!  Keep us in your thought as we do the chemo count down!

September 17, 2010

It Takes A Week!

That is the mantra I need to remember after every chemo treatment.  It takes me a week to recover.  Not 3 days, not 5 days, a week!  So would you all please remind me of that at the end of September when I go for my next treatment.  I know it seems totally out of character, but I get frustrated and impatient that I am not feeling better earlier.

Right now, I feel terrific. Oh it’s been a week and 3 days!  Amazing!  

Just to be clear. Steve has the dark hair!!!!!

Steve and I took Ella to Denver last weekend for a Eliza Stein’s Bat Mitzvah.  Eliza is the daughter of Stefan, who Steve has known since Summer Associate days at Wyman Bautzer.  (There are so many crazy memories in that last sentence!!!) Anyway, we really wanted to go and support Eliza and Steve was loathe to leave me at home.  So we hung at the Ritz Carlton Denver.  I have to say if you are taking 4 hour naps, there is no better bed to be in than that extra puffy Ritz Carlton bed.  Ella perfected the art of delivering ginger ale and lattes from the Club room.  She probably made a lot of tips making lattes for all the hotel guests while she was at it.

I know you are all desperate to hear about and see the wig.  Well, it didn’t work out so well.  I think we may have started with a bum steer, as they say.  But it will become a nice tax deductible donation to the American Cancer Society.  I am sure there is a cancer patient with a 50s style sensibility who is looking for a pouffy wig just that totally unnatural color!  Steve keeps telling me I look great in a scarf and after discounting his good reasons for exaggerating at least a little, I am thinking the scarves look pretty good.  (OK, pretty good, could be an exaggeration)  I am including a photo from the Bat mitzvah.  You all can vote!  I should set up a text number and make a little money on the side!

On the cancer front, yesterday I went to the UCLA Multidisciplinary Clinic at the Revlon Breast Center.  It is a clinic set up specifically for second opinions.  You go for the whole afternoon with all your records and the team of experts comes in to see you.  At the end they all convene together, discuss your case, and your lead advisor comes back to report their thoughts.  I had the head of the Clinic, Helena Chung, for my lead adviser.  They concurred with everything that has been done so far and with the plan of treatment as it is laid out in the future.  The only suggestion relates to whether to sandwich the surgery in before the chemo is completed.  The thought is to give my body more time after surgery prior to radiation.  I will discuss with my oncologist and see.  Knowing me, I would rather blast on through but I am really working hard on the patience thing so you never know!!

We can’t thank you enough for you cards, letters, food, emails, prayers and positive thoughts.  The support that comes from you all often brings  tears to my eyes.  It is just overwhelming to know so many people have your back and are there for you and the entire family.  We have especially appreciated the friends who have checked in with my Mom and Dad.  That  really helps to extend the circle of love and prayer that surrounds us.  Special shout outs to my drivers, Laurie and Lisa, and our dinner bringers: Lorrie, Jill B (lite), Susan and Margot!

September 7, 2010

Before

During

After, note image in mirror!

Note to self: consider tats!

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words!

So here are 4 pictures and a few words to go with them.

My folks came up for a first visit on Friday.   It was great to see them, their first time up since the diagnosis.  We played board games, sat in the sun, made chocolate chip cookies and took naps!  We had a beautiful sunset dinner at the  Bel-Air Bay Club.  Saturday was tennis day.  Everyone went to watch Andie hit!   Excellent exercise for all!  They headed home after lunch, but it was wonderful to see them.

In my last email I mentioned I was holding out shaving my head until after my folks left and I had made it to a black tie wedding on Sunday. Well, I just couldn’t hold out until the wedding!  Let’s just say when I washed my hair Saturday, we would’ve put our plumbers 6 children through college with the drain cleaning bill, if I hadn’t had the sense to call Steve to help me get the hair out of the shower!!!  Like a true gentlemen, he helped me clean it up and stayed with me until I got what was left of my hair dry.  He then went to the internet and found out Floyd’s Barbershop would be open on Sunday!

As promised, Terry Davis, he of the large stature and bald pate, accompanied us to Floyds.  The photos pretty much say it all!  I managed to look pretty pulled together for the wedding thanks to a beautiful silver and black scarf my sister sent me.  (Note, you’ll have to take my word on this one, no photo included).
I had chemo today and it went really well.  The port worked easily (no one fainted!)  Instead of 5 hours it only took 3!   Thanks to my friend Laurie McCarthy for driving me. And Steve for delivering Starbucks coffee!

Just finished a yummy dinner compliments of Susan Harris.

Thank you for all your prayers, cards, emails and calls.  We can’t get through this without you!

September 3, 2010

Always an option, Not!

One Cycle Down, Five To Go!

I am feeling pretty good, 3 weeks after the first treatment.  Of course, I start again on Tuesday!  I felt so good yesterday I went and hit with my pal and tennis pro Terry Davis for 1/2 hour.  The thing about hitting with a pro is that if you ask nicely they hit everything right back to you and you hardly have to run at all!   I must’ve played well because then I got a call from Joanne Russell (Wimbledon champion) who was feeling “rusty” and needed someone to hit with, just for 1/2 hour on Saturday.  The message was so delightful it made me tear up!  (Thank you tennis friends who passed on my news to Joanne!)  So the Champ and I are going to knock the ball around for a while Saturday!!!!

The next conundrum is hair!  It is definitely starting to come out, and I told myself I would just go and get it shaved.  In fact, my same pal Terry Davis, is my date for the barber shop!  But now we have a family portrait on Sunday and I would sure like to stretch until then!  Come on hair, hang in there!  I do get to pick up my wig on Saturday.  I have no clue what it looks like, I just trust in Sean and Jen!  So if you see a drop-dead blonde with short hair walking down Montana Avenue it could possibly be me, especially if she is walking a Bernese Mountain Dog!  Or if you just see a Berner walking a woman in a headscarf, honk and wave that’s definitely Cody taking me for  a walk!


We are so thankful for all the friends and family who send notes, emails and call.  It really helps us to keep our spirits up!