Heard from a friend today with a little one who has been quite ill. Take a look at what the poor kid has gone through:
She received a bad diagnosis on pneumonia: 4 days, 4 different doctors, 6 visits, and no one picked up on it. They finally went to ER and she was admitted due to dangerously low potassium levels and near cardiac arrest. She spent 5 days in the Pedi ward, but is now home. Her mom reports she is slowly starting to look like a normal child.
Good Lord, what a terrible mess. Fortunately this story ends well. But there's a lesson to be learned.
Be your own advocate. If you're not happy with the care and/or attention you receive, kick up a fuss and make sure you are taken seriously. If this mom hadn't pressed on looking for answers for her child, there's no telling what might have happened.
Here's more good advice: take someone with you when you have a significant appointment, particularly if you need to discuss a diagnosis, test results, treatment plans, and the like. It's not easy to hear everything, even when you really think you're listening to what's being said.
That's today's lesson.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Be your own advocate
Monday, February 18, 2008
And now, a word from my new sponsor
I hate infomercials, but there's one that holds me spellbound every time I see it. It's the one for the "Bare Minerals" makeup line. Ever seen it?
I've been fussing with different makeup lines for years and never found anything I liked. I haven't find anything that covers the inconsistencies in my skin tone, or that stays on longer than what seems like moments.
PJ and I headed to the Sephora store at the mall (what a place!), and I had a makeover using the Bare Minerals line. It's now going on six hours later and I still look (if I may say so) marvelous!
So go check it out. It's a little pricey to get started but you'll love it.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Today's big purchase
It's been a busy shopping day, from Home Depot to WalMart. We've got some projects that have been on hold for far too long, and today was the day to set out with tape measure, take lots of notes, and start making real plans to move ahead.
The bathroom is going to get a major face lift and we're look for a storage cabinet for the kitchen. PJ is finally getting around to painting her bedroom (something she's been wanting to do for a couple of years). She picked great colors, bought new curtains, and it'll look like a who new place in a few short hours.
By far the most exciting purchase of the day was the Pantene Pro-V "Silver Expressions" Daily Color-Enhancing Shampoo. It's another milestone moment--something as simple as buying shampoo gave me quite a rush. It was a bit expensive, but I'm worth it.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Aromasin
Eight letters, four syllables, pronounced just the way it looks. A-rom-a-sin.
What is it, you ask?
Aromasin is a hormonal therapy for women who have had estrogen-receptor positive early stage breast cancer and have gone through menopause. That would be me. Artomasin officially became part of my life this evening. It's Day One of our five-year relationship.
Yea, five years, assuming I can tolerate the side effects. Check out the percent of women who complained about:
Hot flashes: 21.2%
Fatigue: 16.1%
Joint pain 14.6%
Headache 13.1%
Insomnia 12.4%
Increased sweating: 11.8%
Interesting. Fatigue and insomnia. Hot flashes and increased sweating.
Personally, I'm psyched to see what happens. Not.
Saturday morning musings
So, I've got this absolutely miserable cold, my sinuses are clogged beyond recognition and my chest is layered with what feels like cement. In short, it's not fun, but I'm not complaining because--it's better than having chemotherapy!
I miss reading a daily newspaper by hand. I scan the headlines of four or five major newspapers each day online, but there's nothing like sitting down with the paper, going through it page by page, and--best of all--having to get up when you're done and wash the ink off your hands. I am my father's child.
I got a very nice surprise yesterday. My company was sold earlier this week (it's all good, from one financial holding company to another, nothing changes that I will see). Part of the sale included offering bonuses to employees whose term of service meets certain criteria. I'm spending part of my bonus on a plane ticket to Switzerland. My friend Laura moved there a few years ago to be with her beloved Monica, and they've extended countless invitations for me to come and visit. The timing was never right.
If I learned only one lesson from my breast cancer experience, it's that the timing is rarely right for whatever it is that you need or want to do. My advice isn't that you develop a frivolous attitude, but that you take advantage of opportunities that present themselves or take steps to make opportunities happen. Sometimes you need to be brave and have enough confidence in yourself to take a chance. It may be something as simple as telling someone that you love them, or thanking someone for their kindness. Don't be sorry you didn't make an effort.
So, I'm ticket shopping. I'm not bound to specific dates--I'm hoping for sometime in April or May. I'll keep you posted!Read More......
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
An exciting milestone
Today is the day I get to set aside my "Tom's of Maine Unscented, All-Natural" deodorant stick and embrace my dear friend, "Degree Shower Clean Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant" (invisible solid and body responsive, no less!). Yea, I'm back to applying chemicals to my body.
That's applying chemicals both inside and out. Today is also the day I start taking the drug therapy Aromasin.
Funny thing is, that for as much as a whined and crabbed about it, the "Tom's" served me well (at least no one gave me negative feedback). Maybe I'll stick with Tom.
As to the drugs, I may wait a day or two. I've got the nasty-ass flu bug that's been driving through my office. Don't let me kiss you.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
My weekend hours in front of the tube
I spent the better part of today absolutely spellbound by several episodes of the HBO mini-series “Band of Brothers,” which played this weekend on The History Channel. If you’ve never seen it, I can’t urge strongly enough that you search it out. Rent it if you have to.
It’s the 10-part Tom Hanks-Steven Spielberg series about “E” Company of the 506th infantry regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, from their days in basic training to Normandy and beyond until the end of World War II. As I watched I thought of men I’ve met who fought in World War II, like Leo Grillo and Ernie Doucette, and how they, years younger than my daughter is now, fought to liberate Europe.
I wrote a 13-part series about World War II veterans back in my days as a reporter with the Eagle Tribune (in fact it won a New England Press Association award in 2000 for history reporting). I was so proud of that series because of the amazing people that writing it allowed me to have the honor to meet. I learned more from the 12 men and one woman I interviewed than I even learned in a history class or from reading a book.
In many cases, they had not told their personal stories to their families. Again and again, as we talked about their experiences, family members present during the interview said things like, "You never told me that," or, "I had no idea..."
Are you lucky enough to know someone who served during World War II (or another war or conflict)? Ask about their service. Plan a trip to Washington D.C. and visit the World War II memorial. It will take your breath away and there's no doubt you'll meet someone there who served.
OK, off the soap box. But seriously, when you can, thank a veteran. And rent "Band of Brothers."
Friday, February 8, 2008
This working for a living is tough stuff
At 5 p.m. today I completed my first 40-hour work weeks since sometime in early September of last year. While I can't say it was any fun having chemo or radiation (which was better than chemo, if you have to have some form of treatment), what WAS fun was not working but getting paid for 40 hours.
For the six weeks I was in radiation, I got used to buzzing out of the office each day at 2:30 and being home between 4:30 and 5:00 and in plenty of time to make dinner (or pretend to). I managed the full-time paycheck throughout my treatments because I'd accumulated a lot of vacation time and burned through that rather than take the pay "cut." Not the best way to spend vacation time, but another reason to look at the entire experience and consider myself lucky.
Life continues to return to a more normal pattern, and that's a good thing. We're still contemplating a real vacation and trying to decide where we'd like to go. Of course, as soon as the weather is right, the front porch at the farm will be calling my name.
Today I presented with the opportunity to travel for the company, to Las Vegas in late April for a conference. It's one of those places that I'll be happy to go to again. Dave and I were there in 2005 (again for a work conference) and had a great time. Can't beat such a trip when the company pays for my meals, my airline ticket, and the hotel room.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Wicked huge hair moment
Hey--take a look at the photo! That's a barrette in MY HAIR! Isn't that absolutely exciting as hell?
Soon enough there will be enough to braid!
Saturday, February 2, 2008
My amazing daughter
The phone rang a little while ago--it was PJ calling from the road (she's out this evening with friends). She and I spent the afternoon prowling the mall in search of bargains and essentials. She called to tell me how happy she was to have spent the afternoon with me this way.
"I feel like I have my mom back," she told me.
That right there is why I did all that fighting.
"I would have told you before I went out but you were sitting with your girlfriend, having a drink, and chatting away. I didn't want to interrupt." How could anything she has to say to me ever be an interruption? She just amazes me and she makes me feel so special and so loved.
My friend Tanya visited tonight (that's the friend PJ referred to in her call). Tanya and I had a great evening, talking about our respective battles and our next steps (drugs, follow-ups appointments and such). She's been invited to take part in a multi-year study of breast cancer in younger women (she's only 35...) and I'm proud that she's going to give of herself to help others in this way.
What a great day.
