Just having to live with it…

Dear Family and Friends:

It is currently very early Monday morning (12:30 AM) and I am unable to sleep, so I am up and about writing to-do-lists for my girls to help me out… as well as a list for myself. Billie and I will leave for Tucson about 7:45 AM to spend the next 3 days at the Arizona Cancer Center and the beautiful Casa Luna Bed and Breakfast.

I am so excited to be able to spend the next couple of days with Billie before she heads back to Des Moines to finish the semester at Drake. I know it has been difficult for her to be away this semester. She has felt isolated and helpless being the only one away from home at this time. However, all things considered she has had a very eventful semester. Thanks to Lou and Pat Schneider in Des Moines who invited her to model in the “Bras for the Cause” fundraiser and were instrumental in assisting Billie in applying for and obtaining an internship with the Hillary Campaign in Des Moines. This has really made her semester a very special one.

As Michelle noted in the previous blog, I had some difficulty last week. Last Friday we traveled down to Tucson (the town was still buzzing after the Oregon win) to see the gynecologist/oncologist, Dr. Chambers. I took a copy of the CT scan taken last week at St. Joes for her review. The CT did not show any reason for the abdominal pain, but did show some residual fluid in the pelvic area. I was informed that the abdominal cramping may be something I will just have to live with. The option I was given was that I could change the therapy to all IV treatment (and forego the IP (intra-abdominal) treatments), however, the IP treatmenta are much more effective in treating the ovarian cancer. This was not an option to me, I will continue the IP treatments and learn to manage the discomfort better.

We plan to have Thanksgiving Dinner on Friday this week. I hope to have a good appetite by then. Besides, Bill, the girls, son-in-laws and friends will be going to the ASU vs USC game on Thanksgiving night. Go Devils!!!

We have so much to be thankful for this year! As a family we have grown closer and have learned so much about ourselves and each other. I am so very thankful for the love and support from them as well as from all of you. From the bottom of my heart – Thank You All So Very Much!

Happy Thanksgiving,

Colleen