4 Weeks Left!

So far, so good! Heather's radiation and chemo treatments have not affected her too much so far. She is beginning to be a little more tired and her scalp is beginning to itch and to feel a little "sunburned," but she is doing well. She has reported that her coordination is a little off and she may be forgetting a little more than usual, but she still feels in control and happy and hopeful. She keeps a daily journal and she records everything of importance - from medication to headaches to nausea to important information at work. She does not want anything to be forgotten. She will always have her journal to check. What more can a mom ask for at this point? Every Monday Dr. Popa checks her blood and every Friday Dr. Huang checks with her about her radiation. She is in good hands. We are going to San Francisco in mid-November to visit with Dr. Chang again. Once we see Heather's updated MRI, we will obviously know a lot more.

It seems odd to me that so little is ever shared about brain cancer. Since our family has gone through this, I have heard from so many people who are either battling with it now or who have lost a loved one to it. If this cancer is not one of the "biggies," I feel Omaha must have more than its share of people who have been affected with it. Through this website, I have heard from three people I have never met. Through our "Wear Gray for a Day" campaign, I have heard from five people who have been or are currently affected with it. And through word of mouth, I have heard of another four. I think that is A LOT considering I don't know that many people. Then I was thinking about all the people that I have not heard from or about. Too many, just too many. Why has there not been more improvements in treatments for brain cancer? The funding just isn't there! More reason to spread the word. What if there were two or three hospitals in the country that just focused on ONE type of cancer cure? And another two to three that focused only on another type of cancer. Eventually, they would all work together to find a cure for each specific type instead of a little research here and a little research there. Are all cancer cells different? Why can't there be a cure for cancer in general? I know so little.

Our fundraising efforts seem to be going well. I am impatient. I think big and sometimes have to realize that baby steps come first. But, I am so proud of what so many people have done in such a short amount of time. I am trying to wait until the end of December to see how much we have raised. As donations go to the foundation, I do not know about them. I can get that information whenever I ask for it, but I just have not done that yet. I am waiting for our three October fundraising events for sure: Pampered Chef, Monster Bash, and Old Chicago's event. Maybe then I will ask. My next effort is to start writing grants for matching funds. I found out that I have to prove we can raise money on our own before we will even be considered for a matching grant in most cases.

I talked with Jeff Daley today, and Old Chicago restaurants in Omaha are doing a fundraising on Thursday, October 30. All five locations are going to donate 100% of all cookies sales for that day to Leapforacure! Heather worked at three of the locations in younger years, so I am thrilled that Old Chicago is going to participate in a fundraising event for brain cancer. Let's all go out to eat at Old Chicago on Thursday, October 30 - and order a cookie dessert!

Tonight Heather fell out of the hot tub - well, maybe she tripped or slipped? Although we all laughed, I am concerned about those "little" falls in her life right now. I am always asking myself if it is the radiation or just a normal off-balance fall. She has had three in one week though. At least she finds humor in them :)

We are now also putting a cream on sore spots on her head. So far she only has about two areas that drive her crazy with itching. But we put cream on those spots and then her hair is greasy. So, back to the hair scarves. Without the scarves, she looks like a cockatoo because her hair from surgery is growing back - straight up in the air!

My friend told me today about a new trial with laser that is being done at the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospital in Cleveland. So far, only one person has completed the trial; next week two more will. The laser's heat burns the cancer cells and avoids all other brain cells, so allegedly good cells are not bothered. But the trial is just starting and only with Stage IV patients. Maybe there will be some promise for the future though.

Tonight Heather and I decided she needs to show Dr. Popa her (Heather's) left eye. It is all red. We thought it may be Michele's cat - we are currently Humane Society West - but Heather has stayed away from Tuffy-Kat for two days, and it is only her left eye. I told her to keep her head elevated and to make certain her journal is up-to-date so that she does not forget to share this with Dr. Popa tomorrow. I hope we are concerned for nothing except allergies. Funny, we never ignore anything with Heather anymore. Everything could mean something. In fact, Mike has been a little sick, so Dr. Daryani told him to stay away from Heather. She moved back in with us last week until he is on the mend. Even a little cold is a BIG cold to Heather. Every time one of my students "hacks up a lung," I cringe and reach for my hand sanitizer! The other day I asked a student if he was okay because he kept coughing and coughing up phlegm. He said, "No, I have been sick for two weeks." I wish he would stay home or go to the doctor.

We were able to enjoy the wonderful weather this weekend. Heather, Mike, Jon, and I went to the Husker game Saturday night. We had a small tailgate party with Jon's dad and cousins before the game. I'm so happy Heather enjoyed her day, but she paid for it today. She slept four hours this afternoon. She really needs extra sleep now.

Thank you for reading the blog. I think it offers some therapy for me.