In May, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, my last chemo date of Sept. 28 seemed so far away. But, it's over now, and I am officially in remission - for the next 5 years!!! Yeah!! After that, as long as no cancer shows up, I'll be considered cured....With all the chemo. drugs building up in my system, these last couple treatments have been especially difficult, and I'm sure that this one won't be any different. But, now it's over, and I have a few weeks off before things start happening. Towards the end of October, they have me scheduled for a visit with my Oncologist (my "traffic cop"), my radiation oncologist, a body scan, and a mammogram. My radiation will probably start around the first of November and I'll be done by mid-December. What a wonderful Christmas present that will be!! I might even have a little hair by then!

It's been quite a week for Sam too. He was in Ottawa, KS, and on the way, had breakfast in Des Moines with our good friend Roger Rhodes on Wednesday. This morning (Thursday) he was in Columbia, MO, and had breakfast with Denise Krueger Lasley's husband, Sam. My Sam always enjoys meeting up with people when he can and when the schedule allows. He'll be home tonight, and that's always good.

Before I left the hospital today, the nurse's gave me a pink & white beaded bracelet that one of them made and I got hugs from all of them. They're such a great group, doing a very difficult job.

Thank you, everyone, for your continued prayers and support.
Love,Karen

Last Chemo

Last CHEMO tomorrow!!! YEAH!
We are so glad that you are almost done with treatments. Radiation and then having hair again!!
We send lots of hugs from MN.

Sept. 21, 1968

Recognize anyone? ......and they said it wouldn't last! 38 years! Amazing......A few days after our wedding, we loaded up our '65 Chevy, and headed for California where Sam was stationed. Everything we owned was in that car. We had a map, but no place to live and no idea where in the heck we were going! Were we ever naive! We got to Long Beach, and found this "beautiful" studio apartment for $100 a month. WOW! So many years ago - so much has happened. We have a beaufitul family, which we are so thankful for and 6 of the cutest grandkids around.

Just thought that you might all enjoy the picture. Have a great week-end!

Love,
Sam & Karen

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

UPDATE

Hey Everyone,

It's a cool and rainy Tuesday - good day to stay inside. But, I love the change of seasons - the air smells so crisp and clean.

Kelly, Ron & kids got home o.k. on Saturday afternoon - tired from driving straight through - 22 hours. Kids are back in school now and everything will get back to normal, whatever that is.

I spent today at the hospital. Well, not all day - I worked my 2 hours, then went. I was so sick over the week-end, and figured I was dehydrated, so they wanted me to come in for a liter of fluid. My hemoglobin count was way low again, so I got 2 pints of blood too. Should feel like a new woman by morning!!

We hope to go to Elgin on Friday to spend some time with Sam's mom. We haven't been there for a while, so are looking forward to getting away. She always enjoys company and especially loves getting out of there for a few hours. Amongst her whole family, someone is there almost every week-end.

Have a great week!

Karen

This is for my Sister !!

This is for my sister again---We Love You !!!!

5 down/1 to go!!

Hello everyone!
I have 5 chemo treatments down and just one to go!! Yeah!! That sounds just awesome, doesn't it?!? The Dr. was right - they are getting more difficult, but just one more, so I can deal with that. Then I'll have 4 weeks off and then 6 weeks of radiation. I should be all done with all of this by Christmas. What a Christmas present.....Awesome...I had a follow-up appointment with the surgeon last week, and he said that everything looked just fine, so that's a relief and also great news.
Kelly, Ron and the kids headed home this afternoon. They were here for a week. We had such a nice time with all of them, but were ready for them to head home! Don't envy them the drive at all - 22 hours, straight through. They left this afternoon, so they could hit Atlanta in the middle of the night. Good idea. Driving straight through is tough - something for the younger people! Kelly & Christy went with me yesterday to the hospital and had lots of questions, so that was good for them.
We don't have anything planned for the rest of the week-end - just to hang out here at home. I'll probably sleep a lot, which is normal after a treatment, and Sam will mow lawn. Pretty boring, aren't we?!
Have a good week-end, everyone, and thanks again for your support, your prayers and your encouragement.

Karen

I've had several requests to update my blog, so I thought that I better get with the program!! Kelly and her family got here last Friday. They were quite worried about Hurricane Ernesto hitting Florida before they left, but it pretty much fizzled out, thank goodness. They left Ft. Myers @ 5:30 p.m. on Thursday and got here @ 3:30 p.m. on Friday. They drove straight through, so Kelly and Ron were pretty tired. We're having a good time with them.

Stacy came down for the week-end, and yesterday we all went over to Dave and Karen's (Sam's brother) in Cedar Rapids. Their one daughter, Katie, just had a baby girl 3 weeks ago and their other daughter, Terra, is expecting twin girls. It was so good to see all of them.

I'm doing o.k. - very, very tired all the time, and very achy. #5 treatment is this Thursday. I'll be anxious to see what the Dr. says on Thursday. I'm still working a minimal 2 hours a day, but if Dr. Mercer had his way, I wouldn't be working at all. He keeps stressing that people that people just don't realize what the chemo does to their bodies, and I'd have to agree, cause it's tearing mine up. After my last chemo treatment, I'll have 6 weeks off to heal a bit before the radiation starts. I should be done with everything just in time for Christmas! Yeah!!

Sam will be home shortly - he took the rest of the week off. He has been my rock and strongest supporter. Don't know what I'd do without him.

All for now - thank you everyone for your phone calls, your emails, your notes of encouragement - I couldn't do it without all of you~!

Love,
Karen