[Editor’s Note – these journal entries were made in the fall and early winter of 2007. Jeanette turned sixty-six on November 2nd. She refers to that in a previous chapter. The reader might be interested in understanding that, at this point in her journaling, Jeanette is three years away from the end of her battle – November 30, 2010. There are times, such as with Chapter Seven, when editing becomes a little difficult. For one thing, the entries bring back memories of those days and the struggles she faced. For another, when the struggle becomes more intense her writing becomes a little more hurried. I have slowed the pace by putting in the small connecting words Jeanette skipped as she wrote, but at times I’ve been tempted to leave some of the sentences as they were so they would communicate the kind of emotion I pick up in reading them.]
CHAPTER 7
THANKFUL
Why do I say that? Because in spite of some things, I can still be thankful in everything. Three people I know of have passed away in last six months. Actually one of them in the past few days with cancer. That made me sad but also made me think on some things. I know I am a survivor, going and going. For most part, I can do what I want and need to. I know I can stop and relax when I need to. I also found out I have lower resistance so I need to avoid large crowds. It’s not mandatory for me to be in them so I won’t be.
I found out my cancer count went up again to 152. So the yo-yo’s going up higher. Hopefully it’ll start coming down. I’m thankful that Dr. Musa’s keeping his eye on it. That’s why I need to go for blood work often, as I said before.
With the colonoscopy, I would /could do a lot of bleeding - being on the chemo. All in all, I can be thankful even with my left kidney. At least it’s not worse. It’s being kept track of. So, even when I may get overwhelmed at times, I know Lord is working with each detail. He’s also given me three good doctors.
CHAPTER 8
CATCHING UP
For once, even when I was sick few days after last chemo, I managed to stay out of the hospital. The times I had to stay in the hospital, I wasn’t sure if it was the flu bug or the chemo. Chemo can give you flu type symptoms.
My sister Dottie and her husband came home for Thanksgiving. So did Barb and Lew, her husband. Dad and I rode over with Dottie and Dave to Norwich. There were a couple families that couldn’t make it.
The next day, Dottie and Dave came over. He worked on my computer, wiping out some things I didn’t want and saved what I did want. Then he showed me few things. Now after I’m all ready for Christmas, I’ll do some more things and store them on my computer to save.
The next day Barb and Lew came over. She and I had a good visit. Then we went down to Dad’s for lunch. We had pizza which they brought with them. They stayed until 3:00. Last Tuesday I went over to Norwich to spend a few days with Jerry and Bonnie.
I’m almost dozing so I guess I’ll turn in and turn off the light. I told you about the chemo medications and medication that keeps me from being sick. I discovered three weeks ago that the little bag contains the nausea med. The nurse uses that before she puts the IV bag up for my chemo. It still does the job of keeping me from being sick.
I had chemo yesterday. I was given a copy of my blood work results. My cancer count went down from 152 to 112. That’s good! At least it didn’t go up again.
I met with the P.A. Monday morning after I had my blood work at Dr. EL Hassan’s office. Today, the (sixteenth of December) I went for my pre-testing. I had my stent changed the tenth. So far as I know, everything went well. I didn’t have any problems. I should know more tomorrow the 17th when I see Dr. El Hassan. That is unless my appointment is changed due to the weather.
I heard last Wednesday that Dr. Musa had a bad back. So I didn’t get my appointment with him. I sure hope he gets better. I sure hate to think I would have to change doctors. I heard he wasn’t too good at that time.
We didn’t go anywhere for dinner today. We went down to Dad’s. It was just as well. I was busy in the bathroom. I also didn’t feel too spiffy so just relaxed through out the day.
Weather permitting, I’ll be going over to Jerry and Bonnie’s this coming week. If it doesn’t work out, I won’t be upset. I’ll just spend Christmas Eve with Dad and Clara. I had a sleepless night last night. I couldn’t get comfortable in any way with my legs. Every time I had to go to the bathroom, they would hurt when I walked. This morning to make the long story short, I called Dr. Hayes’s office.
I discovered that above the calf on my left leg was red. When the nurse pressed on it, it felt tender. I was sent for a Ultra Sound there. Thank goodness there were no blood clots. I did have the start of an infection. Katie Hayes gave me a prescription for an antibiotic to take for ten days-twice daily. I hope to sleep better tonight. I also am to keep my feet elevated much as possible.
When I had a appointment with Dr. El Hassan, I was told that my left kidney will never get better. I was glad to hear it wasn’t any worse. He said his main concern is that I don’t get infection. I’d say the stent is keeping it at least stabilized - with the stent being changed often. You’re probably wondering why I say Dr. El Hassan now. It’s because I just noticed just recently by looking at my appointment card with his name on it. So I decided I better correct it now. I also heard that Dr. Musa is doing much better. Thank God for that.
CHAPTER 9
CHRISTMAS AT LAST
DETAILS
I’ve been told once that I was good at giving details. I’m not too sure about that. That is one of my habits though. I try not to do it too much, try to avoid it now. I don’t want to turn people away from me. Here are some details though.
I did get all done and was ready for Christmas. It did pay to start early with my cards -seeing I did close to 300 some cards, shopping, wrapping and decorating. I did get my small tree decked out and had 5 or 6 International dolls by it and in front of it.
Again, I thank Dr. Musa for the type of treatments he had me on and the medication for nausea. Because of that, I could do all I needed and wanted to do. I could also enjoy my holiday.
I’ve been to Jerry and Bonnie’s for a visit. Bonnie and I watched special Hallmark movies and played a few games. Christmas Eve My niece Judy and her family came for dinner that night. Jerry and Bonnie had been working on it all day. After Judy and her family came, we played a game while waiting for dinner to be ready. Then we ate. Jerry and Bonnie had it laid out buffet style. After dinner was over and dishes done, we settled in to have the tree. I got a lot more than I expected. Then we had dessert.
Christmas Day, after Jerry and Bonnie had gotten ready what they fixed for dinner, we came back to Cortland to have dinner with Dad. While they were cooking in the meantime, they had two phone calls from Barb my sister and then my brother Jerry’s and Bonnie’s son, Kevin. I got to talk to both of them. After we had dinner at Dad’s and we played a game.
A few days later on Saturday, we had a family Christmas at Bob and Teresa’s. That was a good day too. Jerry and Bonnie, Judy, Dave and the boys were there. Clint, Bob’s son, came a little after we started eating. We visited for quite awhile. The boys were getting anxious for their presents. I ended up passing them out. I got a lot more again than I expected. I got a big surprise too. I was given a laptop for Christmas and two big packages of copier paper. I had already bought one package just shortly before that. So I could see I would have plenty enough paper now for awhile, also money for ink cartridges.
Judy and Dave were coming over to set my laptop up for me, They did and he also transferred my documents from the computer I was using over to my laptop. He showed me some things - how to work it. Then he had me sit down and try it.
Sometimes I get overwhelmed about all this. I often wonder how I deserved all this. Not because of the gifts I received but because I have a very caring family. I try to show my appreciation in many different ways.
After my computer specialists comes and takes the computer, tower, keyboard and the mouse that came from the church, I’ll start my work on this new lap-top. I have lot of things I want to do but can relax and give myself some space.
Well! These are all the details I have. I go for chemo this week. Good way to start the New Year off with. It’ll be interesting to see what will pop up around the corner in ‘2008 I’ll soon find out.
Tonight I finished a story I started this afternoon. Then, when I finished it, after looking for it for some time, I found not only what I just finished - listed in the document list but one I saw yesterday. I discovered I didn’t go far enough down to find it before. After all that, I feel more at ease with my lap-top and little more confident. It’s a good thing as I have lot of work I want to do on it. I’m saving it all this time. That’s why I still have all I want on it now save so far. It’s a good thing I saved all the other stuff. It’ll save me time to do more. I still have a lot to learn.
So with this in mind, I’ll close this chapter out with saying-Happy New Year. Look for the next book coming up. It’ll be called “Where I’m At”
[Editor’s note – After the end of Jeanette’s battle, the family graciously gave her laptop to Bible Baptist Church. It now serves our Academy in the kitchen – a place Jeanette loved – as a means of correlating lunch orders for students and inventory for supplies.]
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