An Arm and Reunion(!) Update

I am so happy to be able to share more good news today. 

I met with my orthopedic specialist this morning for my eight week check on my arm and he said it is healing really well. The X-rays showed a huge difference in the calcification of the breaks. So much so, that he said I no longer need to wear the compression brace that I've been wearing 24 hours/day for the last two months. They had predicted it would take 12 weeks to get to this point, so it feels like a wonderful gift to be ahead of schedule.

Thank you, Erin, for the gift of our own pot of African Daisies. They spark so much joy!

I'm also (even more) excited to share that Han and I have booked our reunion, with my oncologist's blessing. Since both of our countries are closed to each other, we're having to be creative. A few weeks after my last infusion, we will fly to meet each other in Iceland! They are being super careful with visitors, testing everyone for Covid upon arrival. We have our campervan rented and just knowing this is coming up makes all the difference! 

UPDATE: As of July 1st, Iceland has joined the rest of the EU in holding off on welcoming Americans due to our high rates of Covid. This new guideline will be re-evaluated every two weeks. Han and I are hopeful that in the next seven weeks, things will change and the trip will still work out but are having to accept that it may not. Not knowing is not easy. Back to “trusting the process”. Feeling like we’re being forced into a Masterclass on this subject right now.

Thank goodness for video chatting:
 helping us us feel close during these unexpected months apart!

The light at the end of the tunnel has definitely been growing brighter and brighter. Feeling so, so grateful today!❤️❤️❤️

Chemo #4, Good News, and Mother Nature in all her Glory

The "Tree of Life" adapting and thriving under adverse circumstances.

Chemo #4 is complete. Four down two to go! Although I'm already feeling the effects, which is a surprise as it has usually taken a couple days, I couldn't be happier. I had wonderful news from my oncologist.

The MRI result, from the scan yesterday, showed that my body is responding "remarkably" to the chemotherapy. The mass in my arm has shrunk a significant degree for only three treatments. He was very positive.

Of course, this is what I was dreaming of hearing!

The MRI itself was really rough. I was in that tube for such a long time. They kept doing test after test. For anyone who has ever had one you know that is is very loud and claustrophobic in there. I was in there for almost an hour. While I'm usually able to keep a pretty positive mindset about this whole situation, the waves of fear hit pretty hard last night. I wondered if they had to take so long because they were seeing something unusual. I had to really work with the "what if's". There was a feeling of needing to brace myself. 

Now, the good news feels so freeing: like I can breath deeper than I've been able to in a long time.

This is the end to a beautiful week. When I heard Lake Quinault Lodge was opening up once again for visitors, I jumped at the chance to have a little getaway and purposely planned it for this week. I knew an infusion of nature and beauty would be so powerful at this midway point...and it was. My brother, Eric, came over and had special time with Mom, while Zack, Eli, and I made the three hour drive west to one of our country’s most beautiful national parks.

The weather report predicted 100% chance of rain. I thought about cancelling our plans. I'm so glad I didn't. We seemed to be following the sun...with only a few drizzles thrown in while we were on this "Maple Grove Rain Forest" hike. But, the trees protected us from the rain anyway. When it did rain hard, we were tucked in our room and it was a beautiful thing to watch.

These ferns are so giant: you can barely see Zack walking in the trail that winds through them!

I contemplated this thought a lot on the walk. How easy it is to worry about the "weather" in advance. What a useless exercise it usually is. How when you're actually out there, it's not half as bad as expected and when it is bad, you find ways to deal with it. And mostly, how much we would've missed out on if I'd cancelled the trip as a precaution.

This looks like a reflection in the pond...but mostly it's looking into the pond itself: it is so clear, you can see all these plants growing there. It is amazing.

This trail also led to an old farmstead.

Then back again through the forest, where Zack and Eli were deep in conversation against this otherworldly backdrop.

Zack's angle-with me in it! Doesn't it look like dinosaurs would be right at home? I bet they were!

We spent two nights at Lake Quinault Lodge, built in 1927. Such a restful place to recharge and a great base for exploring this area.

We stayed in the old "boat house" on the left in the photo above.

The Pacific Ocean is a 40 minute (beautiful) drive from here. I had a mission to return all the seashells I've collected over the years back to the sea. I couldn't bear to think of them sitting in a storage unit.

Zack climbed this volcanic rock (barefoot) to the far side, took our giant bag of shells and gave them back to the sea.

From inside the "Tree of Life" shown in the first photo.

We also discovered some really special giant trees while we were here.

We happened upon this super big and old Cedar.

And the "World's Largest Spruce"!

I have a favorite prayer/poem I think of all the time. And now with the good news from the doctor, I am feeling it with every fiber of my being:

Till next time, All.

 Thanks so much for your continued love and support!

❤️

Another Week Down

Just a little update to share that my 3rd chemo treatment was uneventful. The nurses are really nice. Although I would love to retrain them on asking, "How are you?!" in their chipper voices as they access my port and hook me up for CHEMO(!). I know it's just such a rote question...but it seems particularly tone deaf in that setting. So, little areas like that (clearly) still feel raw.🙈

Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley

I am finding myself adjusting to the rhythm of it all. Knowing what to expect and that it will pass is huge. This week, I've given in with lots of rest when I'm not feeling great...and Zack and I have gotten out for some nice walks when I've had the energy. It comes in waves...and I'm riding them the best I can.

It's a strange feeling going out with this new "look". I feel exposed and vulnerable. It has made me realize how much I've taken for granted just "blending in" as some sort of armor in the world. I know the more I do it, the easier it will get. Another: no way around, only through kind of thing. It will forever give me more empathy for others who feel this way for one reason or another.

Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton

The midway MRI scan has been scheduled for June 18th (the day before my next infusion). I wish it was sooner as I'm anxious for confirmation that my body is healing right on track. It really forces me to stay in the present moment, more than I ever have before. 

Still no word on when Zack will have to leave. We're in no hurry to get that news!

I also want to share the blog I've been keeping up for Mom, for those wanting to check in on her updates: Gail's Progress Reports. We have our own little support group going on here. I think we're both stronger during this time because we want to be there for the other. Funny how that works. 

So thankful for the steady stream of beautiful flowers that have been brightening up our days!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Till next week....love to you all!