Not Easy but Good in Everyday Ramblings
- May 22, 2014, 9:19 a.m.
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- Public
The roses are really coming on out there. Gorgeous glorious roses everywhere.
Spring just barrels through, doesn’t it? I feel this imperative to be outside as much as I can. I know many of you are in the southern hemisphere and I love that because between us it is close to or being spring all the time. One place or the other.
My sister made it through surgery without complications. She is relatively coherent, recognizes both of her children well enough to grumble at them and tell them to go away. What we know now is that the doctor says she can go home either Sunday or Tuesday depending on how the colostomy bag getting used to unfolds. Kes is going up Saturday. And hopes to talk to the doctor.
We don’t know if they were able to get all of the cancer or if she will need more radiation or chemo and when she can come off the TPN (IV total nutrition). I tell you we are going to have one heck of a happy dance when the port in her chest comes out.
Speaking of being free of cancer, I just got back from seeing my dermatologist and I am all clear! Yippee. They had me sign up for a new registry here in Oregon to track malignant melanoma and I am happy to participate. Kes is too as family members are two to three times more likely to see melanoma themselves. The study is to see why women in Oregon with our persistent cloud cover are more likely to develop terminal melanoma than practically anywhere else in the country.
I am so moved when I am up on the pediatric cancer unit as I am every week now how remarkably normal the kids are. They tear around and play and laugh and eat and get into mischief just like every other kid. I had four caregivers this week in my class. There were four incredible stories of courage and perseverance in that room.
The Department of Motor Vehicles doesn’t open until 9 on Thursdays so I took the morning off to go to the doctor and get over there and renew my license as I am turning 60 in just a few weeks now. My dermatologist is about 78 and I was talking to him about a couple of small age spots on my face. He said he thought they were lovely and unique and I believe he meant it. Considering the alternative I suppose that is true. But man… This aging stuff is all about change and acceptance, the theme of this year for me.
Sammy is taking this opportunity to sit on me, purr and shed. What you want to bet a stray orange hair or five shows up in my license photo?
Good news all round then. Nobody said this was going to be easy.
Zipster ⋅ May 22, 2014
Personally, I am a big fan of kitty hair accessories-orange, black, white, multi-I wear cat hair every day! So glad your sister came thru ok. The age thing is constant. Sometimes, I catch site of myself in the mirror and don't recognize myself.
Lyn ⋅ May 22, 2014
Gorgeous rose in your photo. Great sister news, may it continue. What fun to have Sammy in your photo for your driver's license.
I had no idea that melanoma was so prevalent in Oregon. What a mystery. Love your derm.
Linda ⋅ May 22, 2014
Visiting a pediatric oncology ward should put one's own problems into perspective.
Glad to hear your sister made it through surgery without complications and that you are cancer free. :)
Ragdolls ⋅ May 22, 2014
gypsy spirit ⋅ May 23, 2014
I'm glad your sister's surgery went well. That's a stunning rose. Incidentally its late autumn here and many roses still blooming as well. hugs p
edna million ⋅ May 23, 2014
I'm so glad your sister's surgery went well. I hope all the aftermath is the easy part. That is really weird about Oregon women and skin cancer --- I'm glad you signed up for the registry. Maybe that will help figure out what's going on.
And YIPPIEEE!!! to your good news!
Deleted user ⋅ May 24, 2014
We were taught years ago that cloudy days are actually worse for sunburn (so in my head = potential skin cancer) because the sunlight is reduced but the harmful bits of sunlight were not. Of course, that was when women wore bras made to make theor breasts look like icecream cones, so who knows? I have never forgotten that, though .. um, putting it into practice has been erratic. I'm glad your birthday suit is alsobadness free. I guess, to a dermatologist, skin is just skin, and he can appreciate beauty in a different way. What a lovely remark.
I hope your sister's reports are good and that she recovers her equanimity soon.
seedys ⋅ May 24, 2014
So much going on, some good, some not so much. As we age, it IS all about change. I thought the other day about how rapidly a child changes from birth to 18 or so, bones elongate, brain grows, awkward movement with a continually changing body, etc. Seems to me that when we get to a certain age, we are once again adapting to the constant changing too. But, we're adults now, we notice, we think, we can suffer or adapt. Let's do it as gracefully as possible. Good news about your sister too.