One More Time...here we go again!

I met with my UCSD oncologist last week and got the low-down on the new chemo plan. Since it is an oral medication she thinks it is best to take my port out since it could cause an infection. Yes, it is time to "terminate" Arnold! I hope they let me keep it...I'm weird like that. ;o) I will be getting that done on Wednesday. My friend Lucia will be taking me since Joe will be out of town and Kendall will be teaching. I will be under a light anesthesia so I am sure I will be a bit goofy, heaven knows she has seen me this way before! lol

Lucia and I getting in a good long hike at Torrey Pines!

The following Monday I will be starting Xeloda. I will take it after breakfast and dinner every day for 2 weeks followed by a week off. I will continue this pattern for 6 months...yup, I said 6 months! It's a long one but I want to throw it all at this thing. The main side effects this causes is diarrhea (lovely) and something called hand and foot syndrome. When the nurse read through everything I am supposed to avoid in hopes to prevent getting it, it pretty much described everything that is involved with being a hairstylist. Don't be on your feet too much, keep your hands dry, no hot or cold water on hands and feet, don't wear rubber gloves...I mean really?!?! 

It also says that I can't go on long walks or hiking, aerobics...needless to say I am trying to pack all that stuff in now while I can!

The medication also reduces my red and white blood counts so that puts me back in the no hugs and being extra careful with germs and crowds. I am totally banking on not having any of these symptoms. I did so well with my other chemos and radiation that I am just sure I will do fine with this as well. After all, I have a wedding to help plan, make things for and most of all, attend! What a joyous distraction!

Blessings and Goodbyes

So today we celebrated my friend Kyle's birthday and life. Yes, it was his birthday today and also the day we all said goodbye. It was heartwarming to see the church packed full of people that all loved Kyle, what an incredible turn out for such an incredible man. Listening to everyone talk about Kyle filled my heart with such pride. I always knew he was an amazing guy but hearing person after person get up to talk about him was so enlightening. He was truly a man of God and so dedicated to his family, church, and friends. I am so proud of him and all that he did without bragging to us or looking for any kind of recognition. He was a blessing in my life but also to so many others. 

Kyle Hammerness, I am so grateful our paths crossed in life. Rest in paradise my friend! 

Kyle and his beautiful family at his son's confirmation

Clarity...Prayers are Answered

You are all incredible prayer warriors...you are all the bomb.com for sure!!! Clarity is what I wanted and clarity is what I certainly got! If you remember, I was completely confused and torn between the two chemo options I was given though UCSD and didn't know how to make the decision.

My consultation/second opinion with Dr Traina at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York was great and so was she. Cameron went with me since the rest of the family had headed back home by then. I was so glad he was able to go and hear everything that she had to say. First of all she was so kind and positive, I liked her from the moment she came into the room. A lot of information was given but to put it all in a nutshell she told me that I need to go on Xeloda (the oral chemo) and that they wouldn't even contemplate putting me on carboplatin at Memorial Sloan Kettering. She said based on my residual tumor that she highly recommended me doing adjuvant chemo and not leaving things the way they are and just hoping for the best. It left no doubt in my head as to what I am supposed to do and I am so very thankful for that! Clarity is a wonderful thing and thank you all for your prayers!

I will be meeting with my oncologist here on Tuesday and start Xeloda this coming week. I don't have all of the nitty gritty details yet but as soon as I do I will let you know. Put your seat belts on...here we go again on the chemo ride! 

The Big Apple

Our family trip was amazing! We all traveled to New York to join Cameron there for our last "Sczempka, family of 5 trip". With Kendall getting married in August it will probably be the last time we will all get away together. Needless to say, we all had a blast. 5 crazy Sczempkas set free in NYC...how could it have not been a blast!?! We walked tons of miles (about 20,000 steps a day), rode bikes for hours, ate incredible food, saw 4 shows and learned a lot about the subway system! Cameron was an incredible guide, host and social director...he even fit in a couple of auditions and a voice lesson to boot. We stayed at his apartment in Harlem to add to the experience. It is actually an historic building and I loved it! Did I mention RATS? Yeah, can't leave that part out. It is one thing I will never get used to. When we would walk on the neighborhood streets at night time the little darlings would come out in hoards! One place in particular that we had to walk past every night to get to the apartment was the best for the rat experience. There would be 20 to 30 of the lovely things scurrying about. They were the size of small cats...I swear to you! YUCK!!!

The little cutie if front of me
kept my mind off of the guy by
poking her hands through the
seat and playing peek a boo!

 

The guy next to me on the
plane coming home. Other than
his snoring, breathing on me
and taking up part of my seat
it was lovely!

Our family has always cherished and appreciated our time together but in light of the recent health "hijacking" we certainly value it even more. My heart is so full with joy to have had this time all together and now we get to focus on the joyous occasion of Kendall and Christian's upcoming wedding! We couldn't ask for a better man for her to spend her life with. It was an extra bonus for me to get to spend a few extra days there with it just being Cam and I. We went on a VERY long bike ride (that put us in another world. We ended up in a huge hasidic Jewish neighborhood...oy vey...very cool), saw another show and had some incredible one on one talks. I will put all of these gems in my little treasure box of life for sure. I am so grateful for it all!

Blessings

One of my many blessings in this life has been a very special group of friends that I have known forever! Some of them I met in elementary school and the rest of them I met in junior high. We are a small bunch and we have never lost contact with each other. Our lives have stayed beautifully intwined all these years. They are family to me and I love them all dearly. They are the ones that all pitched in and blessed me with my wig!

Our sweet Kyle, he will be so very missed

Unfortunately I received some incredibly sad news today. One of these dear friends passed away early this morning leaving his beautiful wife and 2 young sons behind. Kyle was a great dad, husband, friend, and devout Christian. He actually called me while I was in New York and I am so glad I missed his call because I have a voice message from him that I will save forever. What I am not happy about, and have been dealing with the guilt over, is that I didn't call him back. I was going to actually call him today since I flew in late last night. The whole trip was a whirlwind and I wanted to be able to call and catch up without the distractions. I am thankful to have been given the news in person. Tom and his wife Donna drove to our homes to let each of us know and I can't even begin to imagine how hard that must have been since Tom and Kyle were best friends. This is the second person we have lost from our group of old friends and my heart aches thinking about it. First Chris and now Kyle...sure reminds us all to treasure each moment and each loved one. Life is so delicate and short. Please keep Kyle's family in your prayers.

Prayers Needed

Hello my wonderful friends. So I leave tomorrow morning for NY! I will meet up with Joe in Chicago since he is there on business and we will fly the rest of the way together. Then Danielle and Kendall will fly in on separate redeyes and arrive Saturday morning. This is our last "family of 5" trip before Kendall is a married lady!

I humbly ask for you all to keep me in your thoughts and prayers...especially on Friday, April 15th. No, not because I am in trouble with it being tax day but because I will be meeting Dr Traina at Memorial Sloan Kettering to get advice on my next step with more chemo. I know I want to pursue more chemo but I am feeling extremely lost as to which type to get. I ask for your prayers that I will have clarity after talking with her. I have been patiently waiting for God's direction with this but truly don't feel I have had a clear sign yet. It is time to make the big decision and I am at a loss.

I should have started chemo this week but then I wouldn't have been able to take this trip. We had to schedule it around Kendall's spring break and this is the only time we could really do it. It is what it is and I just have to trust that this 2 week delay won't make a difference. I feel so excited for the trip and our family time together!!!  It is a true blessing and I so thankful for it.

Off I go and I just know I will feel all of your prayers and thoughts on the 15th!!

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

XO,

Beth 

(I don't return until the evening of the 18th so I won't be able to blog until I get back and catch my breath but I will let you all know how it went as soon as possible)