Home Again...and I am finally updating!

Wow-it has been a long time since I updated my blog. I had no intention of leaving you hanging, and I apologize to any of you who wondered if our plane just never came down! We are home, and I am focusing hard on taking all of my supplements each day and following my diet to the letter. That's why it didn't really occur to me to update.

As of my last update last Saturday, we had an uneventful few days finishing up treatment, then we flew to San Diego on Monday, where we saw a little of the city and stayed overnight. Then on Tuesday we flew home to some children and family members who were almost as happy to see us as we were to see them! We got home to an ice-covered wonderland--or nightmare, depending on how you look at it. I thought it was beautiful, but it certainly was cold. When the plane arrived at the Springfield airport, we were stuck on the plane for a long time because they couldn't get the jetway to motor over to the door of the plane. It was frozen solid! They had to use a tug and move the airplane instead to a jetway that worked.

Since arriving home I haven't felt terribly well. I don't know if it was just the adjustment after the rigors of traveling, or what, but I don't have a great deal of strength and I seem to suffer from a great deal of pain that my pain killers sometimes don't even touch. Part of the problem seems to be indigestion-related bloating. Everything I eat seems to cause discomfort, and I eat very, very little. However, with faith, I continue to force myself knowing that I must follow doctors orders and that this, too, shall pass. One of these days I'm going to feel better.

My main focus since coming home has been following my treatments to the letter. There have been some bumps in the road, so this has been a bit of a challenge. First of all, each morning I have to divvy up my 20 or so supplements into the appropriate comparments in my daily vitamin dispenser. Most people use the dispenser for a week. I fill it and empty it daily. When I got home and started to sort my pills, I discovered that two of the things I was perscribed are missing. I called, and was told that I was supposed to get those at the hospital pharmacy. Nobody mentioned that at the time. I was able to locate and purchase one of the products online, thank God, so today that problem was solved. I called about the other, and there is some confusion about whether I should even be taking it, so I'm waiting to hear back from the doctor. Hopefully I can locate it somewhere.

In additon to the supplements, my treatment includes continuing the strict diet I was on in Mexico. This hasn't been too bad with the help I've had so far from my mother-in-law, who has worked so unbelieveably hard to help me. She provides me with a veggie tray and fruit tray that I can make meals from easily all day, and then she is providing meals every couple of days as well. We are trying to eat dinners made for me that the whole family can eat. That has been an adjustment. They have become very accustomed to eating what they want when they want, and they don't like having to wait. They'll adjust. My mom also spent a day baking up a storm some goodies I can eat that are good for me too. I am so blessed to have this help!

The third element of my treatment really threw us for a loop. There is an injection I am supposed to take three times a week, that I cannot give myself, and it is not approved for use in the US, so a doctor/nurse cannot give it to me. Mike and I took training in the hospital on giving the injection. Mike will be no help whatsoever. Carol is out of the running, too. The other problem I have, besides who to give me the injection, is that I didn't get my syringes from the hospital pharmacy, either. Another communication problem, I guess. We really had trouble with the idea of the injection. We simply had no idea that it would be required, and the training just made us realize that we are going to need help with this. The size of the needle prescribed for our use is 18 gauge, and for those of you who don't know nursing, think Garden Hose. You can see the opening in the end of the needle from across the room. No. Way.

Well, obviously, not taking the shot is not an option. It is necessary for my treatment. So, my local physicain has taken care of the syringes and needles (size 23, at my mom's suggestion. MUCH better. Smaller, shorter, almost can't see the hole in the end). We tried to find a way I could use the port I always use for chemo, but all attempts at that end also didn't work. Now, with these smaller needles, I have resigned myself to receiving the injection three days a week. I have already had 2 injections, and they really didn't hurt at all. I was amazed. The only problem I have now is that the person who gave me the injections cannot really continue to do so, so I am keeping my eyes open for someone with nursing experience who is willing to come to my home to give this injection to me. I have a prescription for it, but as I mentioned before, it is not authorized for use in the US. What that means is, technically, someone who is a licensed nurse is not really allowed to give it to me. I'm hoping I can find someone willing to overlook that fact and come to my home to do it, no questions asked. Any takers?

I have rested a great deal this week. I'm really not feeling great, but it seems at times that I glimpse a light at the end of the tunnel and I just keep putting one foot in front of the other, so to speak. It will get easier, my ability to eat will improve, and gradually I WILL get better. I'm told that there is to be a fundraiser this Saturday in my honor. It's being held at the Lamplighter Inn at Glenstone and Sunshine from 2pm until 5. A former student I have had the pleasure of working with has gone to an enormous amount of trouble to get donations for a raffle and silent auction and I don't really know what else. McAlisters will be providing drinks for up to 200 people, he said. He has put it in the paper, on the radio, and has made flyers. He called today to tell me, and I'm going to try to show up for a little while. I am so incredibly blessed with the efforts of this young man who is pursuing a teaching degree--thanks to me, he said. You are an amazing person, Austin, and I can't thank you enough. It is efforts like these that give me the energy to keep fighting back.

Hopefully this update has satisfied the curiosity of many. I will try to be more regular from now on. Thanks for all the love and prayers. I love you all!

Shopping Therapy

This afternoon, though the weather was brisk and cool, I discovered the very best of all the therapies this hospital has to offer, and found it to be exceptional: shopping therapy! Though I started the morning dragging about as usual (not always a lot to look forward to around here), after our day, I am now feeling energized and refreshed. This feeling will most likely stay with me another day or two, until it's time to head for home.

See, each Saturday in the hospital, they load up vans full of as many of us that want to go, and head to a place 30 minutes away called Rosarito Beach. We signed up last week when the weather was so beautiful but missed the trip on account of a treatment I was taking in my room at the time they decided to leave, which was 30 minutes before the designated time. I was really bummed, so that was the day we found our way around Tijuana and visited the beach here, which was nice but didn't include the "shopping" part of the therapy. Today we made the trip, and I have had a fantastic time!

We really didn't even see any kind of a beach. What we saw was a meandering open-air marketplace crammed full of all kinds of the junk you don't really need but have fun looking at and buying anyway. They had everything you could imagine, such as jewelry, clothes, bags, knives and brass knuckles, pottery, hair pieces, hats, beads, just about everything. We tried to pick up a little something for the kids and those who helped us with the kids during our absence.
The fun part for me was not only looking at all the merchandise, but spending pesos instead of American money and talking the vendors down to much lower prices than they wanted to sell. It was like a reverse auction. If you didn't like the price, you can walk away, and often times they will meet your price just to make the sale. I know some of you have been to markets like this in other areas. It was lots of fun. I bought myself a pink, woven, calf-length poncho with a collar and buttons down the front, It's soft and warm, and I think I will actually use it at home. I also bought a little of the silver jewelery. I won't let on what else in case someone reading this is expecting a gift. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.

Unbelieveably, I could have kept going for hours! We were only given 2 hours to shop, and we got hungry and tried a local mexican steakhouse for our dinner. It was wonderful, and very well priced. The only problem with that was that it cut into my shopping time. If I'd had more time, I probably would have would up with a gift for every person I know. Mike had to encourage me to show a little restraint. I honestly completely forgot about any health discomforts for the entire afternoon.

I found, when we got back, that I felt great! The last few days I've felt a bit weak and not up to my best, which many of you know who have been reading my blog. I was a little concerned that I would have trouble staying on my feet the whole time, but once I was out there looking around, I forgot I had any such problems and the time zipped by. See, shopping really can be therapy! I will definitely have to remember that, because it is not something I do very much.

I am concerned tonight about some of you at home. Sounds like a pretty nasty storm has hit the area. I hope not many of you have lost your power. I know things are good at our house, in fact I think several family members from Springfield who lost their power are camping out at our place to keep warm. Just in case you think we are too fortunate, it was very cold and windy here today. The stalls of the shopping area blocked the wind, but the temperature was very chilly--mcuh colder than Mexico normally gets this time of year. I think the high today might have reached 45. We really didn't bring clothes for that--we needed scarves and gloves, and all. Mike ended up purchasing a stocking cap to keep warm. Lovely souvenir. He didn't even get a stylish one. It looks just like the black bank-robber style stocking cap he left at home.

Only 2 more days to go here. Tomorrow we have a worship service to look forward to with Dr. Contreras, who runs the hospital, and Monday I have another round of treatments before leaving. Time has passed quickly, though not quickly enough. I'm anxious to get home and see you all. I hope our flight into Springfield isn't delayed on account of weather. If so, I might have to resort to some more shopping therapy to get me though the wait. The Dallas airport has some nice little shops. That, I suppose, remains to be seen. Until then, hang on, and keep warm! Lots of love--Sandi

Couple of Rough Days-But On the Up-Swing Now

It is so, so, so good to read the comments-thanks so much to you all for reading and sharing your thoughts. It keeps me so close to you all at home. As the title tonight mentioned, it's been a couple of rough days, but hopefully things are improving.

Yesterday, when I woke, it was very early and I was out of sorts--couldn't sleep, too weak to be up, restless, in pain. It was a terrible morning. They tell us that it happens in the middle of most people's treatments; these bad days. Mike really had to come through for me and he did. He put me back to bed, then went and got my breakfast, which is down a floor and required several trips for drinks and everything. I ate a bit, choked down my supplements, and slept for a few hours. Before I could settle down, though, I really fell apart--tears, whining, complaining, the whole un-Sandi-like bit. It was a very shameful low point for me. It took quite a bit of consoling and some prayers to bring me back to center. For all the work the Lord is doing here, I believe Satan is also working--no better place than here to fight His work and break His people. Anyone here will tell you of that belief. That may sound a bit far-fetched to some of you who are unfamiliar with "spiritual warfare", but many people will tell you it's real. Where the Lord is at work, Satan is a very real and powerful foe. We took the upper hand with the Lord's help, and today has been a good day.

Well, that is except that I had a reaction to an IV treatment, called Perftec, and it was unusual because most people who react do so on the first treatment. I was in bed having my treatment, talking to the doctor and everything was normal. Then the doctor left, Mike went back to what he was doing, and then I started to have these shooting pains up my back and down my legs. I told Mike to get the doctor, and I was calm. He said, "Why? She's halfway down the hall." I said, "Get the doctor! Now! I'm hurting! I'm having a reaction. Get the doctor!" He shot out of the room and soon a nurse arrived and shut off my drip. The doctor arrived and thought at first it was a joke since I had just spoken to her. She looked at me crumpled on the bed in tears, and couldn't believe it. I was afraid that it would mean I couldn't use the chemical any more, but apparently they can just give an anti-histamine and then continue at a slower rate. But, the rate was SO slow that I had to miss lunch. Then I had all my other treatments, which seemed to take forever. Finally they finished and I got to go eat. The meal, though tiresome, was prepared for me, and I ate my fill. It doesn't take much. They even make me a protein shake, at my request, and it's not bad. They are so kind here.

Arrangements are in the works for our return in 5 weeks. But first we have to get home from this trip. On Monday we will check out of the hospital complete with a new suitcase loaded down with a three month supply of supplements and meds to take at home. We will go to a hotel in San Diego where we will have to find our own dinner and pay for it, and after a leisurely night in what we hope will be a comfortable bed, we will fly home Tuesday morning. We plan to arrive around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Springifeld airport.

Our return to the hospital in 5 weeks will be February 12. This time, Mike plans to stay at home/work and my sister is planning to come. Depending on the cost, my mom may come too. Might even make arrangements for Dad to come too. They can stay in a hotel nearby and have meals with us. Everyone is anxious to see what this is really like. The second stay will already be paid for, and the stay will last 6 days. Speaking of cost, have I mentioned how close the original donkey ball game donations came to covering the cost of the stay, which covers 5 years of follow-ups? The original donations were within $1000 of what we needed, and then several additional private donations covered the several-thousand dollar expenses for previous supplements, plane tickets, and so on. Those of you who donated-and those of you who wanted to and couldn't at the time--thank you so very much! This has been such a blessing. Knowing that we won't have to repay this money is a huge load off our minds. We feel so blessed, and know that this is what is meant by the Lord making provisions for his people.

Probably enough a sermon for now. Though it's been a tough couple of days, I don't want anyone to think I've given up. Tonight I feel stronger, and I believe we have passed through the hardest part. I still, maybe more than before, believe we are here in the right place for the right reasons. Healing has already begun. And, for those of you wondering, I am gaining weight. Almost back up to 115. Got down to almost 100 there for a while. To me it is a sign of other healing taking place. Thank you for all your prayers, thoughts, and comments. Some of you have sent scripture, too, which has been nice. I'll be signing off for tonight. I look forward to more comments! Love you all! Goodnight!

Wednesday, and A Visit From the Doctor

Hi everyone! I know I am not updating daily, and for that I apologize. There just isn't THAT much going on. I know everyone wants to know how I'm doing, so please assume that if I don't update it is because things are the same, not worse. Progress is just so slow at this point. The treatment may be working, but only time will tell and we haven't been on the treatments even a week yet. I did have a visit from the doctor today with some positive things to say, but as far as how I feel...that's more or less the same as when most of you saw me last.

What the doctor had to say today concerned the CT that was run after we arrived. The good news is this: all of the disease is contained in the abdominal area, primarily the pelvis, and NONE of the pertinent internal organs are being affected by the cancer. After a four-year battle, I had honestly expected worse. There is no visible damage to the liver, kidneys, spleen, or lungs. The doctor sees what he thinks are cysts (benign) in some of those areas, but not tumors. That would explain why previous chemo didn't do any good. There is some pressure from a tumor on one of the tubes from one kidney to my bladder, and this is causing the kidney not to drain properly. He would like us to have that checked out so that we can regain use of that kidney, since it has always worked before, and he'd like me to get a stint put in the clear side to protect the well-functioning one. He doesn't see this as serious or urgent, merely something we need to look into when we get home.

Now, what most of you are probably wondering is, what's the prognosis? Is the treatment helping? Can this be fixed? Well, what the doctor said is that now only time will tell. They started me on the standard treatment, to which most patients respond. In a month they will want to see clinical results: evidence of shrinkage on the CT and tumor markers that are declining. If we don't see the results, we will change what we are doing and add some other things to my treatment. At this point, there is no way to know where we are headed. But we know that the damage is not irreversible, so there is definitely hope. They put a lot of store in faith around here. Please keep praying that the doctors here are given wisdom and healing abilities. I know that we were given the opportunity to come here by God's grace, so that is where I am looking for my help. I can never have too many prayers.

Treatments continue daily, and they aren't so bad. I generally sleep through them, then try to move around some afterward. The food is slowly boring me to death (just kidding) but I understand that my dietary lifestyle simply cannot continue the way of the rest of America. The food I eat here is what we should all be eating: fresh, wholesome, natural organic food. It certainly isn't very exciting, but if it keeps me here, then it's worth it. And I suppose I can cheat a little now and then. Besides taking treaments, eating, and updating my blog, I'm not doing anything else. So I guess there isn't much else to tell you all.

I miss everyone, especially my kids. I'm so proud of them, holding up so well. I've been wanting to do some writing, but I'm too interrupted with all the nurses in and out and so on. I guess that will keep until I get back. I have a wonderfully comfortable bed at home that I miss too. And somebody please remind me to bring my coffee and sweetener substitute when I come again-they won't give me anything that resembles coffee. I also need to bring a digital clock! Not knowing the time is driving me bonkers! Well, guess I'd better sign off. I love you all, and for those of you who contributed to the fund that sent us here, thank you, thank you, thank you. I know this is where I need to be. God has this all under control--and I will praise Him. Blessings to you all!

Monday: Back on the Job

Monday already! It's a little hard to keep track, I think, when you are not on the normal routine. We have been here at Oasis for 5 days, and though I think we are adjusting, I still have times I don't know what to do with myself, and I know Mike feels that way.

Seems like I'm most worried about meals. If I miss a meal, there will be no snacks, so I have to eat when it's time. If I don't get to eat, I don't take my supplements, and I feel like that's the one thing I can be SURE I do each day-take all those vitamins. We still have not remedied the clock problem. I didn't wear a watch, and though Mike did, and there's a clock on his phone (mine's turned off) and on the computer, I wish I just had a simple clock on the wall to look at. It's driving me nuts! I keep asking Mike what time it is. He interprets this as me being hungry, which I have to keep saying I'm not, just worried I won't get my supplements in! I consume so much juice, water, bread, and whatnot for the supplements that I don't see myself ever being hungry again. There's not enough time between meals for me to even begin to experience hunger. I may be putting on a little weight, though. I'm sure trying.

Aside from eating, we have been able to get out-and-about the last 2 days. The walk has been refreshing and good for me. I think we will try to get out for some time each day that it's nice. The hospital room is awfully small, and though there are other places to be, we feel a little at loose ends unless I'm taking a treatment. The weather has been beautiful, up in the 70's with a slight breeze. We have been walking across the street and down a few blocks to the beach wall. There is a huge archway and a patio. It's possible to go down to the water but we haven't ventured that far yet. The sight and sound of the waves is enough for me. I could live at the beach, I enjoy the sound so much. Along the beach road there are many little cantinas and ice cream shops. One has coconuts piled aound in front and they sell the coconut milk as a drink, I guess, and it appears to be very popular.

Mike has made it a personal goal to sample food from as many local eateries as he can while we are here. Yesterday we had lunch at a seafood place down on the beach (I was a good girl and only ate what was fresh, and that was fish. Must have been right out of the water too), and today he tried a little Mexican cantina on the way to the beach. Both met with his approval, but he especially liked the enchiladas and tacos at the place he ate today. I'm not sure now that we haven't created a habit. He was really trying to eat my food, but now he knows he can get away and have tacos, he may not try any more.

We have had quite a learning experience too. ATM machines in Mexico give pesos, unless you know what you are doing (which is hard, since the instructions are in Spanish), and $100 pesos doesn't go far. It's almost ten dollars. We learned this the first day we ate out and didn't have enough money. Mike went to the ATM and got what he thought was one hundred American dollars (they use a dollar sign), but came back and handed the pesos to the restaurant owner who laughed. The cost in pesos was $250, and Mike had $100. With the American $20 we had, we managed to pay and leave a nice tip, and now we understand how the exchange rate works. Today we were much more prepared to pay for our meal.

Something got mixed up on my schedule, but it's looking like we may fly in on the 15th instead of the 16th. It's complicated, and I'm not sure myself what happened, but we're going to verify that I have plenty of treatment days, and if I do, then I will call the airline. I'll keep you all up-to-date on that. As a result of my mixup, today, which looked like a recuperation day, was actually a treatment day, so I have had every treatment they have today (not really-just seems like it). I did have a lot, but it didn't seem like so much since I knew what to expect. Something in the treatments today made me feel sort of funny-kind of jittery-trembly. Very strange. Tomorrow I have a bit less, so after a good night's sleep I think I will be in good shape.

I met with a doctor briefly today but didn't get much information. What she could tell me is that though I am slightly anaemic, all my other counts/chemistry values/numbers are in good shape. Mom, liver and kidney functions are completely normal. We did not get the opportunity to look at my recent CT today, but we will soon. My chest X-ray was negative for any lesions in my lungs. So, no earth-shattering information, but nothing disastrous that we have to fight against. It may seem different once we look at the CT, and the tumor marker number is not back from it's lab yet either. For now, the news is good.

Well, I think I have covered all you might want to know about. I will try to add some pictures, but the connection here is less than desirable and it may not be possible. So, if you don't see pictures, you know I tried. Blessings to everyone-I love you all. Thank you for your prayers. Back at you soon!

Mike Reaches a Breaking Point

He did it. He had all he could take. He ordered a PIZZA!

After three days of consuming rabbit food, Mike couldn't take it anymore, and persuaded the kind people at the front desk to order him a pizza for delivery to the hospital. And he did this while I was choking down my dinnertime supplements with the help of filtered water, sweet potatoes, and carrot soup. By the time the pizza arrived, I was through, and we took the pizza to our room for him to enjoy without everyone in the hospital knowing he couldn't take it for more than three days.

This actually started the day we arrived, and he held out as long as he could. In the meantime, he has tried soy milk, numerous vegetables he's never seen before, a wide variety of fruits, some interesting grain dishes (many of which he really likes), and tofu. Yup. Tofu. He's not fond of it.

It's Saturday, and this has been an uneventful day with the exception of the pizza. I haven't felt too well, so I have spent most of it in bed. On the first day, I think I mentioned the buffet of supplements I was given. There's a ton of them, and I have taken every single one I have been given so far. But not without some side effects. Apparently detox is an important part of the treatment here. They don't really tell you how the detox works, really. For some, I guess, they detox from sugar, caffeine, and things like that, which I don't have to worry about since I've already been thorough that. But I think some of those supplements are meant to help your system cleanse itself, if you know what I mean. I have spent a large part of my day in the restroom letting my body "cleanse". And the rest of the day on the bed recovering. I'm sure that in a few days I will feel much better.

I'd like to come back to the supplements. I'm still not clear what they are, but I'm sure some are the fish-oil capsules that are the omega-3 oils, some are multivitamins, some are enzymes, antioxidants, and things like that. But the quantity! I get one of those week-long pill organizers with labels that say "breakfast", "2hr. after breakfast", "lunch", "2 hr. after lunch", "dinner", "2 hr. after dinner", and then "bedtime". The mealtime boxes are the fullest, ranging from 13-16 pills EACH, and the in-between times only have 2-3 each. I'm literally stuffing myself with pills! I've probably gained weight, and it's probably all supplements! At night they come take it from me (empty, of course) so they can refill it for me by morning. Ugh! No wonder I don't feel good!

Today was also my second day to have all my treatments. Well, actually, they didn't do one today, because they don't do it on the weekend, but I had all the others. They really don't make me feel too bad. I get them in my room through my port, so I don't have to get stuck each time. That's a blessing! Some people who haven't ever had any chemo have no port and must get stuck repeatedly.Tomorrow will be even less eventful , since all I have tomorrow is supplements. Sometimes this is so hard, especially when I think about how many days I will take those supplements. So I try not to think about it.

Well, even though I spent the day in bed, I'm sleepy so I'm going to sign off. Oddly enough, I have noticed less of a need for pain pills last 2 days. Maybe that will continue.

It's sure good to hear from all of you as you read this. Keep the comments coming. They're fun to read. And somebody eat a brownie for me please. I'm needing one pretty bad right now. Take care!

Treatment Du Jour

Well, today I'm a pincusion again. It's been a long time since I have had to say that. One thing that's been nice about using only supplements is that it doesn't involve needles. Of course, it also wasn't showing us the results we wanted, either, so I suppose there's a trade-off in there somewhere. I'm on day two of my stay at Oasis of Hope Hospital in scenic Tijauana, Mexico, and today treatments began.Treatments haven't been terrible though, certainly not in the way I have come to expect with anything called a treatment. I also had a CT scan this morning and a physical examination with a very kind doctor who calls me "Dear" when he's speaking to me. In all, it's been a busy and, at times, difficult day.

My preparation for the CT started at bedtime last night with a 3-cup pitcher of contrast mixed in orange juice (really good, fresh-sqeezed oj). It was just slighlty bitter. I was surprised to have it that early, but they assured me that would give it plenty of time to get where it needed to go. Surprisingly, the contrast was nothing like the chalky, foamy contrast used for all my previous CT scans, and fortunately, the rest of the experience was nothing like my previous CT's either. Those of you who have had the unfortunate experience of accompanying me to one of those tests is aware that I usually spend the remainder of the day in bed, and that I am bloated and nauseous and miserable for at least 4-6 after. This CT was a much kinder variety.

Like I said, I started the contrast last night, and then they brought me some more early this morning, around 8 or so. Actually, in an American hospital, that would be mid-morning, since they bring you breakfast at 7. So I guess that wasn't too bad. And the nice thing is that I could drink the contrast sitting in the recliner in my room, rather than a waiting room. A few minutes into my drink, a nurse came and put in an IV line for the CT. He didn't have much to work with in my veins, and the first attempt hit a nerve (literally!), shooting pain throughout my hand and wrist. His second try resulted in a line we could use. Then he told me they would come for me in 45 minutes.

I passed my time reading, and before long they came to get me for the scan. I was led to a room with the scanner in it and helped onto the narrow table that slides into the scanner. Though I had to take off my jacket, I was in my own clothes, including drawstring pants, and I did not have to undress and put on a gown. I was there for maybe ten minutes total, during which time they injected an IVcontrast and had me drink one last cup of the OJ contrast. It was fast and painless, and the contrast did not make me violently ill like all the other times. I did have a bit of trouble with that last cup of contrast coming back up when I stood up there at the end. I could tell waiting for the elevator up one floor to my room that the juice had been too much in my otherwise empty stomach, and when I arrived in my room I ran straight to the toilet and got rid of that last cup. I felt pretty rotten, but only for a few minutes. Then I had to go find some breakfast so I could start my supplements for the day.

After my breakfast was the physical exam performed by the doctor who did my history yesterday. I have no clue what his name is, though I asked him to say it repeatedly. He was very nice and apparently found everything where it belonged because he didn't have too much to say other than to explain how my treatments would be.

My next treatment was the ozone therapy, where they took out a pint or so of blood, oxygenated it somehow, then treated it with UV light, then put it back in. It lasted only about 30 minutes and was very relaxing. I am scheduled to do that again in the morning.

After I had lunch they came and accessed my port so they could use it for the rest of my treatments. I had a really hard time when they accessed it, so bad that I again got physically ill. I guess it reminded me of when I used to have to take home the fanny pack and have chemo at home all weekend. Some of you knew how traumatic that was, and some of you probably don't because I tried very hard not to let it bother me. Anyway, today when I smelled the alcohol swab and the plastic patch that goes over it, I lost my lunch (made it to the toilet again, though). I don't know why certain smells have to do that to me. I felt much better after. Maybe in this pleasant atmosphere, I can override my previously negative attitudes toward certain smells.

Since having the port accessed I have been having the remaining treatments, and those have been uneventful. I am on an oxygen catheter (as they call it) to inhale pure oxygen during the treatments because apparently several of the treatments I'm on use oxygen to increase the effectiveness. Apparently that's something cancer cells don't handle well. I have met several people in the last 2 days that are in various stages of their own cancer battles, and many are hearing great news about the progress of their treamtments. It gives me hope that we will beat this too. It's looking good so far. It this is as hard as the treatments get, I know I can take it easily. The hardest thing today has been facing the unknown, and now that I know what at the treatments are, I can plan my days a little more easily. Now, it is getting late and we are going to watch a movie that we brought. I may update again tomorrow, if there is anything new to tell you. It will probably be a lot like today. Like Kristi said to me in a chat we had, "sleep, take supplements, eat, sleep, take some more supplements..." that's about the extent of it for the next few days!

Take care ouf yourselves and keep in touch!

A Whole New World

Hi everyone! I know many of you are anxious to hear from us, and we are anxious to communicate with you too, but until just a little while ago, my computer was not set up to use the wireless connection, so I had to wait for them to help me with that. I was so excited to have them hand back my computer (they took it so they could set it up for me). I happily found an outlet (there are few in the room) and turned it on, started Internet Explorer and... what do you know. It's all in Spanish. Google, my blog page login screen, this page, everything, with the exception of what I'm typing. I'm either going to get that fixed or going to learn Spanish in two weeks.

I will deal with that later. I know many of you are anxious to know how it's going and what's going on.

Mostly, the flight down here was uneventful. We arrived at our hotel late and got up early for our ride. I was in a big hurry to get here and get started. Our driver picked us up at the hotel at 8:30, and within a half hour we were at the border, applying for our passes (we have not had time to get our proper passports). That went off with no complications, and soon we were in Tijuana. WOW! The way some people are forced to live in this world is unbelieveable! I have heard about and seen pictures of places like this, but to experience it first hand was a shock. Everything is very close together, buildings on buildings, and there seems to be a huge amount of undeveloped land, and it's all dirt. Where there's dirt, there's trash. Everywhere. Though I did see some trash in bags, so I know they do have trash pick-up. These people seem to have some kind of fixation with fences. There are fences everywhere, connecting everything. And where there are fences, there is graffiti. It's very colorful and well done, but such a far cry from the clean, cared-for appearance of our cities. It was quite something to see.

We came eventually into a nicer part of town, and just after we spotted the Pacific Ocean, we spotted the hospital. It is squashed right up next to two other buildings, on one side a newly-built high-rise white condo, and some old dingy building on the other. It sits right on a busy city corner, but does have a little bit of nicely-kept grounds. It looks exactly like what's in the picture, only I think we both expected large spaces and parking lots or something like we have back home. These buildings are truly on top of one another. Our driver was able to park literally at the front door, and he led us in to where our patient representative was waiting. Her name was Ruth and she was warm and friendly immediately, giving me a hug as she said hello.

As our driver went for our bags, Ruth took us up to our room, which was a little disappointing. I'm not sure why really, because everthing is exceptionally clean (and I've noticed that there are people here who clean all day long) and it contains a comfortable bed and a hospital bed too in case it is necessary. There is no decoration though, so it's rather stark, and our very large window looks out onto the construction site of the new condos going up out back. It almost looks like we should have a balcony, but I think it's just the top of another part of the building and our window doesn't open. Ruth gave us the preliminary info and some papers to fill out, and said she would be back.

After she left, Mike and I had a few minutes where we were really at a loss. I think it was different than we expected, and we had just seen so many unpleasant things to remind us that we were in a very disadvantaged area. We just looked at each other for a little while, like neither of us knew what to say. Then, somehow, we realized that we did not set out on this trip alone. Everything has fallen into place to allow us to come, and we have really felt the hand of God nudging us in this direction. The place comes highly recommended by many people, and the admission/registration process was handled so professionally. We spent a few moments in prayer and decided to go through with the treatment as planned. Moments later, Ruth was back for our papers.

Since that moment of trepidation there at the beginning, we are very comfortable with out choice. These people do not waste time (there's something the American system can learn!). Someone came to draw blood samples, then Ruth gave us a tour. Since she knew I was fasting for the blood tests, she then took us to the empty dining room and ordered our breakfast, which was FANTASTIC! They brought us this platter of fresh fruit that contained 6 or 7 varieties, bowls of hot cereal, two kinds of cold cereal, whole grain toast, and then two fried eggs each served with guacamole. Odd combination, I know. But, for those of you following my diet to the crumbs, I ate a whole piece of toast with most of (I know, Mom, I can't believe it either) a fried egg and some guacamole. Would have had more but I ran out of toast. I also had a whole bowl of hot oatmeal with strawberries and honey, and some other fresh fruit on the side. The food was great and these people are amazingly hospitable. Mike ate some kind of flaked cereal with strawberries and get this-SOY milk. Apparently they don't serve any dairy products here at all. Mike did not realize that his three meals a day would be the same as mine. He will be on my diet, and I am feeling NO sympathy at all! He might come back a bit slimmer.

After breakfast I met with a doctor, and I gave him a verbal history. He told me about my treatment plan which, for now, consists of a chemo-free regimine. I will have a baseline CT tomorrow morning, along with chest x-rays. I am also scheduled for multiple intraveinous treatments tomorrow and most of the following days, which I will tell you about when I can.

We have had lunch, which was mostly a vegetarian affair, and I have a pill case loaded with time-labeled supplements to take. Lunch came with a big handful that did not go down well, so tomorrow I will have to remember to actually take the pills WITH food. Maybe that will help. I will get to practice, I guess, with my dinner supplement selection. I'd better finish getting these down soon before they make me eat again. It is nice not to have to prepare my meals at all. That part will be a blessing. Mike is snoozing on the bed. He is going to be WAY bored. He'll deal. We aren't here for him. Oh, and there is a beautiful chapel where they have devotions each morning, an activity room where they have classes, a psychologist, patient lounges, and laundry service (for a charge). Now that we've warmed up to the place, I think we will really like it here. We have met people in various stages of disease from all over the world, and even one guy who was healed here ten years ago and comes back every year to volunteer around the hospital.

I guess that's enough for now. I feel better after communicating with you all, so I hope you feel better hearing about it. I will tell you tomorrow how the treatments go. Right now I'm going to rest some more, and then I'm going to have them fix my computer so I can read it. I've tried everything I can think of. Love you all, and talk to you soon!