Update from Sandi

Hey everyone, it's me updating this time! Kristi hasn't been around for a while, so she doesn't really know what's going on. She'll have to read this along with the rest of you.

Not a whole lot has changed , but there are a few things to update you on. Today I finished the last of my six radiation treatments. I guess that's something. The radiation was not designed to shrink the internal tumors that are crowding my abdomen. I don't know if that had been made clear in earlier posts. We did very shallow electron radiation to shrink the tumors that are causing some open lesions on my skin in two places. I suppose it could possibly have some benefit on those beneath the skin, but we really radiated a very small area. I heard someone say they thought the radiation was to heal the tumors in my abdomen, and someone else mistakenly thought I was having chemotherapy treatments, and neither of those is the case.

The radiation was not unpleasant or painful in any way. Each day a transporter (his name was Joe, and he was incredibly nice and very accomodating. We had some interesting conversations!) would come to my room and wait patiently while we disconnected various tubes and things, then would move me to a very hard gurney, try to make me comfortable, then take me down to the first floor of the building across the skywalk where the radiation was conducted. The procedure itself took only a moment; I counted the seconds each day out of curiousity and none of the beams lasted longer than 60 seconds. Then we would return to my room get me back in my bed and get all my tubes and whatnot reconnected, and that was the end of it. It seemed like an awfully big effort involving a whole bunch of people for such a short treatment. I guess that's the job those techs and nurses are paid to do, though, so I probably shouldn't feel bad.

We have seen some improvement in some of the sores, and the radiation oncologist said that we will continue to see improvement for the next ten days or so. There are not supposed to be any side effects, either.

Don't know if it was mentioned in the last posting or not, but another milestone in my healing is that as of last Thursday, my naso-gastric tube has been removed and I no longer resemble an elephant. The tube was inserted upon my arrival to empty the contents of my stomach, and it continued to draw intermittently for the next several weeks. This was because my system was not moving anything through, but now that it seems to be healing, we don't need it anymore.

It had rubbed a very sore spot in the back of my throat, which made eating, drinking and even talking very painful. Removing it has allowed the sore to heal, which allows me to eat a little bit now. I still have to be careful. We don't know yet what my system can handle. We're taking it very slow. I'm thrilled to have it out. The tape that kept it in place was driving me nuts, and the whole thing was just a nuisance. It's so much better now!

Now that the tube is gone, radiation is finished, and I am so stable, there may be talk again of moving me to the Walnut Lawn facility, but we haven't heard anything yet. My doctor plans on leaving me here until the insurance company begins to complain. We will keep you posted on that.

Don't really know what else is going on with me. My days are pretty much the same each day. My mornings are busy with doctor visits, vital signs, breakfast, bandage-changing, physical and occupational therapy, and those kinds of things, then after lunch I almost always feel ready to rest. Most of my family has gone home, so it's a bit quieter than when my family and friends were camped up here making sure I was okay. I really look forward to their visits now that I have become used to having them here. I am blessed to have so many loving friends and family members.

I hope you can see in the picture I posted (sorry, not a great picture. I took it with my phone!) that my students at school have sent me a new poster celebrating Easter and reminding me that they still love me and miss me. Thanks, guys. Your notes and posters and cards are really a bright spot in my day. It has been so hard to be away, regardless of the fact that I am sick. I just miss doing the job I love. I hope you guys try your hardest on your MAP tests! Don't let your teachers down! Preparing students for that test is something I poured a huge amount of time and energy into every year. I'm sorry to have to miss it this year. I feel like I've let everybody down. Darn cancer! I know it's nothing I can control, so please, don't everybody comment and tell me that! I just felt the need to express that thought.

I know this whole thing is in God's control. I'm continuing to believe that healing is happening, and all I have to do is keep believing, keep trusting God's perfect will, and do my part to eat and get stronger. It's hard to have such an uncertain future, but I try to use each day to do something important. Even though I'm stuck in bed, I try to let the Christ-light shine through. As long as I'm here, I want to continue to do the work the Lord has called me to do.

Well, I've probably rattled on long enough for tonight. I'll update again in a few days or whenever something interesting happens. Till then, keep the comments coming; they're fun to read and it's good to know that someone is reading this stuff! All your prayers are appreciated too. Lots of love and blessings to all of my friends, family, and students. Love, Sandi