Overachiever :)

      So this will be short and sweet because Becca is doing so well with chemo there. is. no. news. bills are starting to come in now and because she went and got biopsies in December that bill went on the old insurance so that means another huge maximum out of pocket. Yay!!!! Dealing with that as we can and so far the hospitals have been good at payment plans. As long as she continues to get treatment. speaking of treatments she now goes every 2 weeks instead of 3 with a shot after each to boost her immune system. Her stubbly hair continues to relieve themselves from her scalp and soon she shall be smooth as a baby's bottom. Got a couple pics for ya'll. Thanks again for all the support. I really wish I had more to tell ya. Keep sharing and getting word out. We love ya!!

Join The Cause And Donate Today!! :)

Hair Today Gone Tomor..er...Today!

      I know it's been awhile but nothing has really happened that warrants reporting. Plus I had been sick for the last week which put Becca on the futon because of her immune system. Before you start bitching me out she MADE me take the bed and there is no arguing with her on stuff like that. Secretly I think she likes the futon and played the martyr for favors to be named later.
      Becca has been sailing through this first chemo treatment. So much so she is upping her schedule to every 2 weeks instead of every 3. She just wants this to get done and move on. She has been amazing! There have been some side effects like swollen gums and problems with taste. Her hair is starting to come out more now which brings me to the reason for today's post.

That's right folks. OFF WITH HER HAIR!!

      It's been on her mind a lot lately. HA! On her mind?? Yeah ok...reaching. Anyways the deed needs to be done. So we went into the bathroom, sat her down in a chair, and I grabbed the clippers. Needless to say she handled this as she has this whole thing. Wonderfully! Now she kinda reminds me of Natalie Portman in "V for Vendetta". I would post a pic but she's just not ready yet. In the next post I hope to get a few shots of her with her wig and other head gear. For now I will leave you with this cause like I said...reminds me of Portman.

Of course she wasn't crying :)

Just as bad ass!!

      So today, the day after I made this post, she decides to take a picture of herself and say "Here! If you want a pic to put on the blog use this one." So now I have to let you all know about the post edit. She's a wonderful pain in my ass isn't she? Here she is. Velcro!!! (she's complaining that her head sticks to everything lol)

Beautiful :)

       

Wonder Woman

      Becca is doing ok. About a week in and the main thing is fatigue. Feeling ill at times but fades very fast. Today she got her first metallic taste when she was drinking water. Speaking of water she's up to and needs about 3 liters a day. She's been getting dizzy and dehydration can cause that so the water intake is helping with that.

      Appetite has been good and hasn't been nauseous at all hardly. She is really sailing through this and we just hope it stays that way. Tomorrow she picks up her hair from Attitudes here in Delavan. When she lets me I'll try to get a pic on here. She's gonna have bangs!! LOL! Hasn't had bangs since she was little.

     

 I have been pretty much been going out of my mind. I can prep and worry and ask but honestly I have nothing to do through this most of the time. Waiting to be called off the bench in a way. I busy myself cleaning and stumbling through the interwebs to pass the time. She will come home and I'll ask if she's ok to which she will say yes. I know she reads this but I said this is where we put it all out there and this is part of it.
      I went to walmart today to get a "few" things and ended up getting more cleaning supplies. I was going to do it all today but I listened to her and decided to split it up the rest of the week. I'm not sleeping well but that's not all about her and it's making me a bit pissy and down at times. I need something to do but I don't know what. I feel like I'm whining writing this out.
      I wish I had a hobby to delve into. Told Becca I was going to start jigsaw puzzles and hang them all over the place. I don't know. No matter what I'm here for her and the trials I have to go through pale in comparison to hers. I've always been one to try and fix things and help people but in this case I can't fix and can only help when needed. Think tomorrow I will clean the fridge.

Waiting For The Suck

      Where is it? Where is the total suckage? We were told that ALL cancer carcinoma patients are wracked with pain and sickness when going through chemo. We were told this by television and other media, horror stories galore. Of course we know better now by getting our information from oncologists and nurses. People who KNOW what to expect. Not to mention other patients and family members, friends of those patients. Which reminds me, we know a lot of people who know A LOT of people with cancer, damnit, carcinoma (I swear she will be punished for this). Everyone and their mother offering their own view and sometimes irrational fear of this disease. It's enough to make your head spin. What was I saying? Oh yeah...
      The suck! Becca has been fine the first couple days. She came home from work Friday more tired than usual so I'm thinking "here we go" and then...that's it. Nothing more just tired. She ended up going to bed around 8pm. I think partly because I kept asking how she was. I'm trying not to do that honest I am ;-).
      Today is just a little worse as she woke up a little nauseous. As she puts it feeling pregnant during the first couple months. Lots of rest and water. Oh yes water! Tons of the clear cool liquid which she has found she has to sip because chugging is no bueno. Dehydration is a problem but she's managing nicely. I say this mainly because of her wonderful co-workers who raided a pantry I think and has thus far given her 4 HUGE TJ Maxx bags, you know the ones that you could fit a small fridge inside, yeah those, filled with jello, gatorade, broths, pudding, water, jello, crackers, candy, jello, books, magazines.... did I mention jello? I had to go out today and get a cheap 4 shelf stand alone for all the overflow of pantry items we don't have room for. I poke fun but it really is so very kind of them.
      The benefit page is going well with almost 2500 in donations which is just astonishing. I lowered the goal and feel really good about getting to that point. It really helps and takes some of the worry out of the noggin so I can worry more about her. She's reading this so that is why I say it lol. So please keep sharing. Especially with people in a higher tax bracket. Still waiting on that anonymous donation from a millionaire who just wants to help people. Ever see Indecent Proposal? Yeah nothing like that. However I would think about selling myself if need be.
      So there you are my little gumdrops. That's the skinny, the 411, the downlow on Becca. Till next time and remember to dance like no one is watching you (but they really are...and laughing).

 Some might remember the Blue's Clues reference from a previous post ;) 

Toxic Avenger

      Started chemo today. LOTS of questions she has to answer prior to actually having a treatment. It's gonna get a bit repetitive. Also before every procedure, no matter if it's the same doctor or nurse, she is asked her name and birthdate. Now I understand the need to make sure you are giving treatment to the right person but c'mon. 

      Blood draws happen each time she arrives and before treatment to make sure her system is good to go. Everyone is very nice and patient. Her port looks good with little to no swelling as well as little bruising. Becca has been very calm and collected. Her attitude has been stellar and positive. 

      The gals here at the clinic get our humor about all this so that rocks! Each treatment should take only 2-3 hours and she should feel fine afterwards and the next day (probably) as well. Saturdays will be the day she may or may not feel like crap warmed over. Repeat 3 more times over the next few months. 

      Got some pictures here of her first day at chemo school :

Numbing the port site

Needle is in

Getting saline and anti nausea medication

The "Red Devil" chemo treatment

      Home now and everything is fine. She had lunch, took an anti nausea pill as directed and rinsed with a baking soda and water solution to help prevent mouth sores. Thanks so much for the well wishes and for stopping by and catching up on us.

     

My Little Oompa Loompa

      Didn't have time to get this out today until Becca was in bed. Been keeping an eye on her and trying to keep her being up too much. She's stubborn. The power port went in without a hitch. She has some stiffness and reduced range of motion in her neck but that will pass in a couple days. And of course she came out looking like a deranged oompa loompa from the beta-dine. Hard to get that stuff off.

YUP

     On a financial note I have good news! Going through our insurance again (cause I never fully understand that crap) I found out that while our deductible is very high our total out of pocket is not much higher! Which means that the fundraiser I started will have it's goal reduced. When I stared it I had no idea what would happen but now we are looking at 15-20K over the next 2 years. I'm stoked about this!!

      I wish I had more to tell you but there's not much going on. I'll be back on Thursday and let you all know how she did her first day. Stay safe everyone and thanks for dropping by! 

Happy Dance

      So last night was a bust, for me anyways, cause I fell asleep at like 10pm!! The next thing I knew was Becca waking me up at 1:30am saying let's go to bed. She enjoyed the chance to lounge and watch what she wanted and even woke up this morning with a slight headache.

      We also had reason to celebrate last night. Becca got a call with results of her genetic test and...everything came back NEGATIVE!!! No thoughts now of a bi-lateral mastectomy, no hysterectomy, just the one boobie :) We are very pleased. Here's Becca after the news...

      I will leave you with that. Happy Saturday everyone...now DANCE!!