From Dolly Momma to Thoroughbred

Yesterday was a pretty decent day at Casa de Longo. I stopped by for a visit and momisan looked pretty good today. Emotionally, we take it day by day, but physically…today was a gold star day. I had stopped by to see if mom was going to send anything to Uncle Bob’s funeral and if she needed any help.

When I got to the house, I found mom in the kitchen sorting through her meds and when she saw me standing there, she walked over and gave me a big ol’ hug. I could not help but notice how here hair is growing in. The chemo definitely changed the texture. She used to have really fine hair, but it is much thicker than it was and the color is going to be pretty cool when more of it grows in.

She is just so darn cute! She was telling me that she had gotten up and read the “glob” with her morning cup of coffee. She is techno challenged but that’s what makes it so adorable. You should have seen how excited she got when we set up “mom cam” – she thinks it is so cool to see each other via a web cam and have a real time chat. I think everyone should have a web cam and Microsoft Messenger – especially Cancer patients and their family. Like I have often said, a picture is worth a thousand words and it’s a way for everyone to stay connected and see the progress first-hand.

There are days when I wish I had a pocket-sized “Dolly Momma” just so I can squeeze it and hear those priceless momisms throughout my day.

Speaking of the Dolly, she resembles more of a thoroughbred than a wise sage. Shortly after chemo, she had developed a rash on her leg. Her primary doctor thought is was a reaction to some of the medication she was taking. So he gave her some ointment and that seemed to do the trick. However shortly after her last hospital stay, we noticed that the rash had spread to the other leg and while it was not painful, she did say it was rather itchy.

It turns out that the rash is from excessive fluid retention – who knew that all those fluids (which are important for hydration) would produce a rash. So if you are a Cancer patient and you develop a mysterious rash, find a good dermatologist. It can be treated with a prescription ointment and some Ace bandages that compress the legs. This helps to reduce the fluid and alleviate the rash.

Mom says she looks like a race horse! And ya know…she is right.

And here is how I would imagine that race would be called …

They’re in the gate and they are off
It’s Cancer and Momisan
Cancer and Momisan are neck and neck
It’s Cancer on the turn
Momisan is keeping pace
On the straight away it’s Cancer and Momisan
Momisan is gaining ground
Cancer is fading back
Coming in to the homestretch its Momisan and Cancer
Momisan and Cancer
Momisan leads by a furlong
At the finish line…it’s Momisan!
Momisan takes the win!

…and the crowd goes wild!

For all of you who are betting individuals, here is an insider tip – put your money on Momisan. For those that love her and believe in her, the pay off is going to be BIG!

Find your inner race horse today. It doesn’t make a difference if you are in the lead or trailing, just keep the pace and head towards the finish line.

Blessing to you all!

Val

(The legs of thoroughbred!)

Coulda Shoulda Woulda

It has been a rough few days at Casa de Longo. My mom’s oldest brother, Bob, passed away. This is the same brother who recently celebrated his 90th birthday with a party - the one mom could not make because she was in the hospital.

My dad called me on Saturday and asked me to come over. I don’t think anyone really had the heart to tell her. It was probably the hardest thing I have had to do. I think we were all afraid that she would feel guilty because she was the only sibling not there at his party. That was one of the things she said when we had to cancel the trip, she said that she felt deep down in her heart, that she needed to be there. It’s going to take her awhile to realize that she can’t beat herself up for not being well enough to attend. Sometimes illness robs you of the ability to do the things that you desire most – one can not be faulted for that. But I understand where momisan is coming from.

I called Andy and he came right over with the girls and we spent the evening with the parents and mom shared some of her fondest memories of her older brother. It’s amazing how much she remembers – there’s eighty years of memories in that brain.

Andy went by to check on mom this morning and I went by around lunch and spent the afternoon with her. She was upset when I got there, but that’s another chapter in a completely different book – it’s just a pity that she has to read it now when she is grieving for the loss of her sibling.

Mom and I were discussing mortality today. I think anytime someone close to you passes, it is natural to take inventory of your own life. She asked me if there was anything that I wish she would have done differently. While there were times that we did not always see eye-to-eye, everyone has there disagreements and no family is perfect, I told her that I would not have changed one, single thing. She has been a wonderful mom and while we have grown closer over the past fifteen years, this battle with Cancer has cemented our bond. Even Andy sees her in a different light and knows that Cancer has given us a special gift that we will cherish and share forever.

I have no idea what the secret of life is. Every one has a different interpretation. But mom made a comment today that made me think. She said “You only get one ride on this attraction called life, so you had better do your best to get it right the first time.”

I don’t think mom meant that you had to be perfect, because no one is perfect, but I think she meant that you do your best to do the right thing so at the end of the day, God forbid if something were to happen, you are not standing there saying “coulda, shoulda, woulda.”

Our prayers are with my mom’s extended family for the loss of a brother and for my Uncle Bob’s family as they deal with the loss of a husband, father and grandfather.

I pray that my mom will find peace in the next few days and that she comes to realize that even though she did not get to be with her brother on his birthday, that he understood and he knew what was in her heart just as much as she knew what was in his.

Live your life with kindness and love and be there when you are needed most so at the end of the day you don’t have to worry about “coulda, shoulda or woulda.”

Blessings to you all – We love you!

Val

Gone to the Dogs

One would think that taking care of mom and having the nickname, ChemoSabe, that I would be able to manage my own emergency at Conley’s Corner, but noooooooooo!

I awoke in the early morning hours on Wednesday to the sound of my husband yelling, “Honey, Come here. Ryker is bleeding.” For those of you that do not remember, Ryker (aka “The Killer) is our oldest furbaby. I just about broke my leg running down the stairs to get to the kitchen. That is where I found my husband trying to wrap the bleeding leg of our dog.

Of course, I am trying figure out what the heck happened. And my husband said that when he let him outside, he though he had cornered a cat or something. Now, I am by no means a wound expert, but this did not look like a cat attack to me. It was more of a laceration than a bite/claw wound.

As we pin the dog to the ground and blind him with the beams from flashlights looking for other signs of injury, we are debating on what to do with him. Do we take him to the doggie emergency room? Do we wait until the morning and go to our regular vet? I had no idea what to do. At 10:30pm, the options are pretty thin. While his wound was not gushing blood, it was bleeding and of course I was worried that he had been attacked by a wild squirrel or some other rabies carrying critter.

But after we looked him over, cleaned up the leg to the best of our ability, and got the bleeding to stop a bit, we opted to wrap it up and take him to our vet first thing in the morning. Our boy wasn’t in pain and he managed to limp up the stairs and curl up on his pillow in our room. Needless, to say, I did not get a good night’s sleep because I kept checking on him to make sure he was breathing and wasn’t bleeding to death – I know…I am such a worrier! Imagine how many sleepless nights I had with momisan!

In the morning, I call the vet and they were sympathetic to my motherly meltdown and told me to bring Ryker in ASAP. When we got there, they tried to look at his wound, but he would not let anyone touch it, so they opted to sedate him and get it all cleaned up. Now, before I left, they asked me to stay while they “juiced” him up with a sedative. And as the medication started to work its mojo, my boy started to go all limp in my arms – which brought me to tears. It’s been a rough year, people….I am an emotional wreck!

On the way home, I stopped off at Casa de Longo to visit with mom and as soon as I walked into the door, she asked what was wrong. I filled her in on the events that had transpired at Conley’s Corner and she reassured me that Ryker would be okay. For the record, mom loves “my boys” and they her. They say that dogs can learn up to one- hundred vocabulary words, and “grandma” is on the list. They get all excited when they hear her voice or see her. Dogs are very astute.

I spent a few hours visiting with momisan and I was there when her nurse Nancy came by – such a sweet lady! And it just so happens that she brought the ‘Dolly Momma” some great news. I had blogged a few weeks ago requesting extra prayers for Nancy’s sister, Cindy. She is undergoing some pretty intensive treatment for breast Cancer and Nancy shares our blog rantings with her. Well, it turns out that the Cancer in her sternum has decreased! Who says miracles don’t exist or prayers are not answered. We will keep on praying for Nancy and her sister, Cindy. We have made them honorary members of Team LoCo. Keep on fighting and know that there are people out here who are praying for you and wishing you well as you continue on your journey.

I left Casa de Longo a little after lunch. But little did momisan know that I would be sneaking back later in the evening. The wingman, Andy, had called me the previous night and said he was going to swing by the Longo household to do a little gardening for mom. I asked if he needed any help and he said if I had the time to come on by.

My second visit to Casa de Longo was around 3pm. I arrived to find mom sitting in the living room and as I filed past her with flats of flowers and veggies, she asked what I was doing. I told her that Andy and I had secretly plotted to swing by and plant a little “Spring Love” in her garden. She got all sniffley.

Andy and pop took the back of the house and he tilled the soil and dropped the tomato plants in for mom. I took the front and planted the flowers in her pots and flowerbeds. I am happy to report that mom is feeling much better. She had no problem dictating the proper placement for her flowers…she’s such a little Mussolini…but we love her to pieces and knew that she was a little disappointed that she wasn’t able to do some spring plantings. So we gave her a small garden for her to tend to. For those of you who receive tomatoes from the annual Ida Longo co-op program, I am sad to report that this year; the bumper crop will be significantly downsized. We may have to utilize a lottery style system or have a smack down in the backyard – last man standing gets the tomatoes! :o)

If you thought the Food Fairies were cool, you should see how quickly those Plant Pixies can work their magic!

I left Casa de Longo and headed to the vet to pick up “my boy.” I had a consultation with the vet and it turns out that Ryker had a pretty sizeable laceration that required seven staples. And as they brought him into the room, leg all wrapped up and wearing a fashionable cone to keep the leg from getting licked and scratched, one would have thought that we had been separated for months.

It’s Saturday morning at Conley’s Corner and I can say that I am definitely experiencing sleep deprivation. The dog can not go outside and run free. He must be limited to short walks and to make matters worse it has been raining. So each and every time we take him out, we have to wrap his leg in a Ziploc bag and tape it up. The cone is also proving to be a bit challenging for him. He gets stuck quite a bit, so it’s hard to leave him unattended at night. My life has literally gone to the dogs.

Last night, as I was changing his bandages, momisan called to see how “her boy” was doing. I explained to her that he was okay, but taking care of him takes a little flexibility on our part. Of course, that comment begged mom to ask, “Who was a better patient”?

I told her it was hard to compare since I didn’t have to cram her legs into a Ziploc bag or adjust her cone to keep her from biting/licking her stitches! ;o)
She just laughed and said to give “my boy” an extra belly rub and tell him that grandma loves him.

So as I blog my latest entry, I can not help but look down at the fury little face with a tail wagging a mile a minute. That’s his way of saying, “thanks for taking care of me.”

Just goes to show how compassion, love and care can be interpreted by all of God’s creatures, big and small.

Spread some love today!

Val

It’s all about the cookies

Submitted by wingman Andy:

It has been a while since I’ve written anything for the blog. Like many of you have read already, there were a few setbacks, but all in all it is onward and upward! As the family continues the battle of illness for both mom and dad, it is sometimes easy to cross that line of going from helpful Hanna to pain in the ass! Unintentional of course!

Anyone will tell you that the key to kicking Cancer or any illness is a good medical team, strong mental fortitude and non-wavering group of family and friends and family. We are blessed to have all three in our corner.

Looking inward though, you sometimes need to not only hear what Cancer Warriors are saying, you have to LISTEN to what they are telling you too. Each person has his or her own mixture of personal time and family time that they go through. There are going to be times that are reserved for private meditation, as well as public displays of emotion. Times to be alone, and times to be with those that mean so much to them. These times are going to change as the days and weeks continue on.

I had one of those moments yesterday with a visit at Casa Longo. Mom was found in the front living room, looking quite well, finishing her mediation time. We had a good talk about a lot of things, but she managed somehow to bring it full circle about Nanny Poppy Day!

For those that don’t know what they are, it is the Monday when both Rachel and I work and mom and dad get to visit the grandchildren. Notice I didn’t say “baby sit” as mom will be the first to tell you she doesn’t “baby sit”, she spends quality time with her grandchildren. Mom is always talking about wanting to get her “groove back!” And part of that groove has always been that special bonding time with her grandchildren. “Don’t you dare take my nanny and poppy days away she said.” “I’ll tell you if I can’t take care of them!”

So as I dropped them off yesterday, there was a gentle rain falling (thank you Lord we sure needed it). And as the girls ran to the door, there was pop holding it open for them before they reached the screen door to come inside. I warned them both not to be a pain, then drove off to finish my tour with the department, hoping they would not be too much for either of them. After all, children will be children and they can be a handful at times even for someone who is not dealing with Cancer.

When I got home from work later in the evening, as we sat eating dinner, I asked the girls how their nanny and poppy day went. GREAT they both said together! Nanny baked us cookies! Cookies I asked? Yep, and muffins too!

Looks like the groove is coming on slowly but surly.

Pass the cookies please!

I Am Like The Grinch!

I have always been a big fan of Dr. Seuss and I will confess that every year I make my husband watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas, he will deny it, but he loves it as much as I do.

My favorite part is when the Grinch becomes filled with the spirit of Christmas and his heart grows:

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”
“Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”
And what happened then…?
Well…in Who-ville they say
That the Grinch’s small heart
Grew three sizes that day!

By now you are probably thinking that I have dipped into mom’s meds because why on earth would I be thinking about Christmas in March!? Well, it is the only way that I can accurately convey how I felt today.

I stopped off at Casa de Longo to check up on momisan. She has been feeling a little off for two days, so we made her promise to see Dr.Z (her primary doctor) – turns out she has a bladder infection. This is the last thing she needs because it makes her feel like she is taking two steps backwards in the wellness department.

But she said that the most amazing thing happened to her while she was there. She sometimes gets a little upset when she does not see a consistent pattern of wellness and recovery, which is completely understandable. She wants to feel like herself again and sometimes becomes a little impatient. So as she waited for the results on her lab work, one of the nurses whispered to her, “we are going to take good care of you Mrs. L." "My mom had Cancer and sadly didn’t finish her fight, but we are going to do everything to get you through yours.”

It was all I could do to keep my composure when she told me that. There are people out there who have lost a loved one to this disease, and while they could easily loose faith and hope…they choose to pass it on to give strength to someone else who is fighting this battle.

Much like the Grinch, my heart grows each and every day because of all the people who have a ferocious desire to see us win this war on Cancer. I have such unconditional love for all those people that keep us going with their faithful and supporting spirits – it’s amazing!


I have often said that I would not wish Cancer onto my worst enemy, but I sure wish I could bottle the unconditional love, support, hope and faith that we feel in order to pass that on to others. There is an incredible bond that unites us all…and it’s a shame that it can not be felt unless you become part of something that you would prefer not to experience in your lifetime.

Thanks to all the folks who make my heart grow each and every day through your kind words and actions.

We love you all and you are part of Team Loco…whether you like it or not! :o)

Momisan is doing well and she became a bit peppier before I left this afternoon. She is really excited about her Relay for Life and she’s planning on being there to celebrate with other survivors and to encourage them to stay strong and continue the fight.

http://www.support-teamloco.com

Val

Also…
I happened to catch the news conference with Elizabeth Edwards today. Please keep this family in your thoughts as she must now embark on yet another journey to fight Cancer. While they stated that her Stage 4 Cancer is not curable, please pray that they can treat her so that she will have many more years to be with her family – especially for her children.

Tag Team Relay!

I am sure by now you are all wondering if everything is okay since I have not blogged in a few days.

I am happy to report that everything is going super! Momisan continues to get stronger each and everyday. Her nurse Nancy has taken very good care of her and all her wounds are just about healed. Mom’s physical therapist is another miracle worker. All those exercises she has her doing are really paying off. I have noticed that momisan moves much more quickly and does not seem so stiff and in pain. So thank you Nancy and Cathy for keeping her on the road to recovery.

Today I arrived at Casa de Longo to take mom to her one month follow-up with her radiologist. I can not believe it has been a month already!

We arrived at Medical City, early (we always do) and spent a few minutes catching up with everyone. They all said momisan looks great and they love the way the hair is starting to grown in – she looks smokin’ hot!

We updated some paper work and signed those pesky HIPPA forms again then proceeded to meet with Dr. Macko.

We filled the doctor in on all the “special” events that have taken place over the past thirty days and at the end of our recap, she looked at mom and said, “You’ve been through hell…but you look wonderful!” That’s the kind of stuff you like to hear.

Dr. Macko gave her the once over and took a look at her handy work after 25 radiation treatments. She said that the area was a little red, but all in all, momisan was healing nicely and it was time for them to part ways. Dr. Macko gave mom her walking papers today because the radiation treatment has done what it was intended to do. Sadly, we can remove one doctor from our “Dream Team” list. Their work is done and mom is a walking testament to that. Besides, they have other people to heal, so we wished them well and will pray that they will have many more success stories for other families.

That leaves TeamLoco in a little bit of limbo until April. So we have decided to celebrate how far we have come on this journey, by giving back.

We are organizing a Relay for Life Team that raises funds for the American Cancer Society. I have often said that even though this has been a difficult path to walk, we have encountered a bounty of blessings along the way and we wanted to honor those gifts by giving something back.

We are gathering members for Team Loco. Our team will participate in a Relay for Life on April 20th – April 21st in nearby Frisco, Texas. The Relay for Life is a magical evening that brings together cancer fighters, supports and caregivers so that we may celebrate, remember and hope.

During this event our team members will walk from 6pm (April 20th) – 6am (April 21st). There will be a special Survivor’s Lap that we hope mom’s therapist will have her ready for. (hint…hint…)

You can learn more about the event here: Frisco Relay for Life

You can show your support by joining Ida’s team and walking with us or by making a general donation to the American Cancer Society in her honor. Please visit our web site for more details or to donate and support Team LoCo: Team Loco – Proudly Supporting Ida’s Fight

I often find myself reflective in the evening, especially after momisan has received a positive medical update. I am amazed at how far she has come. It’s nothing short of miraculous if you think about. She is one in a million and I hope that her journey inspires just one other person to keep fighting.

It seems appropriate that on this leg of our journey, we take some time and give back. For all the support, love and prayers that we have been given, we should pay it forward to someone who might need it more. That’s why we formed a relay team – to celebrate all those blessings that the good Lord has bestowed upon us during this walk.

When we relay on April 20th, we do it for each an every one of you for supporting and praying for this family during the past year.

God Bless each and every one of you who have been there when we have needed you most.

…and please support Ida’s Fight at: Team Loco – Proudly Supporting Ida’s Fight

Val

Either You Have It or Know Someone Who Does.

What a gorgeous day we had in Texas today. Clear, blue, sunny skies with just enough breeze to make you stop and take notice.

I arrived at Casa de Longo around 10:25 this morning. Momisan had a follow-up with her primary care physician and we thought we would grab a cup of Joe after the appointment. As I entered the house and made my way to the kitchen, I could sense that mom was a little off today – she seemed a bit sad. I asked her what was wrong and she sad she woke up fine, but was just having one of those days. Come to find out later that she had been catching up on some of her blog reading…and let’s face it folks, some of the stuff we have shared will bring a tear to anyone’s eye.

As we walked towards the front, I told mom not to worry, there was still plenty of time in the day to turn it around. And as she stepped off the porch and headed towards the car, she stopped and looked up and said, “It’s beautiful outside.” – just goes to show that even the smallest things can change the course of your day.

We arrived at Dr. Z’s office and he gave mom the once over – kicked the tires and looked under her hood and then he looked at me and said, “She takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin.” …and he should know since he has been taking care of momisan for twenty-eight years! He said she looks well. She’s moving with less stiffness thanks to her physical therapist and her wounds are healing nicely. No changes in her medication and he said that her job now was to rest and eat well in order to battle some of the fatigue and to get her strength back.

As I escorted mom out of the doctor’s office, I forgot that he wanted to see her a few days before we went to visit the oncologist in April, so I told mom I was going back in to set an appointment…since doctor’s offices are sometimes so darn hard to get into. As mom sat down in the waiting room, I went through another set of doors and proceeded to chat with the nurse about setting the appointment. As we were talking, she told me that she can’t believe that my mom has Cancer and is doing so well. We started talking about hospitals and treatments and when I told her that we drive to Medical City in Dallas, she stated that you could not have picked a better facility. That’s what everyone says about Med City – it’s a hospital for healing and they do some remarkable work there.

I started to head back towards the waiting area when a lady standing behind me introduced herself and said she too had Cancer and she also went to Medical City due to their phenomenal reputation. We talked for a few moments and I wished her well as she continued her journey and I promised to say a few extra prayers for her and her family. And as I started to work my way to momisan, it hit me. When it comes to Cancer, you either have it or you know someone who does – that’s how prevalent it is.

Perhaps I am much more acute since Cancer has pretty much taken over our daily schedule, but it seems every place momisan and I go, someone will come up to us and tell us that are fighting the same fight or know someone who is – it boggles my mind!

Then I think about all the people out there that are just like me, or just like my brother Andy or pop. The people out there that are doing the best they can to support and care for all these people with Cancer.

Behind each of these Warriors is a sea of people dedicated to their care and support, without thought or hesitation. Together, we are the ChemoSabe Nation.

As I reflect upon yet another end to a day, I am thankful for the time momisan and I shared today and the positive report from her primary care physician. And tonight, when I lay my head upon my pillow, I will say an extra prayer for all those individuals who didn’t ask to be a part of the ChemoSabe Nation, but who do it without hesitation or regret. My wish for all of you is that you have the love and support you need to continue on the journey that you were called to do.

Blessings to you all!

Val