HOME

Boy there is nothing like being home. It feels so good just to be able to do what I want to do and not have to depend on someone to get me something or ask for my meds, I can just take them myself. Most importantly, the comforts of home, my own bed, my kitchen, my living room, my family, all that adds up and makes a huge difference. The in-laws arrived on camp early evening last night and it was great to have them all here. We played a simple game called Apples to Apples and it was really fun, alot of laughing. Plan today is to get me out of the house. I have been inside for 2 weeks and I need to get out. Planning on going either to Portland or Augusta, just to walk around and relax. My healing seems to be coming along. My mouth is still extremely raw and blistered but I'm getting by. Face and back are starting to dry up so I am getting quite itchy once in a while, but I can take some benedryl for that. Realized I have to wear a hat, it is very cold out and the heat is going right through my head. My head has been freezing which makes the rest of me cold. I am struggling to not scratch right now cuz everything itches. Hoping the weather holds off so that Garrett and Ashlee can get home from Vinalhaven ok. They are there for a game and are suppose to come home today, but only if the weather will allow the ferry to get them back to the mainland. I'm praying they get home cuz otherwise they won't be home until Sunday, and that will be bad. They will miss the BC Walk and I know Ashlee will be pissed. Keeping fingers crossed weather cooperates and they get home today!

haven't been able to post because I was behind a firewall at the hospital. Got admitted to the hospital on October 3, and got released today. 12 days in the hospital was more than enough for me. So I had a drs appt on Fri, Oct 2 and mentioned I had some hives and Dr. Mandell felt I may be having an allergic reaction to the dilantin and told me to stop taking it. I did, but by Sat nite it was so bad, I was admitted. As the days progressed, it became much worse, and then I was diagnosed with Stephen-Johnson syndrome. I had a pretty severe case, but now I'm on the mend. My whole face, neck, eyes, head, chest, back, were effected. I must say I did look quite bad, but things are looking better. I still have quite a bit of recovery and I will take it day to day. I hope to get through this weekend as an uneventful relaxing weekend and then refocus and get back on track for the plan to getting better.It was really good to get home today. Its so nice just to be home and to know I can sleep in my own bed tonight.Gonna go rest and relax. My sister-in-laws Denise, Wendy, Tracey, and my MIL will be here tomorrow night for a few days visit. I am excited to see them. It will be a nice weekend. I am hoping to go to the Breast Cancer walk in NH on Sunday. I want to just be there and be a part of the walk. I have alot of support and there are quite a few people who are walking with me. I would like to try to walk at least one lap, but we'll see. Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN MY SUPPORT THROUGH THIS. YOU HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO GET THROUGH EACH DAY.

Have had a turn of events in the last 2 days.Face and neck broke out in large hives and red and face swelled severely. I came to the hospital saturday night and they admited me and looks like I'll be here till at least Monday. I look like Will Smith from Hitch! Also my face is so dried and burned it is unbelievable pain.Dr is going to run some tests later to determine what might be triggering this severe reaction. I know it is driving me crazy! Dave is my back scratcher!Also my mouth is swollen,lips are huge and blistered raw. It sucks to say the least. I just wish things would improve!Want to thank everyone who went to the benefit show and the harvest dinner. Both events were well attended and its great to see community come together.

Today has probably been my roughest day. My head is really burned and bothering me. My face and ears are swollen, I look like "Hitch" when he had that allergic reaction, Back, neck and face covered in rash, looks like i have severe case of chicken pox. Im hoping it will be better tomorrow, cuz I sure don't think I'll see any relief today.I've been taking sudafed every 4 hours just to keep the itching bearable. That makes me tired which is not what I want. Gonna go rest again.

Not feeling great this am. Slept ok, but have developed slight cold symptoms and my lips are swollen 2ce normal size from radiation. Also have about 3 raw sores in my mouth and and overall feeling of pain in face, neck and mouth and rash all over chest and back. If I didn't have all at once, it wouldn't be so bad but it is irritated everywhere now. Since I have completed radiation now, I'm hoping rest will heal and I can move on. I am going to have a ct scan in October to see how things look and then we will decide next step. Hopefully there is alot of shrinkage.I want to thank everyone who came to my dinner last night and supported me. It was an awesome turnout!. Also hats off to the 7th and 8th grade classes for all their hard work.

Guess I'm up for the day. Have been awake since midnite and up off and off since then. Its 4:30 now and I can't get back to sleep so I guess I'm up for the day.Dad took me to radiation yesterday and we also ran some errands. He also took me over to buy a lobster to bring home to cook for lunch. Boy was it good, even though the taste was off from what I know it should be. LAST treatment today, Yeahh. It is at 8 am so I can get it and be done!!!!! My sister Kathy is coming down this am with her whole gang and spending the entire day. It is going to be fun with her here all day. I am anxious to see the kids, but Kaelynn especially as she has become my little buddy. My benefit dinner is this evening and I am honored to go to it. This town and the people in it are amazing! Talk about close knit community. This blog was started just to keep me busy, but it has turned inot more than that for me. I actually look forward to writing in it and it keeps my brain working. I see Dr. Mandell today and not sure what will happen after today. I have spoken with Cancer Treatment Centers of America and am considering meeting with them just to see what they say. They will fly Dave & I to Philadelphia to be evaluated, but now it is a timing thing. CTCA wants to see me before I start any new treatment, so it will be up to me & the drs to time this correctly. I have about a 10 day window to decide and get things moving.

Wow, a new month! I can't believe September is over and we are now into October! I screwed up a little yesterday. I forgot to take my morning meds and I got a headache around 11, saw dr mandell told her about it nor realizing i had forgotten meds, told me to take meds immediately which i did and all is well now. No headache. It is the first time I have forgotten to take meds so I really need to be more careful it doesn't happen again. Also since I did get headache when I forgot meds, we have decided to keep steroids at 16mg per day for now. I went out on a limb yesterday and called Cancer Treatment Centers of America and spoke with them. I may meet with them in a few weeks to see if I may benefit from a visit with them. Not sure if I would get any benefit from it but I figured I want to at least check it out. They are very informed and I feel more comfortable about talking with them, now that I've started. I guess in the back of my mind I've never been sure that they are legit, but I do know Natalie Lowell met with them and so I guess I can at least check it out. Excited for this weekends events. I am going to a benefit dinner on Friday in my honor (Harvest Dinner) which I am proud to attend and also on Saturday, Skosh is puttng on a show in my honor. That should be a fun night as those kids are very talented. Should be a fun weekend.