Break Time

Mark's platelet counts were on the low side due to the duration of chemo so far, so Dr. B decided to give him a break in treatment. We got to take a "round" off from chemo this week and it couldn't be better timing...the weather has cooled down to a nice mid 60's at night and mid 70's during the day (sorry non-So. Cal friends and family). My close, dear friend is visiting from North Carolina, so we get to spend an evening out on the town. We had the joy of having a dinner "assignment" at The House of Blues Foundation Room earlier this week too. The morning of our scheduled treatment, our newly hired help at home was already at the house, so rather than go home, we decided to have a day out. We hit a couple local thrift stores (scored me some books...Wicked and Little Bee), had lunch and played games at Dave and Buster's for the second Wednesday in a row and did some shopping. It was nice to be out and about, feeling like a "normal" couple again. Mark has been feeling pretty good, especially after winning First Prize at a car/motorcycle show here in our little city Monterey Park. He beat all the other bikes entered, which were Harleys :) There is a nice picture of the bike and the trophy posted on his Facebook page. We are planning to clear out some junk and make some much needed space in the garage so I have room for the treadmill to actually fold out and be in usable condition, rather than the junk stand/rack it has been serving as the past month since being banished out from our bedroom. Mark also found time to set up our Wii gaming console in the back room so I can attempt to do Zumba and Wii Yoga where there is decent space without having to move a couch and table like in our living room. Monday being Halloween, I will be dressing up as a Day of the Dead Calavera Senorita...we are having a costume contest at my gym and I intend on winning. Pictures will be posted and emailed! In addition to all this that is going on, we are hoping to get out on a nice trip once chemo treatments have been completed and the doctors give us a game plan for the next steps in treatment. We have our eyes on the East Coast, specifically North Carolina and Connecticut or Florida to visit with family. So it may be a while before I post a new blog, but it's all for good reasons. Happy Haunting!!

The Help

No, this is not a review of the movie "The Help", although Mark and I did recently see the movie. By the way, it was great...I highly recommend it. And it is not a "chick flick". I'm writing about hired help. We have recently determined I can no longer take care of myself, Mark and my grandmother...at least not in the care she want. There is a HUGE difference between what someone needs versus what they want. After a long, conversation with both myself and my mom, we convinced grandma to allow us to hire someone to help out. Our angel is a home care aid named Judith, who helped us out with my grandpa...she is a loving, patient woman and I feel fortunate to know her as a person and consider her a friend. In 5 hours, two days a week, she has been able to accomplish chores that would take grandma hours, even days to finish. AND she has given me time to devote to myself, Mark and most importantly some free time to find my sanity (which was misplaced a long time ago). I've been able to get out to spend time with my mom, get my butt to the gym, enjoy lunch out when Mark is feeling good and even get my nails done :) It's the little things that matter these days and it has been a wonderful feeling to be able to experience the little, joyful things in life. Mind you, it took some convincing of grandma for her to agree to "spend money" for someone to "take care" of her. We explained to her that she worked hard all her life, saved her money and now was the time for her to enjoy it and put it to good use before she dies...we reminded her that she cannot take her money with her. Judith has been able to get my grandmother to exercise (walking down the street a few house distance, which is something we have never been able to convince her to do). And she is using my stationary bicycle pedal "thing" to exercise her arms and legs....a miracle in my eyes! Judith has taught me that sometimes you have to hire someone to feel that you can ask them to do certain chores...something my grandmother has difficulty doing. She does not or will not ask for help with chores or favors. My assumption is when you are paying someone, you want to optimize the amount of work you get out of them? But Judith assures me she loves what she does and it does not feel like work for her. An angel, indeed! She takes the time to listen and talk to grandma, which is the part she NEEDS that I can't seem to find the time to do. So, like in so many situations, someone who is hired as "help" one person is in actuality helping a whole family. We are learning to cope with aging, illness, patience and finding the ability to ask for help, not expect it. And those are things you can't put a price on. :)

50/50...I won't ruin the end! :)

Just got back from watching the movie 50/50 with Mark. It was an amazingly emotional story of a young man (Joseph Gordon Levitt) battling a rare spinal cancer. The manner in which the devastation a cancer diagnosis makes on a young life was moving to watch. From personal experience of dealing with Mark's battle with cancer, it was difficult to watch at times throughout the story line. The character's best friend (Seth Rogan) deals with his own issues regarding life, death and friendship when he is told about the diagnosis. There are multiple relationships the movie deals with : a worrisome mother, a father battling Alzheimer's disease, a girlfriend who doesn't know if she can be a caretaker, a therapist who is dealing with her own emotional battles and a few supporting characters (fellow cancer patients) who make the cast a wonderful mix of interlacing stories. I won't give away the ending, since I'm hoping anyone who reads this will go see it. It was one of the best portrayals of cancer from the patients' point of view I've seen. A little close to home in a several scenes depicting how the characters are dealing with what life has handed them. If you or anyone you know is a fellow warrior in the battle against cancer, go see this movie. You'll laugh, cry and see life differently.