Caner Sucks.

I wanted to post something, but my heart aches, and my mind is mad, my eyes are puffy and I can't imagine what Aunt Gale feels.

I love you Aunt Gale, I wish I was there for morning chats. I enjoyed so much our hotel chats I am now in withdraws again.

A flower for Aunt Gale

on this day I know you go for another treatment. My love, my energy, my thoughts are with you.

A Bright Day with Aunt Gale

Yesterday I got to share some time at Aunt Gale's something I rarely get to do anymore. While life changes for each of us everyday there are certain things in life that are constant; and Aunt Gale being beautiful inside and out is one of those things.

No matter what is in anyone elses day she is always there soft spoken and ready to listen. One of life's few creatures that loves so intensly.

I love you Aunt Gale!

AMAZING GRACE

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound...Gale phoned just a few minutes ago. She is doing well. No nausea. She put on her new wig, a little lipstick and went to church today.

She is truly amazing.

Tomorrow is another visit for an immune booster injection, her counts dropped very quickly last week so the doctor is being proactive. Works for me.

To everyone reading this, thank you for taking time to check in on Gale. It is a joy to be able to keep everyone in the loop.

Peace,

AND THE BEAT GOES ON!!

Yesterday was ROUND TWO and she is well today...The anti-nausea meds are working. She feels strong emotionally and spiritually. We are grateful.

The treatment was just a little over two hours. She stopped by the grocery store on her way home - steroids can work wonders. We don't know what tomorrow will hold, none of us do, but we hope she will continue to feel ok.

She is checking this blog along with Amanda's the3day website, so leave a message if you would like. She appreciates knowing she is being remembered as so many, many friends and love ones are doing.

Thanks for caring....

Wearing A WIG!!!

Gale is absolutely the most amazing woman. Today she met with Amy, who is a psychologist with the oncology group. At the end of the meeting Amy asked Gale if she had anything else she was thinking about. Gale shared her concern about seeing Mother and being bald. Amy reminded her how a Mother always wants to take any suffering from her child. She suggested Gale buy a wig or wear a scarf when seeing Mother, if not Mother might want to be suffering rather than Gale and be depressed without understanding or remembering why. What a revolution!! If Gale had not kept the appointment today and been reminded of something we all know but would not have thought about Mother could have spent months being depressed and we probably would not have made the connection.

I am so grateful she spent time with Amy today. She just went right off to a wig shop and came out looking like a model I am certain. I haven't seen her yet, but she sounded great on the phone and mentioned putting on bright red lipstick!! You Go Gale...

TOMORROW IS CHEMO #2. She plans to go to work and then to chemo...her longtime buddy, Gary Ellis will be going with her.

Say a little extra prayer for her over the next few days. She is truly an amazing woman.

BALD AND BEAUTIFUL

Gale is an amazing woman. She had her head shaved on Sat., wore a baseball cap on Sunday and went to work on Monday BALD & BEAUTIFUL. She is amazing!!

Friday is CHEMO # 2. She is allowing someone from her home to take her for the treatment. She promises that if the treatment/after effects are more than she experienced before she will call me if she needs me. I trust she will.

Bald & Beautiful that is the theme!!

Day Fourteen

Yesterday was day 14th....during one of our visits to Gale's oncologist she asked when to expect her hair to start coming out. Day 14. When we talked yesterday her plan was to get her head shaved ASAP. We haven't talked today. I tried to reach her but didn't. I think she is very brave to face this and not be troubled daily by losing more and more hair.

I will be back in touch....

Every day keeps getting better..

Today Gale saw her oncologist for an immune booster injection. The chemo kills bad cells and GOOD cells. So today she got a BOOSTER!!

She is feeling stronger daily and may go into work for a while tomorrow!! Hurray...

Be it ever so humble, there is no place like HOME

Gale decided to go home this afternoon. She is ready to sleep in her own bed, be in her own space. This is Gale's journey so Lain & Gary came to meet Bill and I. The exchange was made!!

I am struggling with emptiness. I want to take care of her, know she is fine, evidently be in control. Bill reminds me of how this is Gale's personal journey. I can be there but in the end it is hers and hers alone.

Tonight she will sleep in her own bed surrounded by her own sweet family, the precious little grand babies she loves so much. She has received text messages from granddaughter Kaylee all along. She will see all the progress made on her home, fresh paint, new kitchen floor, new carpet, all of these things to make her own space hers.

Every moment is a blessing. We are so grateful that her journey to good health has been relatively smooth thus far.

Day Three

Today is very quiet. Gale woke at 4:30 a.m. feeling a bit of nausea. She took the pill prescribed and was able to go back to sleep (after a little tv). At 10:30 a.m., exactly 6 hours later the nausea reappeared. Another pill has helped.

She is resting now. Before she went back to bed she said she felt restless. "Guess this is the way Daddy used to feel". I said if you start barking me a round I will know you feel the way he did.

It is almost 1:00 p.m. and perhaps if she is up to it we may simply go for a short drive. The sun is shining, albeit is very cold, we have knitted hats to keep our heads warm. Lauren and Suzanne taught me how to make the caps, Gale wants to learn too. Just hope I can do as good a job as they did with me. I am all thumbs.

If she is up to it the drive may help, a little sunshine can definitely go a long way.

February 28th, Day Two

This blogging thing, not to be confused with clogging, is all new to me...Amanda says I need to post this way, versus the way I did this morning.

We've had calls from family and friends. Teresa Shepherd came by with gifts and most of all love and friendship. Teresa, Gale and I shared a fresh cup of coffee (Jamaica Me Crazy), Bill brewed for us. We have had a good day.

Amanda & Emma are here to visit for awhile, Gale is resting. She will love reading the messages received today.

Feb. 27, 2009

We did it!! Today was Gale's first chemotherapy treatment and she was a real trooper. She smiled and talked with everyone. Other patients were encouraging and supportive, she in turn encouraged them. We left there knowing we are on our way to good health. We even stopped by Baskin Robbins for a treat while waiting for her scrips. We enjoyed every bite of our ice cream and every moment being together.

She made the nurses laugh. When we learned her port-a-cath was inserted very deep she immediately said the surgeon could obviously tell her real job is as a "pole dancer" and he inserted the port deep to maintain her nature beauty... Of course, as her sister I could not help but notice her beautiful brown eyes (although until Steve & she came along there HAD NEVER BEEN A BROWN EYE LAIN). Mother and Daddy would be proud to see and experience her spirit today, she was wonderful.

Tomorrow may not be like today, but then who knows, it just may well be, and I will keep everyone posted. We are in this together. Bill and I are so honored to have her with us until she is feeling better. Next week will include a trip back to the oncologist for an injection to boost her immune system.

Again, we are on our way to good health. You are invited to come along and share out journey...