Tag: Power Planter

In Conclusion

Today is the last day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please don’t let MBC slip from your mind. This year an estimated 115 people in the United States will be killed by MBC every day.

From Metavivor:

“With the impending flip of the calendar, the “Breast Cancer Awareness” campaigns will retreat back to their pink shadows for the next 11 months – but we can’t ignore stage IV for even a minute. It is estimated that more than 42,000 people will die from MBC in 2024 in the U.S. alone, and these heartbreaking losses won’t stop until we collectively aim more than the current 5% of all breast cancer research funding at the only fatal form of the disease.”

I am so thankful for all the support I received from Dave and all of you for my Light Up MBC fundraising and awareness. I can still hardly believe my beloved Assembly Hall (I mean, State Farm Center) was lit in the MBC colors of green, teal and pink for National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, October 13.

I participated in the Be a Hero Fun Run in Plainfield, IL for Light Up MBC on October 12. My cousin, Suzi, drove me up and walked with me. My dear friend Patti also drove up and joined us. It was a beautiful day and I got to see my MBC friends April and Lisa and meet some new friends.

My dear friend, Greg Niewold, of Power Planter introduced me to Jerry and Jenny Simpson of Creekside Nursery. We made a video that has 24K views on You Tube to spread awareness of MBC, to promote the Light Up MBC Campaign, to promote breast density awareness (My Density Matters), and to announce a Creekside Nursery Signature Event that raised thousands of dollars for Light Up MBC in their live auction. Greg has done so much to support me since my diagnosis and help me spread awareness. He is an amazing human.

Greg hosted a Live Watch Party for the Light Up MBC event so people could watch the show and see me tell my story (with Dave by my side) in front of State Farm Center lit in MBC colors. I don’t know the details of the party, as I was busy with the live filming. It was a crazy night, as the lighting technician was delayed. The green, teal and pink lights did not happen until minutes before I went live. I’ve heard from many of you who watched it and my phone was pinging with texts. You all made me feel so loved. Dave and I stayed a long time after the event was over, just soaking it all in.

I encourage you to follow Metavivor, Light Up MBC, and My Density Matters on social media and I thank you for following me on my mission to raise money for metastatic breast cancer research. The Light Up MBC campaign runs through December 31. My fundraising page will remain active until then. This research is needed to save lives, including my own.

https://donate.metavivor.org/fundraiser/5554408

Know your breast density and why it matters. Perform monthly self exams. Get annual mammograms. Then get additional screening if you have extremely dense breast tissue. Don’t let my story become your story.

Thank you so much for your love and support. It means the world to me and helps me get through some really difficult days.

LXIV

Gateway Arch

Today is my 64th chemo treatment. Dave and I left home at 5 am and made the 3.5 hour drive to St Louis. The patient was actually ready to leave on time today (highly unusual) so we arrived with time to spare.

The future Siteman Cancer Center viewed from the roof of the parking garage.

Since we arrived with time to spare, we parked at the top and I was able to get in a walk before my medical day began. We also stop along the drive for me to make laps around a rest stop, as this generally makes me a lot less sore the day after our trip. They are building a new Siteman Cancer Center location down here right next to the parking garage. It is expected to open in 2024 and will certainly improve my patient experiences. I remember hearing about plans for this building not long after I was diagnosed and I am so thrilled to be around to see it coming to fruition.

Another view from the parking garage

The building on the left is the Children”s Hospital. I have friends whose children have received cancer treatment here. It is a first class place. It also houses the place where someone we love received a diagnosis of autism many years ago. I would prefer if all children were spared from diseases and conditions. Maybe someday…. The building on the right is the Center for Advanced Medicine, where I get my scans and treatment and where I see my oncologist.

Dave will work tonight so he grabs sleep when he can, as he did while I enjoyed the warm sunshine while I walked laps on the parking garage roof.

St Louis is 3.5 hours southwest of home, so it is always warmer here and I enjoy seeing things bloom earlier than we do at home. Dr. Folusa Olabisi Ademuyiwa (Dr. Bisi), my amazing oncologist, mentioned that her Heidi’s Hope tulips are blooming. Abbott-Ipco, Inc. donated tulips for the Heidi’s Hope Boxes sold by Power Planter. We raised money for My Density Matters to help spread the word about breast density and why it matters. Power Planter sent Heidi’s Hope boxes to my oncologist, my radiation oncologist, and my neurologist on my behalf.

Abbott-Ipco, Inc. tulips
Port Accessed

My first appointment today was to access my port and draw blood for several tests ordered by my oncologist, Dr. Bisi. My second appointment was to see Dr Bisi to monitor my progress. My labs looked great and I will have neck-down scans in 9 weeks and see her again to discuss results. I have to take precautions while my port is accessed since it runs directly to major blood vessels. The bright green sticker means that I have been accessed and cannot leave the 7th floor. If I have appointments on other floors, they cover the area with a specially-made bandage for protection that leaves my chest sticky for days.

Chemo Pod Ready

Noise cancelling headphones are a requirement for me in the chemo pod because, frankly, some people are just rude. Your chemo pod assignment is luck of the draw unless you have special needs ( I don’t) and I haven’t been very lucky lately. Three weeks ago a patient in my pod tried to bite one of the nurses and a man directly across from me coughed up mucus and spit it into a bag the entire time I was there. Six weeks ago the pod was filled with LOUD TALKERS – I could hear them over Rihanna in my headphones.

This is love.

Dave will work a full shift plus this evening after he drives me home from chemo. He caught a little sleep on the floor of the chemo pod next to my chair. This is love.