but I’m not. I’m exactly where I need to be today… in the emergency room with my dear friend.
Something went KerPlunk in the night for her and so what better timing for me to have a free day, a holiday, so I can be with her. It has something to do with her heart (as if all the chemo and stem cell transplant weren’t enough) that’s all I know at this point. Her heart monitor alarm keeps going off, and people keep popping in to see what’s up with her. I think she’s trying to sleep so she’s breathing very lightly. That’s what keeps setting it off, so I’m pulling that old mother trick and shaking her bed just a little. She doesn’t wake but she does take a breath and the alarm stops. GENIUS!
Okay…so here’s the really shitty part for me. (as though you didn’t know this was coming)
I pulled up photo booth on my computer so I could take a picture of her heart monitor and I nearly crapped my own damned pants when I saw myself on the screen. Those fucking overhead flourescent lights made the gray hair on top of my head stick out like bionic pubic hair.
When we get out of here I’m going to kick her ass for making me bring her today…before I colored my hair.
Beatch!
Guess the old saying holds true: TIMING IS EVERYTHING!
The toughest part for me, as an adult who has put my difficult childhood behind me, is dealing with family members who are in denial about anything being amiss about how we were raised and the impact this has had on our on-going relationships.
W
Oil of Olay moisturizer. I have had dry skin since I was in my 20's. Now that I am in my 60's.....Oy! I have always used some type of Oil of Olay moisturizer. I am now using the Age Defying creams, and like them alot. Oh, and Chap Stick under
ReginaLove, that is SO great to hear! As for soy, it may help with menopause symptoms -- it it controversial. The best way to use soy is in the form of whole fermented soy foods (miso, tempeh, tamari and natto). Non-fermented soy foods such as soy mi
Agreed. I never thought I was vain until I had a mastectomy at age 39. I was devastated and told the doc I wanted to wake up with implants. Now at age 60, I am lopsided and wondering if I was just avoiding the inevitable. You get what you get and you
Sounds very interesting.
OMG you are a nut, and I prey that your friend is alright! What kind of cancer is she being treated for?
She’s had multiple cancers for 20 some odd years. Lukemia, skin, non-hodgekins and hodgekins lymphoma. The last two years has been the most intense fight with back to back chemo treatments. She had stem cell transplant in may which has gotten rid of the cancers but these last two years of chemo may have fucked up a bunch of vital organs. Today their are watching her heart and lung funtion. Tomorrow her liver.
She is one of the bravest women I know and I bow to her tenacity. (except when shit like my hair gets thrown up in my face)
Hey jb. I want to invite you over so we can dye our damn roots together (mine are half black, half gray – but the black is what screams “look at me”), but I suspect you’ll be busy with your friend, and I need to get mine dyed sometime tomorrow. Only because I didn’t get around to it last Friday.
So you’re not invited over. Instead, I’m gonna just hug the hell out of you internetally (I love making up words) and keep my fingers crossed for yet another miracle. And also for no nurses to run from the ER room shrieking when they catch sight of your bionic gray pubic hairs sticking out of the top of your head.
Just so ya know, there are TWO extremely courageous (and caring) women in that ER room.
awe…you’re so sweet
Yeah well, you’re damn special.
I still have roots, I cannot believe I still have roots. I’m definitely getting rid of them TODAY!
I have to agree with Duffy’s assessment of the women in that room! I’ll be thinking about you both…maybe all three of you! and for God’s sake do something about the bionic pubic hairs! you don’t want her to be frightened when she wakes up…maybe one of the nurses can help you in her spare time…
I am praying for your friend, jbwritergirl.
your exactly were you need to be with your friend.
I didn’t do my hair either. Been meaning to for at least a week.
jb, Some of my favorites right here, and cause you are one of them! Your friend sleeping nicely cause she knows you’re there…dam chemo, for all the good-the nasties…don’t make her laught to hard when she wakes, hugs…TRACK
)
Well, she’s very fortunate to have you…’bad hair day’ and all!!
Thank you all for your lovely words. Tammy is resting peacefully after a fucking long day in the ER. 10 hours for gods sake, test after test. They finally admitted her and are treating her for new-mon-e-ah! (never can spell that word anyway) Whatever took her down like this is TREATABLE with anti-biotics. He heart is fine and there is still not one speck of cancer in her anywhere! I would get down on my knees and praise God but I’m afraid, after 13 hour at the hospital, I might not back it back up. Thank you for your thoughts, I love you all, and now I bid you goodnight. Can you guess where I’ll be at the crack of dawn?
Well Yikes! Pneumonia is a bitch! I was hospitalized for 5 days 2 years ago…as if she needs this…but as you say, much better than the alternative…
Since this is 3 days later, how’s she doing now jb? Hopefully you’ll see this and be able to give us an update.
Hey Duffy, She’s still in the hospital but it turns out everything has been about her liver. Two years of back to back chemo will do that to you I guess. She’s got a toxic overload and they are going to address it by giving her MORE medicine. No more anything with Iron and no cooking with any kind of iron pots or pans. I think she’s going to be okay. Hopefully she’ll be out by this Wednesday. They are going to do a liver biopsy then send her on her merry way.
Once home I will have to start the process of getting her pain meds down once again. She get’s scared, she pops a pill, she gets lonely, she pops another one. It took me nearly two months to get her off most of this stuff so I guess we’re back to square one. I have just found her a talk therapist and a CranioSacral Therapist. One for the head, the other for the body. I am going to see the Cranio gal myself to see what that’s all about. you can check out her website here:
http://www.craniosacraltherapyandyou.com/FAQ.php
Want to add some words to ease the aches and pain but Duffy said it so well and so completely — and very pleased it is a treatable illness. A friend in need…
SLUMBER PARTY? Are you women nuts. With our collective weaken bladders we’d probably be spending most of our time changing underwear!
Speak for yourself, Ms. jb! I get lectured for holding my urine too long and then developing bladder infections because of it. One of the “perks” for not being able to have children. God knows something good should come from that!
I do agree a HUGE box of Depends might be a good idea, though. Along with a case of kleenex since I tend to cry when I laugh really hard. Yeah, kleenex and DIAPERS, that’s the ticket!
Oh my, how can you top that? May I come??
Heck yes, you can come pinkim! Just let me know which you need – depends or kleenex. Or both would be possible, I suppose. I just need to know how much of each to haul with me to the slumber party. Which I believe is at Magnolia’s. (Lordy, I sure hope she remembers making the offer. How embarrassing if we all show up and she’s not prepared for us.)
Kleenex, I do believe, for me…Oh, and don’t forget to send directions to magnolias…do you have a key in case she forgot and goes out of town?
Uh-oh. I see very definite possible problems there. O_O
I know, right?