A Few Favorites Part 2

A Few Favorites

What Happened to Spring?

A follow up appointment with Dr. Khong. I had the appointment at Huntsman in the morning, followed by an interview at the Springville Museum of Art at 2pm. Before the snow I knew I could get to SLC and back in time for the interview. I was a few minutes late. I would have loved to spend more time in the big city shooting snow with Indigo, but I couldn’t.

I am considering closing this project.I would have thought with cancer that I would grow more into all of this, but I have grown away from the bra project. I don’t know. This has been a long and difficult 18-months and I want to rediscover who I am. That person may not include the girls in the journey.

Good Bye Portia

I had a follow up visit with my surgeon yesterday. I also consulted with her about having the port removed. She doesn’t do that, but the nurse practitioner does. I said, “Let’s go ahead and schedule it.”

A nurse came back in a few minutes later and asked if I could do it that day. In 15-minutes.

I replied, “Lets go for it.” And so, Portia (my very intimate and constant companion for the last year)  and I were separated. YAY! I guess. I am another step closer to regaining my independence.

Indigo and Dr. Khong

This week I had a follow-up visit with Dr. Khong. He always asks about Indigo. She was with me this week. He picked her up and held her. I couldn’t resist and quickly snapped this image.

I have been very blessed to have great doctors, both here and in New Mexico.

Indigo has a bone density scan.

I know, Indigo has no bones, not even an underwire. I was the one who got scanned. As far as scans and tests go, this one rocked. I didn’t have to drink anything, have blood taken, or undress. I climbed onto the table under the scanner and in ten minutes I was outta there. We are almost done with all the final appointments now. So happy. So ready to move on to the next stage of life.

Jennifer in Salt Lake City

I have neglected Jennifer way to much. I think she has her feelings hurt. Today, I took her with Indigo and me to a bone density scan appointment that I had.

Jennifer saw this van with all these bumper stickers and the three of us enjoyed reading them. We all needed a good laugh.

Jennifer is begging me to find her a new Host. I agree, it is time for her to move on to her next adventure. I really really need to start a new list of Hosts for Ms. Jen. She is wanted in Ontario (yes, Canada, not Calif.) but she saw pictures of the snow there and it took her two days to stop shivering. She requested a warmer location first. Hawaii might be nice. She is willing to go just about any where. Please, will you Host Jennifer?

If you are interested, you can contact me at gardner@unm.edu. Thanks!

End of Radiation

My last day of radiation. I am done. YAY! It was gloomy and foggy. These stairs are kind of like my future. I still feel as if I am surrounded by a fog of uncertainty and fear. My world feels dark and cold and I cannot, yet, see thru the fog to get a clear view of the future ahead of me.

No more waiting! Actually, they always got me in and out quickly. I was lucky if I fit ten pieces pf the puzzle in place.

The dressing room. Yep, Indigo joined me to get her portrait made on the last day. Do you see? I have hair!

This may be as close to a diploma as i get 😦

Indigo Provides Support at Radiation

Indigo went with me to radiation therapy. This is the scary machine that zaps me five days a week. Indigo looks a little nervous.

At home, processing the images, I guess I was bored? I got creative. Which processes do you like best? Why?

Radiation Planning

Yesterday I had a planning appointment with the radiology department at McKay-Dee Hospital. I had a CT scan and got five pin-point sized tattoos–which are used during radiation as a map to make sure the radiation is placed in the exact spots needed. I start radiation on December 1st. I go in five days a week for six-weeks. I will be done in mid-January. After that I will see the oncologist and surgeon and have some tests done to determine that the cancer is gone…. I hope to be able to start job hunting in January, but each of my doctors have told me that it could be a year or more before I feel well enough to work again. Every cancer survivor is different.

Indigo went with me yesterday. We were given a fluffy soft blanket. She has really put on weight during the last year.