A great friend of mine is hoping to raise funds to help us off-set some of our
medical bills and a little loss of income. T-shirts have been designed
(design idea by yours truly), and are ready to be ordered! Click on the
link below for the flyer and order form. She would like all orders to
be returned by October 28th, so we can have a fast turn around on the
t-shirts.
Thanks for your support and helping raise awareness for cervical cancer!
Shirt Order Form
Monday, October 17, 2011
Mighty Max
Many of you might know, or have heard of, Mighty Max, a young boy from Neola, IA, who is battling cancer. Max's wish is to receive 1 million cards. When I heard of this last school year, I sent out an email to my staff at school asking them to have their study hall's make cards for Max. We sent over 350 cards from La Vista Junior High. Throughout that process I thought to myself, what a sweet kid, only wanting cards. Most kids wish for a vacation or to meet someone famous.
I now know why Max had this wish. It is amazing how much one little card can light up your day. I can not thank you all enough for all of the cards you are continuing to send me. Everyday my mailbox has at least four cards in it! I always think they might stop coming, but they don't and I couldn't be happier about that! I know it takes time out of your day to sit down, write me, address the envelope, and send off the card. (I know this because I'm struggling with getting thank-you's out, but I promise you will get one!) I truly appreciate you taking the time to do that for me! I keep each and everyone of your cards, and read through them on my bad days when I don't have the energy to do much else.
Along with your prayers, support, food, messages, phone calls, and gifts, your cards are the biggest help in helping me continue to fight! They are something I can always keep and keep coming back to. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Love,
Meighan
I now know why Max had this wish. It is amazing how much one little card can light up your day. I can not thank you all enough for all of the cards you are continuing to send me. Everyday my mailbox has at least four cards in it! I always think they might stop coming, but they don't and I couldn't be happier about that! I know it takes time out of your day to sit down, write me, address the envelope, and send off the card. (I know this because I'm struggling with getting thank-you's out, but I promise you will get one!) I truly appreciate you taking the time to do that for me! I keep each and everyone of your cards, and read through them on my bad days when I don't have the energy to do much else.
Along with your prayers, support, food, messages, phone calls, and gifts, your cards are the biggest help in helping me continue to fight! They are something I can always keep and keep coming back to. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Love,
Meighan
It wasn't Vegas, but...
Well...I made it through the weekend and still have a smile on my
face! I know it's been awhile since I've updated...so let's back track a
little.
I spent Thursday night in Avoca, as some of us girls got pedicures that evening. So Friday, I drove back over to Omaha for my radiation treatment. Jerrid had picked up all boys' tuxes on Thursday along with my cousin, Jason, late Thursday night from the airport. So after radiation I went and got him along with the tuxes. We then went and picked up my Grandma McCarthy and headed back out to Avoca. While everyone was busy getting ready for rehearsal dinner that was at my parent's house, I took a nice 3 hour nap! Rehearsal went great, the dinner was very good, and the company was even better! I felt great the entire day and night!
Saturday morning was a little touch and go for awhile, but I pushed through. I ended up not going down to Oakland to have my hair done with the rest of the girls so I could sleep in a little, and I was very slow moving! I did my own hair, and it turned out just fine! By the time pictures started at noon, I was feeling a lot better and had mentioned wanting a pickle. My mom didn't have any in the house, and the next thing I knew my dad and uncle had went and got me my own jar of pickles! All weekend (really throughout this entire ordeal) everyone was catering to my needs, and jumping at the chance to do something for me. This is definitely something I could get used to! :)
The
wedding was perfect, and thanks to my Aunt Kris, Cait, and my grandma I
had a very stylish PICC line cover. My best friend, Kellie, told me at
first she thought that was part of the dresses until she realized I was
the only one that had one. (She's my best friend...she's supposed to
make me feel good.) My honest and loving husband told me it looked like
a floaty. I'll post a picture and you can all form your own opinions.
I chose not to ride the bus over to the Tip Top with the wedding party, as I thought it best that I rest a little as I had a couple hours before the reception. So...Jerrid drove and Brayden and I rested! The reception hall was decorated beautifully, and the food was very good. After dinner, cake cutting, toasts, and first dances the dueling pianos started! Anyone that knows me, knows I love dueling pianos! They were really good and I hung in there with the best of them until 11:00! It was great to see and catch up with so many friends and family that I haven't seen in awhile.
Yesterday, I was still going strong. We went to brunch at Granite City with my parents, Cait, and my family from Buffalo. After that, we headed back out to Avoca to watch the Bills game and recover from the big weekend! Upon leaving to head back to Omaha last night, we had to say our goodbye's to the Buffalo crew, which is always sad as we have such a great time with them and don't see them near as often as we'd like.
All in all, it was a fabulous weekend! I'll post more pictures soon!
I spent Thursday night in Avoca, as some of us girls got pedicures that evening. So Friday, I drove back over to Omaha for my radiation treatment. Jerrid had picked up all boys' tuxes on Thursday along with my cousin, Jason, late Thursday night from the airport. So after radiation I went and got him along with the tuxes. We then went and picked up my Grandma McCarthy and headed back out to Avoca. While everyone was busy getting ready for rehearsal dinner that was at my parent's house, I took a nice 3 hour nap! Rehearsal went great, the dinner was very good, and the company was even better! I felt great the entire day and night!
Saturday morning was a little touch and go for awhile, but I pushed through. I ended up not going down to Oakland to have my hair done with the rest of the girls so I could sleep in a little, and I was very slow moving! I did my own hair, and it turned out just fine! By the time pictures started at noon, I was feeling a lot better and had mentioned wanting a pickle. My mom didn't have any in the house, and the next thing I knew my dad and uncle had went and got me my own jar of pickles! All weekend (really throughout this entire ordeal) everyone was catering to my needs, and jumping at the chance to do something for me. This is definitely something I could get used to! :)
The
wedding was perfect, and thanks to my Aunt Kris, Cait, and my grandma I
had a very stylish PICC line cover. My best friend, Kellie, told me at
first she thought that was part of the dresses until she realized I was
the only one that had one. (She's my best friend...she's supposed to
make me feel good.) My honest and loving husband told me it looked like
a floaty. I'll post a picture and you can all form your own opinions. I chose not to ride the bus over to the Tip Top with the wedding party, as I thought it best that I rest a little as I had a couple hours before the reception. So...Jerrid drove and Brayden and I rested! The reception hall was decorated beautifully, and the food was very good. After dinner, cake cutting, toasts, and first dances the dueling pianos started! Anyone that knows me, knows I love dueling pianos! They were really good and I hung in there with the best of them until 11:00! It was great to see and catch up with so many friends and family that I haven't seen in awhile.
Yesterday, I was still going strong. We went to brunch at Granite City with my parents, Cait, and my family from Buffalo. After that, we headed back out to Avoca to watch the Bills game and recover from the big weekend! Upon leaving to head back to Omaha last night, we had to say our goodbye's to the Buffalo crew, which is always sad as we have such a great time with them and don't see them near as often as we'd like.
All in all, it was a fabulous weekend! I'll post more pictures soon!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Riding a Rollercoaster
This entire ordeal (starting in August) has been a emotional and physical rollercoaster ride. I never liked rollercoasters much...
Well yesterday was rough, I couldn't keep much down. Hard to gain/maintain weight, and eat every three hours when I'm puking everything up! I still didn't feel well this morning, but choked down some cereal before I went to radiation. I was able to keep it down, but must not have looked the greatest because my radiation therapists were a little concerned with my "look". Side note, my radiation therapists are amazing. They are the most nurturing, caring, and sweet people I have ever met. If I didn't love my job so much, I think I'd look into being a radiation therapist. So today when I went to radiation looking the way I did, my radiation therapists, being their amazing selves, called up to my doctor to tell him their concerns. Dr. Morris told them to have me come up right after radiation. While at the doctor, they decided to put me on a patch that is supposed to help with nausea. This is something I wear for 7 days. I'm giving it a trial run, and if I like it, then I'll continue with it for the rest of treatment. They also sent me downstairs to infusion, where I get my chemo treatments, for some nausea meds and fluids through my PICC line. So I spent 3 more hours than expected at the Estabrook Cancer Center today, BUT it was well worth it. I'm feeling a lot better, and have continued to keep down my cereal and a bagel so far today. I'm also looking forward to giving the chicken enchiladas a try that are coming for supper tonight. I'm sure you're probably thinking, after not being able to keep anything down yesterday you're going to give chicken enchilada's a try? This isn't anything like having the flu, so it's not that my stomach can't handle certain foods, it's finding the right foods that I can stomach right now. Oddly enough spicy foods are the one thing that sound good to me. My nurse's have told me that my appetite and taste buds would change during chemo, and they have some. The biggest change is that I have NO appetite...this is not normal for me! I have always liked spicy foods though, so this is no different. A change though has been my love for pasta...this is gone. (Along with my love for beer.) I sure hope they both come back after chemo! :)
I'm hoping I continue to feel well as we have a big night ahead of us. First stop...Target. I'm not ashamed to tell you all that we will be bribing Brayden with Lego's to ensure that he will take pictures and walk down the aisle at the wedding on Saturday. After this, it's off to the airport to pick up Cait!!!! We (or maybe just me) are so excited for her to come in! I know the boys are excited too; just maybe not as excited as I am! Then...let the wedding festivities begin: wedding errands on Thursday, pedicures on Thursday night, resting for me on Friday (while everyone else gets the farm ready for rehearsal dinner), rehearsal dinner Friday night, then finally the BIG day on Saturday! Let's hope this patch does the trick and I continue to feel well throughout the weekend!
For now, I must go, as Brayden HAS to look at Halloween costumes online, RIGHT NOW!
Love,
Meighan
Well yesterday was rough, I couldn't keep much down. Hard to gain/maintain weight, and eat every three hours when I'm puking everything up! I still didn't feel well this morning, but choked down some cereal before I went to radiation. I was able to keep it down, but must not have looked the greatest because my radiation therapists were a little concerned with my "look". Side note, my radiation therapists are amazing. They are the most nurturing, caring, and sweet people I have ever met. If I didn't love my job so much, I think I'd look into being a radiation therapist. So today when I went to radiation looking the way I did, my radiation therapists, being their amazing selves, called up to my doctor to tell him their concerns. Dr. Morris told them to have me come up right after radiation. While at the doctor, they decided to put me on a patch that is supposed to help with nausea. This is something I wear for 7 days. I'm giving it a trial run, and if I like it, then I'll continue with it for the rest of treatment. They also sent me downstairs to infusion, where I get my chemo treatments, for some nausea meds and fluids through my PICC line. So I spent 3 more hours than expected at the Estabrook Cancer Center today, BUT it was well worth it. I'm feeling a lot better, and have continued to keep down my cereal and a bagel so far today. I'm also looking forward to giving the chicken enchiladas a try that are coming for supper tonight. I'm sure you're probably thinking, after not being able to keep anything down yesterday you're going to give chicken enchilada's a try? This isn't anything like having the flu, so it's not that my stomach can't handle certain foods, it's finding the right foods that I can stomach right now. Oddly enough spicy foods are the one thing that sound good to me. My nurse's have told me that my appetite and taste buds would change during chemo, and they have some. The biggest change is that I have NO appetite...this is not normal for me! I have always liked spicy foods though, so this is no different. A change though has been my love for pasta...this is gone. (Along with my love for beer.) I sure hope they both come back after chemo! :)
I'm hoping I continue to feel well as we have a big night ahead of us. First stop...Target. I'm not ashamed to tell you all that we will be bribing Brayden with Lego's to ensure that he will take pictures and walk down the aisle at the wedding on Saturday. After this, it's off to the airport to pick up Cait!!!! We (or maybe just me) are so excited for her to come in! I know the boys are excited too; just maybe not as excited as I am! Then...let the wedding festivities begin: wedding errands on Thursday, pedicures on Thursday night, resting for me on Friday (while everyone else gets the farm ready for rehearsal dinner), rehearsal dinner Friday night, then finally the BIG day on Saturday! Let's hope this patch does the trick and I continue to feel well throughout the weekend!
For now, I must go, as Brayden HAS to look at Halloween costumes online, RIGHT NOW!
Love,
Meighan
Monday, October 10, 2011
Week 3
Well today was the start of week 3. I have felt the best I have in awhile today, and when I say "best", I mean 75%. I don't think I feel anywhere close to 100% until long after all this is over. I saw my oncologist, Dr. Morris today, and the first thing he said to me was: "Well this isn't as great as you thought it was going to be when you signed up, huh?" (I'm not sure I ever thought it was going to be great.) He then reminded me that I, number one, should still not be in his office because I had none of the risk factors and did everything that I could to prevent this, and I still got cancer...stage 2 none-the-less. Secondly, he reminded me that this is week three and I only have 2 weeks left. I then questioned him with, "Really? Only 2 more weeks for sure?" He then responded with, "Well sometimes if you buy the 5th chemo treatment you get the 6th for free." Such a funny guy! :) Lastly, he said most people going through what I am are twice my age and twice my weight, so considering that and the fact that I shouldn't be in his office, I'm handling this all very well...emotionally and physically. He then told me though that I can not lose anymore weight, as this could affect my chemo treatments in the future. It's hard to gain weight (or maintain for that matter) when you have no appetite and are nauseous half of the week. BUT...I made a list of foods that I feel like I can stomach and we went out and bought those tonight. I'm still have stomach issues from my surgery so portion size is another problem. So I'm going to try to eat every three hours, and eat things high in calories and nutrients. Hopefully this helps. Other than my weight, my other vitals and blood work are very good and holding steady...so this is good!
Back to Dr. Morris's comment about how I had none of the risk factors and did everything right. If you research cervical cancer you'll find that it is almost always prevented, and in almost all cases is caught early. BUT...of course I'm one of the few cases that it wasn't. Cervical cancer is almost always prevented as long as you don't smoke, don't have the family history, and have yearly pap smears. I do not smoke, there is nothing in my family history, and had yearly pap smears. It's usually caught in the pre-cancerous stage and such procedures like a cone biopsy or a leep procedure are done to get rid of the abnormal or pre-cancerous cells. By the time my cancer was found, it was far too late for either of those procedures. Considering my last normal pap was in December, and I was diagnosed at the end of August with stage 2 cancer they considered it to be a fast growing cancer. Good thing about fast growing cancers is that they are also easier to treat! I honestly attribute my being diagnosed when I was to my being proactive. At the first sign of something abnormal, I saw my doctor and continued to after each symptom. I was very up front with my OBGYN, and made sure they were doing all they needed to do in order to figure out what was wrong with me. So, if I've learned anything through this process it is to be proactive...you know your body the best! For all the women out there it is also very important to continue with yearly pap smears, and do all you can to keep your body healthy! I may have done this and still ended up with cancer, but I can at least say I did all that I could to prevent it and caught it as early as we could have hoped. I hate to think where this cancer would be if I wasn't proactive and this was found at my next yearly pap in December.
Ok...I'll get off my soap box now. I've got a big week ahead of me and am going to do everything possible (lots of sleep, lots of liquids, eat every 3 hours, ect.) so I can enjoy the entire day on Saturday...Evan and Linsey's wedding!
Here's to a great week!
Meighan
Back to Dr. Morris's comment about how I had none of the risk factors and did everything right. If you research cervical cancer you'll find that it is almost always prevented, and in almost all cases is caught early. BUT...of course I'm one of the few cases that it wasn't. Cervical cancer is almost always prevented as long as you don't smoke, don't have the family history, and have yearly pap smears. I do not smoke, there is nothing in my family history, and had yearly pap smears. It's usually caught in the pre-cancerous stage and such procedures like a cone biopsy or a leep procedure are done to get rid of the abnormal or pre-cancerous cells. By the time my cancer was found, it was far too late for either of those procedures. Considering my last normal pap was in December, and I was diagnosed at the end of August with stage 2 cancer they considered it to be a fast growing cancer. Good thing about fast growing cancers is that they are also easier to treat! I honestly attribute my being diagnosed when I was to my being proactive. At the first sign of something abnormal, I saw my doctor and continued to after each symptom. I was very up front with my OBGYN, and made sure they were doing all they needed to do in order to figure out what was wrong with me. So, if I've learned anything through this process it is to be proactive...you know your body the best! For all the women out there it is also very important to continue with yearly pap smears, and do all you can to keep your body healthy! I may have done this and still ended up with cancer, but I can at least say I did all that I could to prevent it and caught it as early as we could have hoped. I hate to think where this cancer would be if I wasn't proactive and this was found at my next yearly pap in December.
Ok...I'll get off my soap box now. I've got a big week ahead of me and am going to do everything possible (lots of sleep, lots of liquids, eat every 3 hours, ect.) so I can enjoy the entire day on Saturday...Evan and Linsey's wedding!
Here's to a great week!
Meighan
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Is "cruddy" a word?
Well the past two days have been, for lack of better words, cruddy! Yesterday, I was feeling nauseous on and off, and have zero energy. Today, I wasn't really feeling nauseous, but just didn't feel well. I have no appetite, but know I have to eat. Problem is it's hard to eat something that doesn't sound good at all! So when I try to eat something that doesn't sound good then the nauseous feeling comes back...it's a vicious circle! :) I try to do things (laundry, clean, ect.) while I'm home, but it's been tough. That sounds a little ridiculous, huh? But to put it in perspective...it is sometimes hard to concentrate on watching TV or reading a book...I just feel that cruddy at times! Luckily, I don't move much while I'm home, so I don't make too big of a mess! :) I did get out of the house though this afternoon, picked up Brayden, and went to Jerrid's cross country meet. It was nice to get some fresh air and get out of the house!
We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow, so hopefully the cruddy feeling subsides. I've got radiation in the morning while Mogi gets her hair and nails done. Then Brayden, Mogi, and I will head out to Avoca. While there Brayden plans to do some combining and I've got a hair appointment myself so I look presentable for the wedding next weekend. Lastly, mom and I have to head over to Shelby for our last dress fitting. This will be the most I've done all week, let alone in one day, so I know a nap will most definitely be needed!
This weekend my mom's family from Buffalo starts to arrive, so we'll probably head back out to Avoca at some point to see them as it's been awhile! I'm looking forward to hopefully feeling a lot better, and seeing the Rappold's and Walsh's!
Lastly, I'm going to thank all of you again! Are you getting sick of my thanks? I sure hope not because I am not getting sick of the cards that come EVERY day! We also are not getting sick of all the food people are bringing us, or the constant thoughts, prayers, texts, and facebook messages! The support everyone is giving us is amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Have a great weekend!
Meighan
We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow, so hopefully the cruddy feeling subsides. I've got radiation in the morning while Mogi gets her hair and nails done. Then Brayden, Mogi, and I will head out to Avoca. While there Brayden plans to do some combining and I've got a hair appointment myself so I look presentable for the wedding next weekend. Lastly, mom and I have to head over to Shelby for our last dress fitting. This will be the most I've done all week, let alone in one day, so I know a nap will most definitely be needed!
This weekend my mom's family from Buffalo starts to arrive, so we'll probably head back out to Avoca at some point to see them as it's been awhile! I'm looking forward to hopefully feeling a lot better, and seeing the Rappold's and Walsh's!
Lastly, I'm going to thank all of you again! Are you getting sick of my thanks? I sure hope not because I am not getting sick of the cards that come EVERY day! We also are not getting sick of all the food people are bringing us, or the constant thoughts, prayers, texts, and facebook messages! The support everyone is giving us is amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Have a great weekend!
Meighan
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
So far...so good...
Well I'm knocking on wood as I type, but so far I'm nausea free! I've slept a lot today, as I'm exhausted, but other than that all is well. I'm just hoping the nausea doesn't show up later in the week once the meds they gave me before chemo wear off. I'd rather feel crappy during the week than on the weekends. But as they said this is all a trial and error thing, and I'm sure we'll have it figured out once I'm on my last treatment! :)
Radiation went smooth as always today, and my marks have been on for over a week now. SO...big day...I got my tattoo's! In all actuality these are very small little dots, and nothing that special! I am amazed everyday by my radiation treatment. I don't feel anything, I don't see anything, I just lay on this table and this thing swings around me and makes some noises. It's hard to believe that this is what is curing my cancer. BUT...I guess these people know what they are doing! :)
Well I guess that's all for today! Nothing too exciting, but that's ok sometimes!
Meighan
Radiation went smooth as always today, and my marks have been on for over a week now. SO...big day...I got my tattoo's! In all actuality these are very small little dots, and nothing that special! I am amazed everyday by my radiation treatment. I don't feel anything, I don't see anything, I just lay on this table and this thing swings around me and makes some noises. It's hard to believe that this is what is curing my cancer. BUT...I guess these people know what they are doing! :)
Well I guess that's all for today! Nothing too exciting, but that's ok sometimes!
Meighan
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