just getting started

First of all , to all those who have the need to make sure they are in the right place, this is Chemistry 101. We will start out by learning that Chemistry is the study of matter. Like physicists, chemists study the fundamental properties of matter and they also explore the interactions between matter and energy.




*snicker*.... I really am evil at heart...




Actually, I am here to help all those who know and love me (blush)  keep up with what is going on as I battle this yucky thing called cancer without calling each and every one of you. Now , don't get me wrong, I would LOVE to visit with each of you and see how everyone was doing , and ask about your kids and and your cats and the job, I really love that kind of stuff. But unfortunately I just can't. (DANG I hate time limitations and lack of energy!....) I will do my best to update this as often as I can, or perhaps even have someone do that for me when I am unable.

Here goes....




In October of 2009, My hubby rushed me to the emergency room when I choked on a mouthful of rice. I never stopped breathing, but I did start throwing up blood. Now, just a hint, if that ever happens, it's NOT a good thing... Lots of tests and 2 months later, I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer . We didn't know the stage yet, so, we went to a Dr Simon Lo with Cedars Sinai. Came back as stage T3 M1 .

Basically what that means is that it has broken through the walls of the esophagus and has entered the lymph nodes. The tumor is too big to operate on right now, but chemo and possibly radiation should shrink that puppy down to size. Once it gets more operable, I will have have the pleasure of having my whole esophagus and the upper portion of my tummy removed... I will spare you the details for now, 'cause it is particularly nasty.

I do have to tell all of you that fasted and prayed for me, I did get the doctors I needed even though the insurance company was being a butt-head about it. (Can I say butt-head on a family blog? Ah well, its MY blog, I can even say "Poop" if I want! .... I'm SUCH a potty mouth).

I do have to give kudos to the staff of Dr. Lo, Dr.Soukiasian AND the medical director of Cedars Sinai! They really went to bat for me and I will be forever grateful for that. The insurance wasn't budging, so by a pure MIRACLE we found a loophole. I am simply changing my primary care physician to one at Cedars!

But I digress. Once I recover from that operation, I will go in for more chemo to get the last traces of this little monster. I understand I will have to learn how to eat again ( fun! ~ sarcasm for those who missed that) , will have a feeding tube for WWWAAAYYY too long, and ...
I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO EAT CHOCOLATE AGAIN IN MY WHOLE LIFE!!!! :(

*sigh... I suppose I can learn to live with that if it means I get to see my babies grow up.

I aint a' lyin' ~ I got a heck of a road ahead of me, but I am actually more worried about my husband and my sweet children.

For those of you locally, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you are doing and all you have offered to do. I am working with Cleo Garcia with the French Valley Ward to coordinate the things like meals, rides to the doctor, taking my kids to or from school, babysitting, and even helping my kids with their homework.

Seriously, my dear and wonderful friends, if you are local, please ~ we will need your time. We are trying to split it up into small blocks so that MOST of the sign ups will only take an hour or so. We DO NOT have definite time frames yet, but as soon as we get them, I will post them and make sure Cleo has them as well so she can start filling in all the time slots. Hey, if it's one thing we Mormons are good at , its getting organized on a big ol' scale.

If you are farther away and just REALLY feel the need to help, my sister has set up a website that will help us with everything from moving expenses (yup we gotta move in April) to the extra co-pays and gas we will use. Again to the local friends, your TIME is much more valuable to us.

For right now, Cary's beautiful oldest daughter, Carly is here staying with us. She has been SUCH a God send. She will have to leave the end of March to join her husband in New York, but until then , I am just so happy/grateful/appreciative to have her help (bit of an understatement I might add...).

So that's the story. Now I just want to share a bit of wisdom with all of you...




Please try to remember that now...