The New Year is upon us and what a year it has been. I guess you could say, I am more reflective than usual. It has been a great year. It feels wonderful to see my children moving on in their lives with wonderful people. It is great to know that I have been able to come so far in the effort to make me whole again. The new heart is working well and I just finished my first course of chemotherapy to treat the amyloidosis. The hard part is finding new balance. With so many permanent changes in our family, we realize that certain things will never go back to the way that they were. We have learned so much in the process; but it is still hard. We are still not in complete control of our lives.
The Velcade and Dexamethasone have side-effects. Mostly causing fatigue and bloating on day 2 and 3 after the dose. Those days I am functional, but not fun to be around. I have not had significant neuropathy from the drugs, just the usual numbness and tingling in my hands, feet and lips. What annoys me most is that my teeth are super-sensitive to cold, but at least food tastes good, too good, I have gained 15 lbs. in 4 weeks. I wish that I could say it is all muscle, but, alas, dexamethasone, besides causing a 'moon' face, also causes truncal obesity. So if I appear fat and in a bad mood, you can blame the steroids.
Today, however, I feel great. I am off the chemo for two weeks and hope to enjoy every day of my break. Tomorrow we go to Tahoe to go snowmobiling.
My hopes for 2009 are:
1. See my amyloidosis go into remission
2. Get a Stem Cell Transplant
3. Return to work in February
4. Help Barbie achieve her goals
5. See my children progress on their own paths.
6. Ride the Foxy's Fall Metric Century (100 Km bike ride out of Davis, CA)
7. Get to the point where my health is not the major part of the conversation.
8. Start giving back again.
2009 is going to be a great year.
Kevin
2 comments:
Dear Kevin,
I hope that you do indeed accomplish all your goals for this year! A very Happy New Year to you and Barbie. It would be really wonderful to see you back at work again. If you are grumpy we will humor you out of it. I need to give you a hug again... truncal obesity and all! You were a little skinny last time I saw you.
Hope to see you soon.
Kevin,
Haven't heard from you in awhile. What's up? Are you feeling lousy and not wanting to communicate?? or are you feeling so well that you've been out running around and haven't had time to blog? I hope the latter. It's February 1st today and I just wondered how you were progressing.
This communication is just for you, not the world.
Miss you.
Love,
Jennifer
Post a Comment