New Year's Resolute

Happy Holidays!  I hope that the whirlwind of December was mostly fun chaos and not crazy chaos for all of you.  It is hard to believe that it is almost 2013.

If you are like me, this time of year always lends itself to a bit of reflection -- looking back on the past year at what has occurred; anticipating the new one and all that we hope to take place.  It is almost unbelievable all that can happen in a year . . .

. . . or in a month, or a handful of weeks.  Sheri’s tenacity this fall has been only peripherally documented here – I am sorry that many weeks we could not fully capture the spirit that has permeated her journey.  The pain and struggle has not overwhelmed the determination, humor, resilience, and strength. This is a quote Sheri texted recently that her mom and Angie brought to her attention,  from the book Every Day a Friday by Joel Osteen :

Chemo quote:

"God will not allow a challenge to come into our lives unless he has a purpose for it.  I've found that nothing happens to us; it happens for us.  If we keep the right attitude God will always use it for our good.

Have you ever thought that God may have you somewhere on purpose so you can be a good example?  God may want your light to shine, to brighten the days, to make a difference where you are!"

Feel the love!
 Connie Simms and friends from the weight loss management and wellness center make a heart yard for the Gersin family.

Firm determination. Inspired by Sheri's approach, I am not going to make just one New Year's resolution this year; instead, I am going to try to enter the new year resolute -- not intimidated by the challenges life brings but always searching for the opportunities that exist in every experience.   

There are 10 weeks to go with chemotherapy! Sheri completed her third treatment recently, incorporating the new recommendations from her trip to Sloan-Kettering.  This new approach uses a less potent treatment more often, so she has a treatment a week that should be better tolerated. She will not have to be admitted to the hospital. 

Things went well this time around and Sheri has gotten good feedback again regarding her numbers: her Ca 125  went down to 11.37 from 12.46!  Great news!

Sheri will go for another treatment this Wednesday.

Here's to a year of good health and much happiness for the Gersins and for us all! Looking back at the hardships of the past one, I might be inclined to tell 2012 don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.  But perhaps that does not honor the good attitude that Sheri has admirably demonstrated (although it does kinda sound like her :). Instead I'll point out that a new year offers a renewed sense of optimism and energy -- so where 2013 is concerned, I say: Bring it!

Cheers!

~Bess

A Great Gift

With the holiday season in full swing, the world seems to be spinning a little faster than usual.  I had to leave a store early yesterday because the holiday music was so manic that I felt like my head was going to explode if I stayed another second.

How nice, in the midst of all of the holiday crazy, to have a truly great gift come our way   . . .  some good news from Sheri 's second opinion appointment at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York this week.  She had the "PCP" with her -- her "peritoneal cancer posse" (of COURSE she has her own posse, yo) consisting of Todd Heniford, Angie and Greg, and her number one shorty, Keith G.  It clearly made a huge difference to have the support of those special companions on this important trip.

Sheri reported that they had a great consult with Dr. Grisham.  She suggested some changes to the chemo schedule and how often Sheri gets CT scans after her six cycles of chemo.  She also had very positive information  regarding  recurrence and treatment of the cancer should that occur.  Hallelujah for positive feedback!!

Don't wig out . . . or, maybe . . DO! Sam picks out a favorite look for mom.

I believe sweet Henry is having a birthday party as I type this update. So there are lots of reasons to celebrate this week!

~ Bess

Attitude of Gratitude

So, Thursday morning I was pretty strung out driving my boys to school.  Every morning seems to be a roll of the dice with those two -- some days are uneventful.  And then some days are just crazy.  Crazy like crying and teasing and poking and tormenting; crazy like I am in a parallel universe where people can be brought to their knees in fits of sadness or rage, just because someone "looked at me" or "made that noise" or "smiled at me." Sweet Jesus.

So I drop them off and pull out of the school parking lot and into the far lane to turn into Sheri's neighborhood.  I had put together a little care package and thought I would drop it off on the front porch.  I knew Sheri's experience post-chemo had been really grueling last time, and I assumed there was no way she would be up and about this soon out after her second treatment.  As I turn onto her street I pull over, thinking I would just send her a text to let her know I'd left something at her door; as I pulled out my phone I was surprised and thrilled with the message there:

Actually feeling pretty good this morning.  Saw Henry off to school with his first big project! Nausea and discomfort are minimal . . . hopefully this will last! Love u all! Thank you for the prayers and well wishes!

I felt something like a wave come over me:  of relief, of gratitude, of shame -- for indulging in my own silly dramas with my kids. Her happiness at seeing Henry off to school after I had just thrown my two to the curb gave me pause.

Mostly I was just SO thankful that her experience was better this time around.

I saw her briefly and she was laughing and joking around.  Silly Sam (who should be a child model, by the way) locked his mom out of the house as she saw me to my car, prompting more laughter from Sheri.

I hope this is how it will go from here on out . . .  Smoother sailing, lots of laughs.

~Bess