Mom arrived today. With my upcoming PET scan, it’s good to have her here.
Just in case…
Just.In.Case.
Family Category
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
Just in Case
Monday, September 7th, 2009
Back on PB – for now
I was Finally able to pick up a portion of Sodium Phenylbutyrate (PB) on Friday. Was Supposed to pick it up on Thursday, but the Clinic got the info mixed up and then there was some confusion on their end, so I couldn’t pick up the entire month, but will be able to pick up the rest so this coming Wednesday…
Had to pay for what I did pick up and that was 1/2 month at a cost of $2,250.00.
Since I was traveling to Corpus to visit my Folks for the Labor Day holiday, I didn’t want to re-start the meds while I would be on the road, so I started them on Saturday.
I did Not anticipate the reaction.
When I initially started taking the PB (back in May), I took increments of pills until I reached my dosage of 24/daily (6 tabs @ 4x daily, then to 8 tabs @ 3x daily). When I restarted, I didn’t consider this and simply took my 24 dosage as usual.
By Sunday, I was pretty much down, and spent all Sunday in bed.
It didn’t help matters any that I had words with my Mom, except to be able to stay in bed and away from her.
The PB kicked my butt. I was exhausted and ached all over. Simple movement was painful and my head pounded like crazy. My right knee was so tight, I could hardly bend it; all my joints screamed when I moved. Standing up was excruciating. I couldn’t even get up for water.
My ride home today (Monday) was miserable for several reasons, but the reaction was a large part of it. Every bump, every swerve, every motion of the car tore through me.
Thank goodness I was able to sleep much of the way. I had no choice.
I got home, and went right to bed.
Got up a little while ago for the bathroom and feed the Pups.
So now, I’m back to bed.
and waiting for the inevitable diarrhea…
Tags: Sodium Phenylbutrate
Thursday, August 20th, 2009
Oh, Momma Mia
My Mom left this morning… to go back to Corpus. She stayed with me while I went through Zometa infusion #3.
I don’t know why, but we were really getting on each other’s last nerve this time. “Why” would most probably be the situation. It doesn’t seem right, but – as Mr. Sack used to say – “it is what it is”.
Don’t get me wrong – I Love my Mom, Love her with all my heart. But we are so similar, and we really can clash.
And we are also very different and really can clash *LOL*
I’m very lucky she is in a position that she can come and stay with me.
Otherwise I’d be alone.
Terrifyingly and heartwrenchingly alone.
It would have been very difficult to go through the sickness and reactions alone… I know this… So I am very grateful that she comes…
Yet we get on each other’s nerves… bitchy, irritatingly on the last nerve.
But there is Lots of Love there.
And I need that
Especially right now.
Tags: Cliff Grimes, Clifford F Grimes, Clifford Grimes, Dallas, Family Relationships, Mr. Sack
Thursday, August 6th, 2009
PET/CT Scan #3 and Bone Scan #1
“The time has come,” the Walrus said,
“To talk of many things:
Of shoes–and ships–and sealing-wax–
Of cabbages–and kings–
And why the sea is boiling hot–
And whether pigs have wings.”
The time for me is my 3rd PET/CT Scan
What will Scan #3 be…?
PET/CT Scan #3 will be Monday, August 10
The PET/CT Scan will tell us what is going on with the cancer… if it has shrunk, if some of it has died… or… if it has grown… if it has spread…
Bone Scan #1 will be Tuesday, August 11
The Bone Scan will tell us what is going on with the tumors in my lower spine… and if the metatisis has spread to other areas…
Mom is in town, so I’m not alone
Results should be received by week end.
Please pray…
Tags: PET Scan, PET/CT Scan, scan
Sunday, June 21st, 2009
Happy Father’s Day, Dad…
Happy Father’s Day to my Dad.
Again, like Mother’s Day, this is not at all what any of us had in mind for a Father’s Day, but I am so Very Fortunate to have have you and Mom by my side me on this awful journey
I know that you & Mom are supposed to be enjoying life and being in a “good place”, not having to take care of others. Both of y’all have given up so much in taking care of your Mother, and Mom’s Mother, and then Mom’s Father and his wife, and now me…
You Know that this I not what I wanted… it was supposed to be Clifford with me, not you & Mom… he, the one you thought of as your own son, betrayed us all with his empty promises and shallow judgments.
How can I ever say it enough… Dad, Thank You.
Thank You for putting up with Mom being gone so much to come here to care for me, Thank You for putting up with me, Thank You for all you do, Thanks you for “being there”.
Love You, Dad!
Tags: Cliff Grimes, Clifford F Grimes, Clifford Grimes, Father's Day, Mr. Sack
Sunday, May 17th, 2009
Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser Event (Recap) – May 16 2009
It Was Awesome. Totally and Completely Awesome.
Mom and I arrived at “Christ The Good Shepherd” Church about 2pm and we got to participate in the “transformation”. It was something to see, something to be a part of!
It started as a large area for receptions – stark and empty.
Then “The Team” took over… John & Mitzi R and Maria and Joseph (2 of their 3 children), Paula S and daughter Bella, Jeannie & John R, Ellen V, Laurie P, Josie & Bill E, Randy & Sharon P, Sean G, Pat S, Holly N, Stacie & Nate G, Hazer W, Vivian H, Nancy W, Russell T, Sam H… and My Mom.
We brought out tables and chairs and tablecloths and decor…
When finished, it was Spectacular… The theme was “Italian” and the decor reflected a quaint Italian restaurant, complete with the solid red and green, and the red and white checkered tablecloths. There were centerpieces made of the large cans of tomatoes used in the sauce – cleaned (of course) and stuffed with green, white and red tissue paper and accented with green, white and red balloons (colors of the Italian Flag). Very Creative! The music (supplied by Laurie P) was very apropos – Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, et al!
There were balloons Everywhere! Red, Green and White! And – of course – Pink and White (colors for breast cancer and bone cancer).
The meal consisted of pasta, and sauce (either Italian sausage or meatless), garlic bread, salad, tea or water and a selection of desserts (brought by the volunteers). Each table was set with a bowl of pesto and grated cheese. The meal could be eaten there, or there were “to-go” boxes available. Seating was for about 100 at a time, and there were also many “to-go” boxes sold.
I had special Teeshirts made for the Volunteers, and we also had Teeshirts (to sell) with “I Helped Someone Survive Breast Cancer” on them. Thank You to ScreamingTees for the Teeshirts!
Donna M made some Lovely crystal bead, pink ribbon cell phone dangles – they were Beautiful and sold well!
There were 10 or 12 FULL tables of items for Silent Auction! My co-workers brought items and got gift certificates from local businesses; Audrey R made 3 gift baskets of specialized items (baking, spa and safety), and Laurie P had an Italian “Mystery Box”. Josie E went to the Master Gardener at Mercer Botanical Gardens and got some plants donated to sell. Nancy W donated some of her handmade pottery. Personal friends who donated to the Silent Auction were Jim H, Zach M, Donna & Mike M, Virginia & Dean O, Crystal G, Stephanie U and Ms. P. Their gracious gifts were Much Appreciated!
Towards the end of the evening, Tom (my boss) held a Live Auction of the Silent Auction items that had not sold. That man is So Funny – and he got Everything sold!
My Dad drove in from Corpus Christi to attend – that was Awesome! Personal Friends who attended were Carol and son, Zach; Christy & Bill; Crystal & Ryan and friend Stephanie; Julie & Mick, Donna & Mike; Donna & Joe; Jim & Sheryl and son, Preston; Tim & Dawn.
The total raised for my treatment / recovery was $8,474.50 – the Silent Auction alone raised $1,520.50! This was more financial assistance than I had ever considered. The spiritual and emotional support from this was immeasurable.
All this started as an idea in John R’s head, to do something for me. From someone I work with, to do something to help me with my situation, with my financial struggle. An idea that was supported by others within my group and grew. For me. Still difficult for me to comprehend that my co-workers, who have known me for only a year – and some for less, did this for me.
John’s mother came up to me and told me that this was the first time that Christ The Good Shepherd has ever allowed something like this to be done, for an individual, and I imagine for someone who was not a member of the congregation… What an honor for me to know this, what an honor for me to know that this Church thinks so highly of John to allow this.
Thank You is just not, and never will be, enough.
This event was "dreamed up" by my co-worker, John R. With the support of other co-workers, it grew and became something I will never forget, and am proud, and humbled, to have been associated with. "Thank You" will Never Be Enough. 103 Photos
Here’s the Teeshirts we had…
