Christmas at the NIH

3 days to go...

It's hard to believe that it is the Monday before Christmas... and all through the house, the stockings were hung, with wishes for all to be well.


I wanted to personally Thank several people... (please excuse me is I miss anyone)



Amy ~ Thank you from the bottom of my heart ~ for your wonderful kindness.. like my mom said "you are a part of the family!" ~ the sweet 16 cookie was a success ~ and I adore the hats and scarves! (whatever you need... whenver you need... we will be here for you too.)
Julie ~ Thank you also ~ for keeping up with my mom and my progress and my blog. You are a doll.
I recieved a wonderful care package from my family and friend at the mpip board/site ~ My picture is posted in my room with all of your names ~ and I am making good use of the warm winter hats!!!!
Kim Deitz ~ Thank you soooo very much for the lovely headbandwrap ! it is something different ! pretty cool, and neat! I've got to get myself some hoop earrings now to wear with it!!! I hope to buy some more after the Holidays!!!!!
Bob, Renee, and Clem ~ once again, I can not Thank you enough for the charitable donations ~ they are a blessing.
Mark Origer ~ I haven't forgotten about you... wow... what an experience. I'll say, it hit me hard ~ like a Mac truck, indeed. yes, indeed; but your care package and donation was so gracious :) Please Thank everyone at your station for me. Everyone loves the Postal Bear ~ he is sitting in my hospital room with all of my letters/cards that have been delievered with a Happy, Holly, Jolly, Santa hat!
To each and everyone of my family members and friends who have been by my side or taken the time to be by my side ~ regardless if I were only sick and sleeping ~ it still means alot to me. As well, to those at home ~ Todd, Thanks for looking after my house (ps... please make sure to keep out all flying bats) ~ inside joke: during my stay in the hospital in October squirells started coming into my home... it was like a wildlife refugee camp... and when you would try to shooo them away... they would fly at you (or so, I was told... pst... personally, I think something fishy might be going on around here!)

Ok ~ enough for one night ~ need to get my rest... long day ahead... ultrasound of the kidneys again... looking for infection of the stint, etc... and hopefully, my counts will be up... I'd like to go find a wig.

Enjoy your day.




ps....Johnny, hey, I tried to leave you a post and send a message... either the chemo has completely whipped me out or I am completely stupid!!! lol... either way, I'm glad to read that you are stable... you are right... stable is good ~ for us. We are still here, living strong, and fighting even stronger!!! I hope that you enjoy your Holiday Season. I am thinking of you :) ...waiting for more of your wonderful stories and pics.

Greg... no, no... I didn't forget you, how could I? never. Tracey either ~ please relay my greetings ~ and Holiday Cheer :)
I wanted to let you know that I am fighting. I am fighting this... with all I have. I hope that you can make the best of your season. Perhaps get in another visit to Canada? Please be sure to let your family know as well, that they are in my thoughts and prayers.



I send my Love,
Becky


~

4 more days...

it's hard to believe how fast time passes us by. I hope that everyone takes a few moments to reflect with great passion this year ~ on the love and warmth that they give, have, and radiate to all ; it means more than anything monetary. Take a few moments to just say "thanks" ~

I've thanked the Universerse for all that has been shown and given to me.


Enjoy the Holidays and Festivities!!! :)


******************************************
quick update: I am still neuatrapenic ~ and continue to wait and anticipate the growth of my cell counts.
Today I am being given 2 more units of blood transfusion. That will make a total of 6 blood transfussions and 3 white cell transfussions....
hopefully, my body will soon start to produce its own in mass!! Keep up the good thoughts, vibes, and prayers.

Love, Becky

If you could only listen...

oh ~ *sigh* ~ in the middle of the night, while your child, children, spouse, pet, or significant other lye lye less than 10 feet or so away... if you could only awaken yourself enough to listen to the sheer quietness... or the slight patter and rhthym of their heart beat. If you could only take that moment and hold it with you ~ before it enters the realm of long lost forgotten and unheard of composure's; you would find great magic abound.
Countless times I have sat and just watched my daughter lye still; her left arm always untucked from the comfort of her blanketing shield. The face; that baby doll face withthe same exact smalll protruding eyes, ears, and mouth. Skin so delicate and sweet you would swear that it weren't meant to be put on a Gerber's Life Insurance Policy or product.
"O" Oprah!!!! Santa Baby, don't you hurry down that chimmney tonight.

Life is peculiar in a nutshell.

I have serious been blessed by an angel in the heaven above our sky's ~ I have serious been been given many great talents and enchriching family and friends.

I am at this very moment awake in my hospital bed. The room is dancing with Christmas cheer. It brings glee to heart to show and post the kindness and generousity which has touched my spirit.


The mood is not meek, by any means. It is prosperous, desirous, and sweet.


I have endured some of the roughest treatments possible. It has felt like an entire old school rugby team came at me from every which direction ther can me. As many know, I'm a strong, stubborn, brave ass!!!


I have just about lost the majority of my hair ~ today, it was so stringy, that I finally asked my mother to cut it off ~ ear's length. It continues to fall; and I will continue the battle.

I remember way back when... I wrote a post asking whether bald is beautiful : and I am now pleased to inform you, that there is beauty in baldness :) without a doubt!!!

I'm hoping to start feeling well enough to leave the hopital on a day pass next week so that I may either find a wig or two ~ and some electrifying scarves with dangling earrings to boot!!!

Re-invention is fun! It's the mind which won't permitt, which feeds on the frenzy, to degate it's "political~sa"tire".


I have a whrilwind of thoughts ~ that I would like to express... but, let's just take it one step at a time.
Remember ~ The Power of: YOU is the only thing holding and stopping you dead in your tracks.
So, Get up and Re-Vive and Stay Alive!!!




I send all my love ~
(yes, I will still be at the NIH the week of Christmas. As of now ... my immune system is still whiped out; which means...that any little germ... could potentially be fatal)...



Thanks again, for avidly reading!
I send my love, Becky

(ps. I will send photos from here soon)

***************************

Hello everyone I heard that it is snowing back home and in many other parts ~Reno, Las Vegas... WOW
Please excuse my grammer and proper political awareness within my speech. I feel as though I have been big time old time rugby football. They just keep attacking me from every which way. I really finished my treatments last saturday... and I thought ~ WWO this wasn't as back as i thought i would be... but, no one, and i do mean mean... no one could prepare me for this.....

b right back....

nurse is here...

December 18

So I called tonight, and Becky herself answered the phone. She sounded very tired but it was good to speak to her. She said she had been sleeping around the clock the last couple of days and tomorrow they are going to give her some platelets.

She has made it through the treatment! It only gets better from here!

She did say her hair is starting to come out in clumps. Totally expected but still must be difficult to experience.

She is a determined one, our Becky is! Hanging in there.

Julie

December 16th

I wasn't able to reach Dee last evening, but just talked to her now. Becky is having a rough time, but it isn't unexpected. Lots of nausea and they sedated her this afternoon and she is sleeping. She did the 7 doses of IL2 and finished those on Sunday, so now she is recovering from all the treatments. And those treatments are really rough on your body.

Once her immune system gets up to a certain level, they will let her go home but she will still need to be careful for a while, Dee says it takes about six months before her immune system is back to normal. They don't expect to be able to go home until after Christmas. She should gradually start to feel better though, at least better then she is now!

She has received several blood transfusions and some platelets. Sounds like they are taking good care of her. Hopefully this phase won't last long.

I am sure she will be on here typing away before we know it!

Julie

Hospital Menu: "bauhm"...

ooop


there it is.... The National Cancer Institute has served me; and me alone, 60 million plus 4 white blood cells friday afterdaynoon! They were a think o f beauty ~ My research nursed let me hold them in the palm of my hand, much like a mother rocking and craddling her new born baby for the first time.
It was a great accoplishmenat and feet for many who were involved. The National Cancer Institute is wonderful The team of cell Doctor' and all who were involed made a very heart heartwarming card for us.
I t was so touching to actually see with pure clarity the pearlly colors of my cells. A tinkle was in my eye :) (if you can only imagine!)
Please keep your thougths and prayers and prayers on high alert for all of this... The Power of: you makes a grave difference.
Next weekend I will try and plan on having a "surprise sweet 16" party for her ~ nothing elaborate... it's an age of becomoing... and whether she realizes it of not... it is an age that through which many opstacles were given to her.
I continue to firmly believe that there is a greater purpose for the vision ~ and that someday, she to, will have here "ah, ha" moment.. in life.
Untill then, let's just celebrate a wonderful person, with the power and potiental for an extraordinary life :)

It's a dreary 10:30 pm at the NIH. The halls are all
but vacant, awaiting the dawn and anticipation of workds, a scurry and hutle ofd creativity.
And, As I sit down to take take my warmn winnters nap (pending the warm blankets that are on their way...) I am to reminded how this journey, or mine began

sorry now... getting light-headed and very tired... vomited quit a bit this eve... I believe that that discssion is ot qquit the main treamtmes.....ill keep you up to date asap love ya!
ps im have a great Chalie Brown Christmas!!! L) small tree wth ligths and presents...exciting///you've made my day :)

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