Tag: sky

Once again

Once again it has been a long time since I checked in. No excuse. I just haven’t. Don’t you dislike when people make excuses for things when there really isn’t one? Well, I’m not going to.

I trust everyone who reads this is doing well. It is summer here, and 85 degrees today. How’s the weather where you are? There is a tiny bit of a breeze, which if you stay out of the sun, makes the heat tolerable.

We went to Harris Hill with the grandboys yesterday. It was my husband’s work picnic. It was a lot of fun. One of the things we did is watch the glider planes take off. That was neat. The view from the top of Harris Hill is incredible. God’s creation sure is awesome!

Back track to May. Brian and I went salmon fishing up by Niagara Falls on Lake Ontario. We got some nice fish. This is the big one we got. It was 27 pounds! It took some effort to get it in the boat for sure. It was all about teamwork with the two of us.

The big king salmon

When you back track even further, I mentioned in January that I would be having another surgery. I did have that, and got the titanium rod put in. I went home that same night. That was a blessing! So grateful for God’s provision through everything.

My new hardware, bottom half

I won’t promise to write more often, but I will try. Thank you for reading!

Trip to NYC

I had my follow-up visit with my orthopedic oncology surgeon, Dr. Prince today. He is please with how everything is progressing since the latest surgery on March 4. The bone is growing in quite nicely. My next visit with him will be a telehealth visit at the end of July. I did get the “official letter” allowing me to return to bedside nursing. The news I wanted to hear! Praise God! I need to continue with PT, strengthening my right leg and working on increasing my range of motion.
Though I’m glad to return to my “regular job”, I’m grateful for the time I have spent in the office working on things for the unit. I think we were able to get some things situated we had wanted to do for a while and just didn’t have the time or resources.

The next visit to NYC will be July 12th. I will be returning to the MSK main campus for extensive bloodwork, X-rays, a whole body Pet Scan and a CT scan of my chest. Except for the leg X-rays, this is all to check for any recurring cancer in my body. It’s pretty much standard procedure. I’ll have an appointment with my medical oncologist at MSK and then at Guthrie shortly after. I’m claiming Psalm 145:18- “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” So no matter how things go, He’s got me. ❤️

Thank you for continuing to follow our journey. We appreciate so much your words of encouragement, thoughts, and prayers.
In the words of Paul, “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:16-17‬

Morning sunrise

Headed home

We are headed home after the appointment with Dr. Nacev, medical oncologist. He is a very nice guy. Definitely personable.

The CT scan was good. The spot in my lung is still there and hasn’t changed. Praise God! Dr. Nacev called it more than likely scar tissue from who knows what. My next chest CT will be in January. Dr. Nacev will coordinate it to be at the same time as the CT on my leg.

We actually shouldn’t be going back to NYC until January. It’ll be virtual appointments and labwork/x-rays at RPH. We said “Merry Christmas” to everyone at the office because we won’t see them before that. Lol

Thank you to all for holding us up in prayer. You are a blessing. We appreciate you. 💛

1-1/2 years

Tomorrow marks 1-1/2 years that I have been cancer free. The surgery took forever, longer than expected. Not that I noticed 😂, but my family sure did.
I’ve had multiple surgeries for hardware revision, as well as X-rays and scans since that time to keep an eye on the implanted hardware and bone growth in my leg, and also to make sure there is no reoccurrence anywhere, especially the lungs. Usually that’s where the reoccurrence is.
For the past few weeks I’ve been dealing with increasing pain when I’m walking. I do have a crack in the hardware, but per the surgeon, the bone has grown in so good that shouldn’t be the cause. Well, come to find out, after having a CT scan of my leg to rule out everything else, I probably have bursitis. So now that we know what it probably is, I can get it taken care of. Not being able to walk without discomfort is really no bueno for my job, or for anyone else’s I’m sure.

Once again, I’m grateful and blessed that #osteosarcoma didn’t take my leg. I don’t mind dealing with discomfort and inconvenience now and again.

So, last night and tonight I am home from work because of this issue. I’ve been reflecting on the journey we have had. It’s by no means over, but I wouldn’t trade it. I’ve learned a lot about myself and my Heavenly Father, and realize that the learning never ends.

I hope that by continuing to share my story, someone else will also learn new things about themselves and their Creator. He sure is Awesome and wants to be part of our story. 💛

Blessings to you!

Really 52?

So how is everyone? I hope this little note finds you all well. It is a beautiful day here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It’s a bit windy, but that’s ok.

A view from the porch

I’m just hanging out on the front porch. Apparently it seems that I have a sinus infection. It is causing me to have some dizziness, which is causing me to not be able to work tonight. I’m just starting these last few weeks to walk without a crutch or anything, but I’m having a hard time because my equilibrium is off a bit right now. Not fun.

I always feel guilty for leaving my work people in a bind. But, after last night at work and having difficulty walking around because of the vertigo, it’s probably better that I’m not there. They all worry about me falling with everything I’ve been dealing with as it is. The last thing they need is to have to keep an eye on the charge nurse. 😳

So now, I’m taking an antibiotic for the sinus infection and meclizine for the vertigo. Hoping my Young Living ginger essential oil comes in soon, because that may help with the vertigo and I can skip the meclizine. Actually, I’m hoping the antibiotic kicks in soon so I don’t have to worry about it anyways.

From someone who really takes no meds to taking way too many in my opinion, I’m not thrilled. And, like I said, I’m sad about leaving my work people in a bind. Praying that this all gets resolved by the next work night- Sunday.

Next week I will be 52 years old. Seems like it all started going downhill at 50. First, I have leg problems and find out I have cancer (osteosarcoma), then, I have issues with the hardware in my leg, and now this. (Which certainly is a minute thing as compared to the other.) Hopefully everything is in a better place next week for me to celebrate 52. Haha

So for today, I will sit out on the front porch and enjoy God’s creation. Even in the not so good times, He still is Awesome and He works all things together for good- Romans 8:28. Hallelujah.

Peace to you, friends near and far. I trust that you too can rest in the knowledge that He will work it out when we trust in Him. 💛

Tricia

“My fear doesn’t stand a chance…”

I had my PET scan earlier today. It went well. I even took a short nap during the two hour time. I won’t know the results until maybe Friday.

The nice tech asked me what music I wanted to listen to during the scan. I told her contemporary Christian. The first song that came on was by Josh Baldwin. It’s called “Stand in Your Love.” Perfect for how I was feeling. It’s based on 1 John 4:18- “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear…”
The whole experience reminded me of having that long scan before my first surgery in January of last year, only this time I wasn’t having the pain I was having then. The song brought tears to my eyes and I tried not to bawl because I wasn’t supposed to move. Lol

Thank you all for praying. And thank you to my friend Sharlene for coming in to hang out with me. It means a lot folks.

You know, Jesus perfect love can cast out all fear. I’m thankful for that reminder today.
“My fear doesn’t stand a chance when I stand in Your love…”

8/22/19

8/22/19
We are headed back from another NYC trip. This one was to see the oncologist, Dr. Nacev, for the first time. He seems nice enough, and has more of the personality I was looking for, as compared to the other medical oncologist we saw at Sloan twice.
Dr. Nacev of course, had to reiterate that chemo is the gold standard for osteosarcoma, and said, like the previous MD he had to tell me that. I wouldn’t have expected anything else. But, he also said that it was ultimately my decision, and left the door open in the event I changed my mind. I thanked him for that.
We came up with a plan for follow-up. He would like me to have another CT of my chest in October then in January. Both can be done at Guthrie. In January we will see him again, and probably six months after that. Then the scans will be less frequent, and after next year even less frequent, until we get to five years then pretty much as needed. I asked him about alternative medicine and he said that they don’t have that in particular, but more like integrative medicine. He will set us up with someone to whom we can chat in January.
This has been an ok day. We ate lunch at a cool restaurant before the appointment. It was picked, so I don’t think we are the only ones that thought it was cool. We had time to check things out a little and ended up at a Starbucks right around the corner from where the oncologist’s office was. I still have Starbucks gift cards. Yay!
The only issue with today now is that the bus ride is taking quite some time due to accidents, pouring rain, and construction. We won’t be to Ithaca until about 2330, and not home until probably about 0100. Please keep us in your prayers, as we have to drive home from Ithaca and then up at 0-dark-30 for work. Definitely will be a Young Living Ningxia Nitro day for me tomorrow. Haha
Brian and I will be picking up my dress shoe tomorrow evening. We are headed to Greek Peak on Saturday for a wedding of a long time friend of Brian’s. I needed a pair of black dress shoes to go with the beautiful dress my sister Tammy gave me. Found them, and Jack from Armenia Mountain Footwear in Troy is fixing the right one for me by putting that one inch lift on it.
We are taking the fishing boat with us to the wedding. On the way home from Greek Peak Sunday morning we will be stopping to put it on Seneca Lake and see how it does. This is to get ready for our fishing trip to Pulaski over Labor Day weekend.
The next couple of weeks are going to be pretty busy. I’m so grateful that, even though I still am using the sticks they call crutches, I am able to do these things. Well, I guess we will find out about the fishing on Sunday. 😳
Have a blessed weekend everyone. Thank you for your continued prayers.
As usual, I will leave you with a passage of scripture. This one just speaks to me all the time.
I’ll also be posting some pictures, of course.
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”
Psalms 91:1-2 KJV

Do I really want coffee from the CDC? Hmm

At the restaurant called Dig. This was so delicious!

Busy at Dig. Used to be called Dig Inn.

Poor Brian. He’s so tired.

A view from the E 53rd Street office building. The Starbucks we went to is in the corner.

Our bus

On the way out of the city

Beautiful start to the weekend

It’s been a good week and this evening was a good start to the weekend. Unfortunately Brian does have to be on call this weekend, but hopefully, tonight will be an indicator of it being a nice one.

I made Keto biscuits tonight for supper. They sure were delicious. They went great with the big salad I made and the delicious steak Brian grilled.

Then, after cleaning up and waiting for it to get closer to sunset, we decided to go for a drive around our little mountain. It’s so much fun to bet with each other as to how many deer we are going to see. I won tonight. Haha. I said 26 and he said 14. We saw 40 in all. There were quite a few buck in that total too. I tried to capture the buck in one of the pictures I took.

To top the evening off, we witnessed a beautiful sunset. God sure is amazing! His handiwork is everywhere!

I may have my issues, like we all do. But, when you get to witness such beauty, it pushes all that aside. I’m so grateful for such an Awesome Father who shows me such awesome beauty! He deserves all praise, honor and glory!

Have a blessed weekend!

I’ll leave you with this…