3 great iPhotos

OVER AND ALMOST OUT

To all my dear friends and those just simply interested in my close shave with death, here is my story:

On the evening of Friday, June 3, I experienced a major "melt down" due most likely to one of the following - an overdose of meds given to me by my radiation doctor OR a continuation of a Zometa drip shortly before my experience with severe pain and a semi-comatose condition so bad that my husband and his daughter spent 6 or more hours trying to get me into bed (a repeat of a similar situation that my own daughter and daughter-in-law had dealt with a week or so prior. To say it was frustrating for each of them is putting it mildly. By the morning of Sat., the 4th I was more than ready to throw in the towel and insisted that Bob & Suzy get Michael on the phone for me. I explained to Mike that I couldn't bare another night of the pain and that I simply wanted to end it all. Within a few hours he was on a plane headed to Carlisle and on his arrival things miraculously began to change... he spoke to my oncologist at length, several tests were postponed (with the exception of a blood transfusion), Hospice was called in and arrived that very afternoon. I'm not sure why those simple steps caused such a change but they did - maybe it was partly the magic of having someone who loves you deeply take charge and begin to fight your battles for you (including Kelley, my daughter, who arrived 1 1/2 days later) or just the knowledge that they would do whatever they felt was necessary, including several personal meetings with Dr. Peroutka, my oncologist. Whatever it was, it worked.

As I sit here now I can tell you that I now have 24 hr. home care due to an amazing decision made when I was 50 years old to purchase a top of the line "Long Term Care" Insurance Policy at a time when Long Term care was just hitting the media. Since I am now 70 years old that means I have been paying premiums steadily on an annual basis for 20 years with only one increase in the premium in all of that time. AND, because of that decision to purchase the top of the line policy I have at my disposal $209 per day to use for all in home care needs.  When my children and I met with the the agent recently we were absolutely amazed at what that is now providing me.  I am, and have always been, a "planner" and this has been one of the best plans I ever put into action.  I wish I could tell you that you will never need it, but the chances of that are nil since the rate of disease has increased exponentially over the years and we must all face the fact that we age, with the exception of a sudden unexpected accident for which we can make no predictions.

Well, enough about that... I must tell you several things that have changed the attitudes and maturity level of my children.  For one thing, the mere fact that they now both have a child of their own and are watching their development has made a tremendous impact on them. Add to that the realization that their mother is facing stage 4 metastatic breast cancer with all it's pains and side effects has given them a sense of responsibility they never had before - it is, and has been, a life-changing event. Life is no longer all fun and games; it has been replaced by responsibilities that have their own rewards, both for me and for Kelley and Michael. For me these are more personal and spiritual but simply enjoying time with my most supportive friends (and I have many, both near and far, some as far away as Brazil, New Hampshire, California, France, New Jersey, North Carolina, Colombia, New York, etc.), or doing some artwork or simple gardening is enough for the present.  I will send you one picture of my wonderful setting here on Ridge Drive in Carlisle so that you can see that life has some gorgeous rewards right here in my own back yard.

More to come - blessings to you all.

Nancy

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Michael the "amazing"

 


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Kelley & Hannah with her special "house"

 


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My backyard including spring pond and all kinds of flora and fauna