Promises made during weak moments in treatment: 'Camp Grandma'!

lindaprocopio

Over the Christmas holidays this year I was deep into my chemo rounds and my immunity was shot. White count so low that I couldn't go anywhere without wearing a surgical mask; hemoglobin too low to safely drive; and I missed all of my grandchildren's Christmas programs at school and church; no cookie baking; no gingerbread houses or Polar Express train rides; a lousy pity-party of a Christmas season. And during my time of isolation from my germ-ridden grandchildren, I promised them over the phone that when I was out of treatment, we would have 'Camp Grandma' and they could come and stay with me for a week-long sleep-over.

Fast forward to July, and I am one week past my final radiation treatment. NOW the grandkids are calling in the promises made in my days of lonely isolation!! 'Camp Grandma' is NEXT WEEK, and they've made a big chart of daily activities and field trips. They've planned late-night movies, and for 'Grammy Linda' to be baking all their favorites, and little kids EAT 3 meals a day (!!)......WHAT WAS I THINKING???!!!

The moral of the story is: "Be careful what you long for,... as you just might GET it!!

and the purpose of this post is to share my JOY at being OUT of treatment at LAST after 10 long months of surgery, chemo, and radiation; and to share that joy with those who shared my pain during the long 'winter of my discontent'. I realize that I have a 40% statistical chance that my cancer will come back within the next 2 years. But for now, I am filled with JOY at having this break and at picking up my old life with as much gusto as I can manage. Now let's see if I can manage it!! HA!

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terato

Don't buy the "40% statiscal chance" of cancer return stuff!
Linda,

In 1971, teratoma of the testes had a 70% mortality rate within 5 years; within 9 years, however, the survival rate had become 70%! Thanks to advanced technology and global cooperation, quantum leaps in diagnostic and treatment protocols are occurring all the time. If it could happen for my diagnosis, why can't it happen for yours or anyone else? You are entitled to your joy, but just consider that it may not be a "break" at all but a "preview" of the rest of your long life!

Love and Courage!

Rick

lindaprocopio

terato said:

Don't buy the "40% statiscal chance" of cancer return stuff!
Linda,

In 1971, teratoma of the testes had a 70% mortality rate within 5 years; within 9 years, however, the survival rate had become 70%! Thanks to advanced technology and global cooperation, quantum leaps in diagnostic and treatment protocols are occurring all the time. If it could happen for my diagnosis, why can't it happen for yours or anyone else? You are entitled to your joy, but just consider that it may not be a "break" at all but a "preview" of the rest of your long life!

Love and Courage!

Rick

Rick: Your words to God's ear!
I want 30 years, but I can make 5 years be enough if that's all I get. Enough time to make memories and instill values and self-confidence in my grandkids and a love for the outdoors and for the beauty and joy that is life itself. I know I have things to teach them that they won't get from their parents, and that if I have 5 good years I can share the little things I know and they'll be old enough by then to remember. My grandchildren were the first ones that were able to accept and talk about my cancer as what it is, months ahead of any of the adults in the family. I remember the first night after my surgery when I felt strong enough to let them sleep over. Jakey was 6 and ran his little finger down the staples still holding my huge 8-inch incision together. He asked me so seriously "Grammy, are you trying not to die?" He got it perfectly, immediately. When I said "Yes"; he just said "Good", and that was that; he was satisfied. And that's what I'm still trying to do: NOT DIE. EVER. It's a goal! HA!

soccerfreaks

You made me smile
Fuggedaboutit!

Enjoy the kids. They are obviously looking forward to enjoying grandma.

At your age linda (:)) you should DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITY. The sooner they are doing the work, the sooner you are kicking back and watching and laughing. You would be AMAZED at the kinds of cookies they can make, if given the chance to .

Enjoy.

Take care,

Joe

slickwilly

soccerfreaks said:

You made me smile
Fuggedaboutit!

Enjoy the kids. They are obviously looking forward to enjoying grandma.

At your age linda (:)) you should DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITY. The sooner they are doing the work, the sooner you are kicking back and watching and laughing. You would be AMAZED at the kinds of cookies they can make, if given the chance to .

Enjoy.

Take care,

Joe

gotta love it
Linda. At least you have the grandkids. I am still waiting for my daughters to get busy ha ha. In 2003 I had a 70% chance of my cancer coming back. I am still here and pretty glad about that as I would hate to be missing so much. Its awesome that your out of treatments. Have fun with those kids Linda as they all grow up too fast. Live every day Slickwilly