My mother became ill in August 2008 with ovarian cancer. This is a story of the final months of an exceptional woman.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Trusting in a Better Day

Here I am waiting for that Better Day
(the fur IS synthetic)



My blood work indicates I have a red blood cell count sufficient to allow me to fall out of bed and flop around on the floor but not much else. On top of that my "pep in step" thyroid gland is not cooperating. Low, low, low.

My doctor says that my pink cheeks and sexy sparkle will be restored if I act as a human pin cushion. Injections of bone marrow stimulants a-go-go. Will it work? Who knows. I have another one next week. The extra thyroid hormone pills probably will help but those have a lag time of 2 or 3 weeks before they kick-in.

Nonetheless, I turn with bated breath to the Fates and trust I will have my pathetic but adequate energies returned to me as is usually the case about 10 days out from my last chemotherapy treatment ie in time for Thanksgiving. Paul and I don't have much planned here at Shangri La but I would like to have my eyes open long enough to view the canned cranberry "roll" gelatinously glop on the plate! If I am lucky I will not have my eyes light on my now starkly depressing deck.

The frosts have rendered my tropical paradise into a icky-poo goo...

My CT scan results do indicate that I am responding to these therapies as I told you in earlier blogs. I am delighted that many of the malicious tumors scattered about nearly everywhere but my brain and eyeballs have shrunk to the vanishing point. Even the ones near my lady parts are much much smaller.

I don't like the fact that one tumor in the liver is either the same size or a bit larger? Who knows what that could mean but a tumor in the liver is NEVER a good thing in my layman's estimation. Well, all I can do is watch it all along with my doctor. I will urge it with strong mental vibes to just sit there quiescent in my liver (along with any ones that have not been obliterated) when the treatments stop. The odds are not necessarily with me (I think many ovarian cancers burst forth again after just 6 to 8 months?) But, I have been a weird outlier all through this process...and in an unexpectedly positive way. Maybe I am on a roll?

Techno geeks succeeded in perfecting one of the videos taken of me during our Big Flood (September 2008 during the hurricanes). See the blog below from 11/16. to have your fill of me.

I have not had any notable tsunamis of anxiety and angst or late. That is a plus. Is it merely because I do not have sufficient energy to fire my brain up to process a thought or emotion?

Witlessly yours,
Judy (via jeff)

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Sunday, November 16, 2008

Blowing the Lens Cap Off

Last September during the torrential rains I had myself videotaped Living the Life. After our pre-screening last night the invition-only glitterati suggested I had the screen presence of a young Sophia Loren.

Just imagine how I might have blown the lens cap off if I'd applied a bit of makeup!

Hold on to your pacemaker...

In this clip you will see me on my verandah Shangri La gazing out upon the floating detritus moving down Lake Hamilton (during downpours the dam is opened and then our lake flows like a river). Hurricane Gustav had cut our power and rain was falling by the bucket. By the end of it all we had a total 25 inches of rain (more?)!

Very exciting this life by the Swift Current!

Suspense builds. In the last moment I drop a bombshell medical diagnosis!

My mind never stops.

Avanti!!

Judy, Starlet



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About Me

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Vacherie, Louisiana, United States
Born in rural Arkansas my tongue took up residence in my cheek shortly thereafter. I use it to speak "Genteel Southern Lady". Cussin' I only use when provoked by the Uppity. Paul, my husband, and I have lived in Cajun Country for many years raising cane, twins (a boy and a girl; now adults? definitely old) and other mischief. Alligators, water moccassins and bears have tussled with me as I protect our swampy coastal farmstead. We are stuck now on lovely Lake Hamilton near Hot Springs where we have our second home. We have been here waiting for Godot since my heart valves blew out Late November 2007 and now with cancer diagnosed August 2008. The Furies have me in their sights... I am writing this blog to let my Beloveds know how I am doing so they will not "get off" in imagined ways on my dire straits. The reality is bad enough without turning my story into a B-grade movie of the mind. I know all of you wish me the very best. And I miss you! never no mind your fevered imaginations. This is as close as I can get to a fond and loving chat with you right now... Sadly, Judy aka Mizflounce passed away peacefully early on Sunday morning May 30th 2009 age 78.