It's CT Scan Time!

Greetings Loyal Readers,

Good morning to one and all. Your Faithful Correspondent has just finished his coffee, but it still feels like Yours Truly could use another cuppa. Anyhow, let's get right down to business...

This is a regularly scheduled off-week for Mom's chemo. However, today is still a pretty big day. That's right boys and girls, today is a CT scan day...but you probably got that from reading the title of this posting -- my Loyal Readers are such cheeky little monkeys (but just to be clear, of all the little monkeys, YOU are the cheekiest of all)! Now where were we? Ah yes, big day. And why is it such a big day? Well, this is a very important test. Here's what we're hoping for (in descending order):

a) to find out that the tumor in Mom's liver is completely gone.
b) to find out that the tumor Mom's liver has shrunk enough and in the right location (i.e., away from the heart) so that she can have the Radiofrequency Ablation rather than the brachytherapy.
c) to find out that the tumor in Mom's liver continues to respond to chemotherapy and continues to shrink.
d) Well, there really is no d. All other options are unacceptable.

So Loyal Readers, Mom's test isn't 'til this afternoon. If it wouldn't be too much trouble, think some good thoughts on Mom's behalf, won't you?

In other news, Mom attended My Fair Lady with Auntie Berba o'er the weekend. My sources tell me that Mom had a rockin' time (this comes from good authority too, YFC's source in the case was none other than Mom herself).

Also, Mom had another session with her energy healer, Tricia Eldridge. She worked on removing the cancer from the liver (previously she concentrated her efforts on the pancreas and we all know how well that worked out!). Per Trish (YFC can call her that, but she's Tricia or Ms. Eldridge to you), the session went very well. She also informed Mom that she saw her with grandchildren -- 2 girls and a boy who was smaller (probably younger...the men in our family are all big, strapping lads) than the girls.

Hmm, now that is good news. Of course, it begs the question as to what this all means for YFC and 1.5, but let's save that for another posting.

Speaking of YFC, here's another picture of him that was pulled from the recesses of The Chemo Chronicle archives. A gratuitous photo? Perhaps. Still, he cuts quite a figure doesn't he? He looks so debonair, yet pensive. It's no wonder Vanity Fair called him "A Revelation...An Enigma That Will Leave You Wanting More!"

YFC doesn't really understand what it all means either, but you can send your queries to the good people at VF. As you know (and just to be clear, YOU are the knowiest of all), Your Faithful Correspondent is the shy, retiring sort. All this publicity is really quite unexpected and most unwelcome.

Finally, just another note to say how much your calls, e-mails, cards mean to Mom. YFC had a thoughts about this...the next time you write Mom, why not also write another e-mail to someone else who's important in your life? Just a simple message to say that you care and that you're thinking about them. It's really amazing how the simplest gestures can be the most meaningful of all.

YFC's simple message to his Loyal Readers: you are all wonderful and I will be forever grateful for all of the love and support that you've given Mom and our family during this difficult time.

And you're going to remember to "think shrink" too, right? And remember, by shrink, we really mean the total obliteration of any and all tumors in Mom, wherever they might reside.

Hmm, well now that we have that straightened out, feel free to enjoy your Wednesday.

Toodles...

Faithfully,

Corey

Live From Goose Island!

Greetings Loyal Readers,

Your Faithful Correspondent is coming to you live from the Goose Island Brew Pub. As my Loyal Readers are well aware, if today's Tuesday, it must be a chemo day. So let's get right to all the news...

Chemo was attended today by Mom (of course), My Darling Sister 1.5, and YFC. Sadly, Mom was unable to go to chemo today because her platelet count was too low (those blasted platelets!) although her white blood cells were ok. So we talked to the Troll (in Trollish, the official language of trolls worldwide) and discussed options. Mom will have a new chemo schedule. Whereas she had been going 3 weeks on, 1 week off, Mom will now be 2 weeks on, 1 week off.

In other words:
Week 1: Chemo
Week 2: Chemo
Week 3: Off
Repeat

Easy as pie, no? Actually, making pie isn't so easy. YFC recently made a shepherd's pie in a pie crust...well wouldn't ya know that the recipe doesn't actually call for a pie crust? Don't ask.

In other news, we were going to initiate UA as a Chemo Buddy today but alas, Mom was already finished with her appointment with the Troll by the time he arrived, so the 4 of us just went for lunch instead. And do you know where we went? Of course you do silly willies! We went to Goose Island dontcha know?

Speaking of Chemo Buddies, Cousin Andee will be initiated as a Chemo Buddy on February 5th. Good dates are filling up fast, so get on the stick and reserve your date today!

The staff of The Chemo Chronicle want to send out our condolences to Cousin Vicki, Scott, Lauren and Seth. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

Also, although YFC doesn't always say it (althugh he is always thinking it), thank you for all of the e-mails, cards, and phone calls offering support to Mom, 1.5 and YFC. They mean more than words can adequately express, we are greatly appreciative.

Finally, another reader e-mail:

Dear YFC,
You rock. Why are you so good to us?
- Wondering in Waukesha, Wisconsin

Well, WOWW, isn't it obvious? It's because YFC loves you.

Sadly, this must be cut short. Lunch is over and Your Faithful Correspondent must swap his blogger hat for a chauffeur cap. If YFC gets anymore hats to wear, he's going to need a new addition for his closet.

Wishing you a lovely day my lovelies...

Faithfully,
Corey

Slow News Day, But Things Are Good

Greetings Loyal Readers,

Let's get right to the action...today was a chemo day, sans Troll (Mom has appointments every other week). Mom was joined by Melvin the Wonder Sis and Your Faithful Correspondent. Everything was going according to plan -- Mom's numbers were good and she was able to take chemo -- when lo and behold YFC bumped into Jane (wife of John, one of YFC's soccer buddies). Well, it turns out that John had just finished up his meeting with the doctor (not the Troll, but a doc in the same practice group). One thing led to another and lo and behold, two new chemo buddies were christened.

(top row: Jane, Mom, Melvin the Wonder Sis; bottom row: John)

Well it was nice spending some time with John and Jane. John has had his own battles with cancer and it was nice to speak with people who could immediately understand the emotional roller coaster that cancer brings. Perhaps the most interesting part of the conversation was Jane and Melvin's impassioned conversation regarding nail polish. Did you know that if you don't soak your nails before a manicure the polish stays on better? Consider this a public service announcement, courtesy of The Chemo Chronicle.

Post-chemo Mom and YFC went on a Costco run. We picked up Uncle Aaron for the excursion. Who should we bump into? Why, none other than Aunt Roberta. We all had lunch together

(yours truly went for the healthy alternative --- chicken caesar salad, no croutons, light dressing) and YFC was able to snap this photograph of sibling love. Now you'll hafta figure out which is UA and which is AR, but my Loyal Readers are a pretty smart lot, so you should hopefully be able to deduce the answer without too much trouble.

After Costco, Mom returned home with all her booty (note: this term should be read to mean "pirate's treasure," in no way is it intended to refer to her posterior...she is YFC's Mom after all). Of course, she's home no longer. Nope, she's seeing Jersey Boys with her neighbors Milwaukee Mark (that's where he's from and where he spends most of his time) and Long Island Lori (not really sure is Lori is from there, but Queens Lori lacks the aliteration. Of course, Long Island Lori should not be confused with the Long Island Lolita because that would be Amy Fisher). Perhaps a review in next week's Chronicle? Only time will tell.

Now let's reach into our mailbag:

Dear YFC,

Is it really true that you're faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive?

Sincerely,

I'm Needing A Wonderful Explanation

Well IN AWE, it appears that you have Your Faithful Correspondent mixed-up with Superman. Of course this begs the question as to who would win a fight between YFC and Superman. Really the answer is quite simple...of course it'd be YFC because Superman is just a fictional creation of DC Comics, whereas YFC is the real creation of his Mommy and Daddy. So, to answer your question directly, if YFC can beat Superman and Superman can do those things than by the transitive property it must also hold true that YFC is faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive too.

Well, that's really about it. Have a blogtastic day y'all.

Faithfully,

Corey

P.S.

Special good luck vibes go out to a certain regular reader of the Chronicle -- YFC knows that you're gonna do great tomorrow (and everyone knows that YFC is rarely, if ever, wrong)!

On Opera, Energy Healing And Other Matters

Greetings Loyal Readers,

It's been too long since we last met, hasn't it? Well, time flies when you're having fun (please don't misread me Loyal Reader, for YOU are the highlight of my week), and speaking of fun...

Your Faithful Correspondent had quite an exhilarating weekend. He managed to take in La Traviata at the Lyric Opera (mini review: the score is fantastic and Renee Fleming, as Violetta, gave the best vocal performance that YFC has ever witnessed, regardless of genre) and afterwards had the desert collection at Tru restaurant (mini review: deserts were colorful and inventive and the space was simply sublime).

But of course, my Loyal Readers don't read The Chemo Chronicle because of YFC, it's Mom you care about. Well, it's no shame playing second fiddle to Mama, so let's take a moment to recap last Friday's events. But before we get there, a little background info is necessary, so here's what YFC is layin' down for ya (you might want to take some notes, so grab a pen -- you're going to want to take some noted)... Shortly after Mom was diagnosed, Uncle Rusty called his good friend Dr. Marilyn Mitchell. In addition to being an OB-Gyn, she is also a healer who works through the human energy field. Dr. Mitchell got Mom hooked up with Tricia Eldridge, another energy healer, who is the founder of the EnergyTouch® School of Advanced Healing.

(at left: Marilyn Mitchell, Mom, Tricia Eldridge)

Now, my Loyal Readers are surely wondering this is all about. Well my loyal flock, the best description comes right from the EnergyTouch website:

EnergyTouch is an off the body, healing process which allows the healer to
access the outer level energies and is based on the understanding that the human energy field or aura is a dynamic system of charkas, and related levels or fields of energy, and that these charkas and levels not only have a unique relationship with one and the other, but also with the outer level charkas and levels. By accessing these outer level energies, the EnergyTouch healer can have a profound effect on the physical health and wellbeing of the client as well as our world and the universe.

Got all that? You don't, do you? And let me guess, you weren't taking notes either. When will you ever learn that when YFC tells you to do something (grab a pen, tithe 10% of your earnings to him, etc.), you should just blindly obey? Think about it, has YFC ever steered you wrong? Of course not, because he is a Loving Correspondent. Anyhow, feel free to re-read if you like (or go to the website, that has been lovingly linked for you); meanwhile YFC is going to continue with the rest of the class, you know, the ones who follow directions...

Mom started working with Tricia before she started chemotherapy and Mom believes that it helped her keep her hair. However, they had never met in person (Tricia lives in Michigan), only be phone. So when Tricia made plans to meet with Dr. Mitchell at her office in Palatine, a meeting with Mom was hastily arranged.

Coming full circle now, on Friday Mom, Melvin the Wonder Sis (who has been so exceptional lately that she has soared up the charts from #2 all the way to #1.5...at this rate, she might well become the favorite when she reaches septuagenarian status) and Your Faithful Correspondent traveled to Palatine to meet with Tricia and Dr. Mitchell. Tricia worked on Mom for about an hour. Afterwards, she explained that she had primarily worked on removing the tumor from Mom's pancreas and was now working on removing the tumor from Mom's liver. Overall she gave Mom a very positive report, and Mom is looking forward to seeing positive results after her next CT scan.

(at right: Mom, Tricia)

Well my kiddies, that's about all for now. However, tomorrow is a chemo day so we'll be getting together again real soon. But try to get a little rest before then, your eyes are looking kinda tired.

Until tomorrow, when tales of Trolls and Storks shall surely abound...

Faithfully,
Corey

PS.
A Letter from the Reader Mailbag:

Dear YFC,

You are most wise and I so look forward to your e-mails. Thoughts of you fill my days with with warmth and nights with passion. My question is what's the best way to contact Sharon? What's the best way to contact you?

Signed,
Your Loyalest Reader

Thanks for writing YLR and for your very kind words. Well, let's skip past your platitudes and move right on to your questions...you can contact Mom by replying to this e-mail. Well clearly you already know how to reach YFC, but for those who don't know, the best place to contact YFC about The Chemo Chronicle is by posting feedback on the blog: chemochronicle.blogspot.com

Ta-ta!

Are Three Posts In One Day Too Much?

Greetings Loyal Readers,

Your Faithful Correspondent must confess that he is dreadfully tired, but neither rain, nor sleet, nor sleep deprivation shall keep YFC from his appointed rounds.

Well, when we left off, Mom had seen the Troll and was awaiting a visit with the Stork (you'd know who that is if you have been paying attention, but just to be clear, it's Mom's interventional radiologist Doctor Kent Sato). Well, we visited the Stork at his nest...err, the hospital across the street where Mom gets chemo.

And speaking of the Stork's nest, let's get to the story behind the story. That's right, examination rooms. I counted the tiles in Troll's exam room today. It was 7x9 so assuming each tile was 1 square foot (and it seemed a bit shorter that that) it was 63 square feet -- maximum. Between the little desk, the examination table, the sink and 2 chairs it felt a little like being in a phonebooth (kind of like the picture at right, except that it felt like Mom and I were actually in the phone booth, not standing outside it). Now, by comparison, the Stork's suite oozed an opulence befitting the Four Seasons (the hotel, not the music by Vivaldi). Let me tell you, it was plush. a large couch, big comfy chairs, a tv...all the room lacked was a minibar stocked with a can of $12 macadamia nuts. Well, now that you have the visual, onto the visit with the Stork...

There's a lot to cover, so YFC will try to summarize a bit...

• Mom will not be having radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The tumor on the liver is simply to close 5mm) to the heart, so that makes her a bad candidate since the heat from the ablation could possibly damage heart tissue.


• Mom is a good candidate for brachytherapy. In short, this involves implanting radioactive "seeds" (they sort of look like a grain of rice), in the liver. The seeds then focus on shrinking the tumor in the liver.


• Prior to the procedure, Mom would first have a mapping angiogram. Depending on what they find out, the doctors would either use Therasphere or Sir-Sphere (the two therapies are pretty similar). In either case, the basic procedure would go something like this, according to the Therasphere website:

To direct TheraSphere® treatment at tumors in the liver, a physician first makes a small incision in the patient's leg and places a long, flexible plastic tube called a catheter, into the femoral artery, which is the major blood vessel in the leg. Guided by fluoroscopy (an X-ray imaging technique that projects views of the inside of the body onto a screen) the physician then moves the catheter up through the blood vessels to the hepatic artery, which is one of two blood vessels that feeds the liver. The physician guides the catheter into the branch of the hepatic artery that feeds the cancerous tumor in the liver and infuses the TheraSphere® beads through the catheter into the blood that supplies the tumor. This is usually performed in a hospital's radiology suite and patients remain conscious throughout the procedure.

• The side effects are relatively minor -- fatigue (for 7-10 days is normal), loss of appetite, mild nausea over the first few days, and dull abdominal pain.

There was a lot of information divulged by the Stork, which is pretty ironic, given that storks have no vocal organs, are mute and thereby don't give a bird call (strange, but true). Mom is still taking in all of the information and is considering all of her options, including the timing of the procedure.

Finally, given that this is the season for primaries, it seems somewhat fitting that Your Faithful Correspondent should deliver you election results. All the votes have been counted and Your Faithful Correspondent was voted the favorite child by a landslide. Melvin's concession speech was particularly touching ("thanks for letting me live past 5 when I took your Life Savers..."). But most importantly, check out the picture to the left...photographic proof of our relative status (just to be clear, that's YFC signifying he's #1 and Melvin showing that, like Avis, she's going to have to try harder).

Well kiddies, Your Faithful Correspondent is all blogged out. We'll talk again soon, k?

Faithfully,
Corey

So Far So Good

Greetings Loyal Readers!

Well, so far today has been a plus. Mom's numbers all looked good so, after a two-week absence, Mom is back in chemo today. She's being joined by Melvin (who we affectionately refer to as #2), YFC and a special guest chemo buddy - Cindy Wikoff. If you'd like to be a Chemo Buddy, do make sure to make your reservations well in advance (though we try to accommodate walk-ins, we cannot guarantee availability without a reservation).

Mom discussed treatment options with Cotton Troll. She encouraged Mom to have radiation therapy soon, not because anything is wrong, but because things can change (don't fret loyal readers, it's just a matter of being prudent). She's going to meet with A Cottoned Stork (Doctor Kent Sato) a bit later to further discuss treatment options. Will it be brachytherapy (radioactive seeds)? Will it be radiofrequency ablation? Will it be something completely different and unexpected? Only time will tell Dear Readers, and when it does, all the juicy details will be revealed first here in The Chemo Chronicle.

Finally, let's go to the YFC mailbag (a recurring feature in The Chronicle perhaps?)...Kurious in Kentucky (her spelling, not mine...blame it on their educational system) writes:

YFC, I have been reading you most faithfully for lo these many months now. You are so faithful and so wise and I hold you in the highest esteem. Can you tell us a little more about Cotton Troll? Is she really made of cotton? Is she really a troll?

Thank you for your accolades KK. Let's set the record straight -- Doctor Ann Mellott, a/k/a Troll Named Cotton is not a troll, nor is she made of cotton. Believe it or not she's actually a human just like you or me (well, like you anyway...to many Loyal Readers YFC is more of a minor deity). YFC has a special treat for all of my loyal readers too -- a picture of the Troll with Mom.

Pretty spiffy, eh? Look long and hard -- the Troll wasn't all that keen on posing for a picture. YFC wasn't even all that sure that a Troll's image would appear on camera (or was that a vampire? hmm...).

More after our meeting with Le Stork. We haven't met the Stork yet, but YFC has commissioned a mock-up of what we *think* he'll look like (our artist's rendition is to the right) -- a rather striking pose, no?

Ok, my Loyal, Lucky Readers. You get me one more time today. And why? Because YFC loves each and every one of you.

More soon...

Faithfully,
Corey

A Very Big Day

Greetings Loyal Readers,

This is just a preview to whet your appetite (after all, who doesn't enjoy a good whetting every now and again?). Today Mom has an appoinment with her oncologist, Dr. Ann Mellott (of course, you probably know her better by her anagrammical name, Troll Named Cotton). Then later in the day, Mom is meeting with the doctor who will be performing the radiofrequency ablation/brachytherapy, Kent Sato.

Of course, the fact that Mom is seeing Dr. Sato poses a dilemma...what shall his nickname be? If we anagram Kent Sato we get "Snake Tot" -- not bad, but we can do better. If we add his middle initial, Kent T. Sato becomes "Stank Tote". Clearly, this is a regression from our first attempt. Hmm, let's see...an anagram of Doctor Kent Sato yields "A Cottoned Stork." Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! So later today, after we see the Cotton Troll and the Cottoned Stork, you my loyalest of readers, will have an update.

Do YFC a favor and think good thoughts today, k?

Until later...

Faithfully,
Corey

The Name Game

Greetings Loyal Readers,

Please don't talk too loudly, Your Faithful Correspondent is nursing a massive headache (more on that in a moment).

The Vanity Fair after-party was a delight. Everybody who was anybody was there and of course, Your Faithful Correspondent was the belle of the ball. Err, the beau of the ball. Umm, the star of the show? The life of the party? Yep, that's it. YFC was the life of the party. Liza and YFC did a karaoke duet of Arthur's Theme that killed. Then, after a little squabble with Jack (he's always has to prove he's a tough guy. YFC's verdict? Poseur.), we did about a dozen or so tequila shooters. It was so refreshingly retro! Once properly filled with liquid courage, it was time for YFC to get his groove on. He wasn't out on the floor for more than five minutes before Paris started grinding on YFC in ways that really shouldn't be described in a family blog.

Fair warning: lurid details of partying follow. Continue reading at your own risk.

So are you digging the scene kids? Pretty people, free-flowing Cristal and YFC with the opportunity to get his freak on. But then, out of the blue, a Thought Bubble appeared above his head (or was it in his head? Not sure really, the lighting at those parties is always terrible):

Thought Bubble: "Wait a minute, what are you doing?"

YFC: Go away Thought Bubble.

Thought Bubble: "But you don't even like blondes."

YFC: Shut-up Thought Bubble! YFC deserves to have a little fun once in a while. And anyhow, someone is jonesing for a little room service breakfast in a Hilton, if you catch my drift. Sadly, when YFC drinks, everyone catches his drift as all pretense for subtlety goes out the window.

Thought Bubble: "But think about the children..."

And then something miraculous happened. YFC did think about the children, or more accurately, he thought about one child in particular. Leaping from the dance floor, he tried to make a quick exit, but he was surrounded by what seemed to be the entire female ensemble of Dawson's Creek. YFC yelled "look, isn't that Zac Efron?" -- a classic misdirection ploy. While they were trying to scope out the star of High School Musical, YFC quickly ran in the opposite direction. His eyes widened like saucers as he made his way toward freedom, only to be cornered by a very aggressive Paris. Apparently, she's not the type who is used to rejection, and the slight only seemed to fuel her desire. Finally YFC looked at her in the eyes and said "Paris, there's a little girl who needs me. I'm sorry but it's just not going to happen." Paris was crestfallen and began to softly weep. YFC was almost out the door, when he saw her teary eyes and YFC knew that he needed to say a few parting words to comfort the desolate heiress:

"For G-d's sake, put some panties on!"

And with that YFC crawled into his waiting limo (complimentary, natch) and made his way back home.

So now, Your Faithful Correspondent is safely at home nursing a pounding headache (tequila shooters will do that to you...why must they be so deliciously delicious?). But with the words of Thought Bubble resonating in his noggin, he presses on....for the children....

You see Dear Reader, as mentioned in the previous edition of The Chronicle, lists are always a bad idea. It didn't help Ross from Friends and it certainly didn't help YFC, who, but for his penchant for making lists, would be having a mushroom and cheese omelette and fresh-squeezed oj served to him, tomorrow morning, at a Hilton near you (well near Pap anyway). Sadly, some rather important people were neglected in the last list, so, while this will not be comprehensive, it's incumbent that we begin with:

Zoe (age 5)/Ting/Steve: Zoe and her parents traveled all the way the Biggest Little City in the World to spend time with Mom. Melvin is Zoe's G-dmother and Mom (who Zoe knows as "Shanti") is Zoe's Fairy G-dmother. This brings to mind a story...when Zoe was talking to Mom, she asked whether Mom still had a sickness in her tummy. When Mom replied in the affirmative, Zoe said "kick it in the butt. Kick it in the wiener." Mom made a point to do just that, and she seems well on the road to recovery. Nice call Zo'.

Neighbor Mark (and Lori too): Sure he steals Mom's newspaper (didn't think anyone knew about it, did ya? YFC is kinda like Santa Claus knowing who's been naughty and who's been nice) but he almost always gives it back. But no coal in his stocking, he often entertains Mom with his yarns about Milwaukee and takes her for the occasional dinner too. For a former slumlord, he's really quite a decent sort.

Jeni: Left the comfort of her Montana yurt to visit Mom in the big city of Chicago. She also got Mom hooked-up with her herbalist. Truly a very special young woman.

Honey Joy: Can you tell by her name that her parents were happy they had her? Well, Mom is pretty happy they had her too. She makes the drive from Naperville to see Mom, and if YFC's calculations are correct, that's pretty much like traveling from Swaziland.

Jourene: Says daily prayers for Mom. She was a former nun, so one has to think she's got a little residual pull.

Lisa: Always supportive. Always positive. Always bubbly. Lovely flowers. Lovely smile. Lovely girl. 'Nuf ced.

Eli: When he's not looking down in the mouth (that's a little dental humor) he's can be found praying for Mom's recovery.

Tricia Eldridge: Mom's energy healer who lives in Lowell, Michigan. She's been working hard behind the scenes. Seems like she might need an anagram soon (hmm...Idled Geriatric or A Rigid Derelict?).

Doctor Ann Mellott a/k/a Troll Named Cotton: Last but most certainly not least, Mom's oncologist. What more is there to say other than that Mom's doing great? Clearly the lady's got skillz.

Finally, a shameless plea for the e-mail recipients to occasionally peruse the blog. There's a poll up and you can help to shake the new slogan for 2008. Make sure you click the above link and vote early and vote often.

Your Faithful Correspondent is dreadfully tired. Not looking forward to the inevitable hangover.

Till we meet again...

Faithfully,

Corey

P.S.

It turns out that the Thought Bubble was actually none other than Emmanuel Lewis, formerly of the tv show Webster. It seems that he perched himself on YFC's shoulder, not unlike a guardian angel of sorts. Not sure how he made it past security in the first place...Vanity Fair was strictly an A-list crowd (my sources are now telling me that he allegedly hid under a particularly billowy dress worn by Eva Longoria). Anyhow, YFC will forever have a soft-spot for you Webster.

Peace out.

Happy New Year!

My Dear Sweet Loyal Readers (oh, and you too, Cousinie),

Your Faithful Correspondent rang in the new year at chez moi with The Mom and Melvin the Wonder Sis. We just had quite the feast -- brisket and soup and duck and beet salad and eggplant and....well trust me there was a lot more too (YFC still has a lot of leftovers in the fridge and the freezer...there's a possibility that he might not need to cook until early Spring. Oh, and just to be clear...not kidding).

Let's get to the chemo news, shall we? Mom saw Le Troll (she's part French) last Friday. Now, some people seem confused by references to Doc Cotton, The Troll, Cotton Troll, etc. But, as my loyal readers know (and just to be clear, of all my loyal readers, YOU are the most loyal of all) The Cotton Troll got her name because "Troll Named Cotton" is an anagram of "Doctor Ann Mellott." YFC does not hate Cotton Troll, nor is the name some snarky remark about her appearance. Everybody clear? Good. Then let the tale continue...

The big discussion of the day was Mom's impending RFA procedure. A dialogue ensued thusly:

Darling Sister: When this works, will we do it again? Melvin gets kudos for using the word "when" not "if". Do you notice these things dear reader? (Well of course, YOU do, YFC was really highlighting it for that OTHER reader...you know, the one that moves their lips as they read this.)

Cotton Troll: Yes, in a year or so.

Darling Sister: Dr. Mellott, you said a year? (YFC thinks that Sis meant to start her sentence with "Hey Cotton Troll..." but we shoot for accuracy here at The Chemo Chronicle, so you're getting the unedited version)

Cotton Troll: Yes, I did.

So what's the point of all this? Oh my sweet, sweet Reader, why do you vex me so? Let YFC do the math for you...The Troll is talking about having the procedure again in a year, but if you recall (of course YOU do), Mom's original prognosis was 6-12 months. Of course, that was over 6 months ago, so although the Troll isn't saying it directly, one can safely assume that the old prognosis has gone out the proverbial window.

Of course, life tends to be bittersweet. Cotton told Mom that she's have her procedure this week (i.e., the first week of 2008) but there seemed to be some mix-up. Now Mom is seeing the RFA doctor next Tuesday to hammer out the details of the procedure. It now looks like they might insert radioactive "seeds" rather than the ablation. Stay tuned to the Chemo Chronicle as this breaking story develops...

Your Faithful Correspondent would be remiss if he didn't say a word about 2007 and the events that brought us all together. It was a cruel shock to our entire family when we learned that Mom was diagnosed with cancer. And it was yet another blow when we were told that they couldn't determine the primary cancer. We were confused, overwhelmed, and painfully distraught.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the forum...the family pulled together unbelievably well. Dad was unbelievably great from the get-go, helping to get all of Mom's legal and financial matters in order. Moreover, he was a source of support not just for Mom, but also for Melvin and me. Melvin helped Mom domestically, whereas YFC took charge of communicating with the medical folks, especially those pesky folks at MD Anderson in Houston. It was kind of amazing to see everyone perform their role, efficiently, tirelessly and selflessly.

Of course, other family chipped in and so did Mom's many friends. The outpouring of love and support was, no doubt, instrumental in Mom's healing process. Mom's phone would literally ring off the hook as people checked in wanting to know the latest updates. In fact, if it hadn't been for constant phone calls, you wouldn't be reading this right now. Answering the same questions over and over again began to wear on Mom both physically and emotionally. Thus, we got the idea to send out e-mail updates, which later morphed into the blog that you affectionately refer to as "The Best Prose Ever Written" (alternately known as "The Chemo Chronicle").

It would be foolish of me to try to list the many people who have been so instrumental in Mom's recovery. But as you know, Your Faithful Correspondent is the foolish sort. This might well be a two-part list (three-part list?) because there really are too many people to adequately thank in one sitting. So here's the first cut (in no particular order):

Melvin the Wonder Sis: She gets a lot of stick in The Chronicle (most of it well-deserved), but she's been phenomenal at helping Mom in many different ways.

Dad and Sue: He's already been mentioned, but he deserves a second shout-out (note to Dad: click on the link from your iPhone). Perhaps you're more familiar with the phrase "mad props" (YFC loves that term and uses it whenever possible). At any rate, Dad came up aces...well done. And to Sue, very special thank you for the warm hospitality shown in Florida.

Bubbles the Clown: Mom's Mom (YFC's Grandmum) on hearing Mom's diagnosis remarked "well you beat cancer before (Mom had cancer of the thyroid and the parathyroid as a teenager) so you'll just have to beat it again." Classic stuff.

Mom's siblings: Always calling to check-in and find out the latest. Sometimes 6 times a day. Not that anyone is counting.

Kriyananda and Rabbi Walter: Mom has defied medical logic. There's no doubt that the assistance of a Higher Power was involved. For your thoughts, kind words and prayers, we thank you.

Rusty/Papa: The man so nice they named him twice. You've been amazing to Mom and to Melvin and YFC too. We are so grateful for everything that you do.

Mary/Carol/Champa/Gail/Nina and all of Mom's friends in the building: In some ways, they've become an extended part of the family. It's incredibly comforting knowing that people who love and care for Mom are mere steps outside her door. Ladies, you rock.

Steven Pappas: Mom's friend who is always sending his love and prayers from afar.

Gregg Ebert: Mom's friend who is always sending his love and prayers from anear. Wait is anear a word? No matter, he's been exceptional.

Corey (of the non-YFC variety) and Stefan: See Ebert, Gregg.

Robert Garza (Garcia): Well, YFC always thinks of him as Robert Garza-Garcia, since that's where David lives. Anyhow, another great source of friendship.

The Family Garroon: They really stepped-up big time when Mom was first diagnosed. Uncle Phil was willing to fund travel to Houston AND to allow us to use his condo there as basecamp. YFC was always a little intimidated by them, but now he realizes that they're just normal folks. But nicer (and maybe a bit scarier too). A special mention to Cousin Nancy for her willingness to adopt YFC. Umm...you were serious about that, right?

The Family Pawlow: The cousins have been very good at writing Mom to send their love and support. Cousinie Scott deserves special acknowledgement for becoming a Chemo Buddy. He also deserves (does YFC dare say it?...say it he does!) mad props.

Toby: We've managed to do a little adopting of our own. An endless source of support and smiles.

Maria/Margot/Wendy: They boarded a plane to spend time with Mom and reminisced about good times spent together and managed to make some new memories to boot. Most importantly, they unanimously agreed that a) Your Faithful Correspondent was the favorite child and b) that he hadn't aged a bit. Never let it be said that these ladies aren't perceptive.

John/Jim/Michael: Also boarded a plane to see Mom. Also, shared happy times. Also shared lots of laughs. Also made it unanimous -- 2 out of 2 genders agree: YFC is the favorite!

Ok, you know how YFC said this list needed to be split-up? Well, you should know by now that YFC never lies (except for those times that he does) and this time is no exception. Making a list falls under the category of "bad idea" because there really are too many folks to thank. This is becoming like an awards show and YFC is being played by Sally Field (an odd casting choice to be sure) and she's thanking everyone from the director and producer to the key grip and the best boy and now the music is blaring because the show must go on, but there are still so many people to thank. Well, let's just consider this list "to be continued..." Right now, YFC is off to the Vanity Fair after-party.

A happy new year to one and all...

Faithfully,
Corey

P.S.
Just to be clear...all my Loyal Readers have been wonderful (and YOU are the most wonderful of all).