19 weeks since surgery to remove jack....

I am sorry for not posting for almost two weeks.  


Thanks for the continued prayers and thoughts sent my direction.  


When I look at the calendar - it is amazing to see that it has been 19 weeks since my surgery.  Where has the time gone?!?!?  It just seems that time has flown by.....4 and a half months..... (that is a month and a half closer to me being allowed to drive again.....still patiently waiting).  


Within the last few days....I can honestly say that I feel fantastic.  I still have fatigue at the end of the day and short-term memory loss.....but nothing compared to 18 weeks ago (12 weeks ago, 4 weeks ago...).  


I am 18 days out from radiation and I think that is what was preventing me from getting over the hump to feeling better.  It is still even hard for me to believe that I completed 30 doses of radiation.....I am amazed at how fast the days pass us by.  Here we are the end of February.....absolutely amazing.  Where did Christmas go?   

I have gone from looking like KidRock, to looking like a baboon.....and now I look like Jack Nicholson (with a mullet).

I can hear him now......"here's johnny!!" 

I am 50% bald-headed. The hair that I lost during/after radiation was much more than I expected.  I will spare you the sight of the picture of my bald head, but trust me..... it is NOT purdy!!  not.at.all! 

I have enjoyed wig shopping and already have two.

A third one is on its way from Hong Kong.  

I have become quite the expert in wigs...... 

I had no idea they are so popular. 

There are so many women today who are wearing wigs instead 

of spending so much time with their daily hair routine.  

(guys....you have it so easy! wash, gel, brush and GO)

I used to spend an hour just on my hair when getting ready.

Now - I maybe spend 20 minutes max.  

I do miss my hair.....I know it will grow back. - one day!   

Here is one of my wigs...... 

blended with the length of my real hair that I still have in the back. 

I have joined the "faux" society

  

Which is another thing I can't wait to do... color and highlights, but I need to find something without all of the harmful chemicals.  If you stop to think about it - we put so many bad chemicals on our bodies every day from the fabric softener in our clothes to the nail polish on the tips of our toes. 

speaking of nail polish..... I need a manicure.   

  

I am going to my hair stylist this week.  

I told her that I only needed half a haircut and that it would take 

half the time..... 

so that should be half-price - right?!?

I have a four week follow up with my neurologist on Thursday.  He reduced my anti-seizure medication last time I saw him.  I have hope that he will start tapering me off of the medication.  

(i want laughter (and the ocean) to be my only medication!)

I have a comparison MRI on May 14th to see what happened to "jack" after getting zapped with the abolishing beams.  He better be gone because I think we all told him that he needed to hit the road!!  

Until then my friends and family..... I will continue to get stronger and put the emotional side effects to the wayside as I walk (jog!!) 

on up the road to complete well-being.

speaking of walking.....I need to exercise.

Getting close to my favorite time of year...... 

BASEBALL!  

GO RAYS!!!! 

SED y'all.  Love ya....keep you posted.  

Mission Abolish = COMPLETE!!!

WHAT A GOOD FEELING IT IS!!!  

SIX WEEKS of radiation = DONE!!!  

SUCKEGGDAWG 

I just had to wear my Pena jersey on my last day. 

Now I will wait for the MRI (which I am now being told that it will be in 3 to 6 months) to be performed so that we can see that "jack" will no longer be a threat to me!  


Now I will wait for my energy to return and the fatigue to end once the radiated brain cells quit cooking! 


Now I will wait for my hair to grow back and be thicker/fuller than it was before! 


Now I will wait for permission to drive again since I have been and will be seizure free! 


Thanks for your uplifting encouragement along the way and all that you have done to help me stay positive.  

Patiently waiting, 

TWO more to go......

Only two more radiation treatments left to abolish "jack".  

When I walk out of there on Friday - it is going to be an emotional victory!!  

When I reflect back on the last six weeks of radiation - the daily trips to Moffitt, the fear of being confined to the table by the mask on my face (head), the nightly pains and fatigue (so much so that I don't have the energy to eat or talk) and most of all the hair that has been shed......will all be put behind me.

I am one step closer to being tumor-free!!  

Praise God!! 

The hair will grow back, the pains and fatigue will subside and to know that I will never have to wear that mask again.....I am thankful!  Hopefully, the emotional roller coaster will slow down and let this rider off.....this is a ride I never want to be on again.

I have been too tired to make the quilts for the two radiation techs, but I will make them as soon as I can and go back for a visit one day so I can check in with them to say hello.  They have been so caring during my ordeal.  I know that they are just doing their jobs, but they are encouraging and I look forward to our talks every morning.


suckeggdawg y'all.  two more - I just can't believe it.

25 down.....FIVE more to go

One more week of radiation for me......so thankful I am almost done. It has been easier than I thought, but I still have not overcome the suffocating mask. 


I saw my neurologist on Thursday. My neurologist was pleased with my progress and lowered my dosage of Keppra. Still not allowed to drive though. He wants to be sure the tumor is gone.......praying it is!!! I will have a MRI and CT scan in 7 weeks to see what happened to "jack".


I have lost about 50% of my hair. It is not falling out as much now so I hope what I have lost is it. Wig shopping will be fun. 


I want to do something for the two radiation techs who have been so caring for me. I bought some material to make them each a quilt hoping that I show my gratitude for them. Looking forward to starting them this weekend. 


Meningioma sisters......this is an emotional roller coaster we are on. All we can do is hold on tight and go with the flow. 




The final countdown is on.......Mission Abolish will soon be accomplished. Couldn't have made it without the kind support of friends and family. 


Love y'all. 
Can you say suckeggdawg.......I am!!