tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-785176844176010822024-02-19T00:02:37.250-08:00Dee's UpdatesA blog about living with metastatic breast cancer, enjoying life as much as possible, and using humor and alternative medicine in my healing. © Deanna Kingston 2008, 2009, 2010Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.comBlogger1081125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-23301592314481921632012-01-25T17:40:00.000-08:002012-01-25T17:40:15.522-08:00<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Bradley Hand ITC,cursive; font-size: large;">Please Come and Celebrate the Work, Life, and Laughter of Deanna Marie Paniataaq Kingston</span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><b> </b><div><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> </span> </span></div><b> </b><div style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;"><span style="font-family: Bradley Hand ITC,cursive; font-size: large;"><b>Monday February 6</b><b><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup></span></b><b> 1-3pm in the MU ballroom </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Native American Longhouse (NAL) at OSU invites you to a celebration of Deanna Kingston’s life. This will be a joyous event and the NAL encourages everyone who attends to participate by singing, drumming, dancing, or sharing memories. Light refreshments will be served. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do you know of someone who would like to do a blessing or perform for Deanna? If so, please encourage them to participate, and let Cat Osborne-Gowey know (<span style="color: blue;">cathleenosbornegowey@gmail.com</span>) so the NAL can make sure their needs are accommodated. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">We hope you can join us. This is a celebration open to anyone wanting to honor Deanna’s life, so please let others know they are welcome to join us. </span></div></span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-14802084880827316672011-12-08T12:21:00.000-08:002011-12-08T12:22:32.500-08:00A Message from Deanna's FamilyAs some of you may already know, we lost Deanna Kingston last Friday to breast cancer. She was an extraordinary women full of love, compassion for others and a brilliant mind. Her friends and family wish to pass along a few words about her life. Please feel free to share this others. Her memory lives on in all of us.<br />
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Deanna Marie Paniataaq Kingston<br />
July 21, 1964-Dec. 2, 2011<br />
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OSU Professor of anthropology, Dr. Deanna Kingston, 47, of Corvallis followed her ancestors on December 2, 2011. Deanna, descendent of the King Island Native Community, was born, raised, and resided in Oregon. She is survived by her supportive and loving family, son Edward Tattayuna Kingston, parents Olga Muktoyuk Kingston and Dalena SpiritSong Kingston, Sister Rena Seunninga, brother-in-law Henk Seunninga; niece Kenna and nephew Connor Ryan Seunninga, brothers Kevin and A. Scott Kingston and numerous family in Nome, Anchorage, Fairbanks and the greater Alaska region.<br />
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Deanna often commented that she felt she was born an anthropologist. Her love for peoples, cultures, stories and legends carried her to many parts of the world but always brought her home. Dr. Kingston received her BS in Science Communications from the University of Portland in 1986, an MAIS in Cultural Anthropology from Oregon State University in 1993 and her PhD in Anthropology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1999. In 2000, Dr. Kingston began her journey as a professor of anthropology at Oregon State University. An unfailing supporter of students of color, she worked tirelessly with Native students, advising and co-advising many native graduate students over her 10 plus years at Oregon State University. Working as an advisor for the Native American Longhouse, she supported Native students and faculty alike at OSU, and served as one of the finest role models of a colleague, friend, mentor, and scholar.<br />
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Deanna had many great accomplishments through her work, her son and family, and her open candor during her long battle with cancer. She served on the National Science Foundation’s Office of Polar Programs Advisory Committee and also on the SEARCH (Study for Environmental Arctic Change) Responding to Climate Change Panel. Dr. Kingston participated in numerous workshops and conferences including “Designing an Arctic Observing Network” in Copenhagen, Denmark, an international conference on indigenous knowledge at Pennsylvania State University and a workshop at the International Arctic Social Science Association meeting, sponsored in part by the Alaska Native Science Commission, on collaborating with Arctic communities. She was cognizant of efforts both in the circumpolar Arctic and in the Pacific Northwest to consult, respect, and collaborate with Native American/indigenous communities, particularly when it comes to their knowledge of the environment. Deanna’s inspirational thoughts and ideas will be kept alive in the numerous articles and publications she wrote and in the legacy of the students she advised. Her unerring commitment to the betterment of others and her community were demonstrated in her participation in a myriad of organizations such as the International Arctic Social Science Association, Alaska Anthropology Association, the Arctic Institute of North America and the Planning Committee for the International Conference on Indigenous Placenames, Guovdageiadnu, Norway, September 2010.<br />
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In 2003 she received a National Science Foundation grant to document and compare scientific knowledge with traditional ecological knowledge of King Island, Alaska. Thanks to her work through this grant, many King Island peoples were able to return to King Island and share their knowledge and wisdom with the younger King Islanders. This work culminated in one of her proudest accomplishments, the King Island Placenames Project interactive website that documents the cultural geography, biogeography and traditional ecological knowledge of King Island (http://www.kingislandplacename.com/).<br />
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Devoted to furthering numerous causes and helping others along their paths, Deanna kept a long-running, open, intimate diary of her journey with cancer (deeupdates.blogspot.com) that was a source of inspiration and healing for her, her friends and families, and countless others living with or affected by the disease. Despite the often heavy topics of her blog posts, Deanna strove to find the humor and insight in every situation and communicate both to others. Her courageous and kind spirit will forever be missed and remembered.<br />
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About her next voyage, Deanna wrote on her blog, "don't be sad, be happy for my passing ‘cause I'm going on a wonderful journey. I'm not sure where, but if you miss me, just think about me and I'll be there- wrapping you with my spirit, keeping you comfortable, wishing you well."<br />
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A public remembrance, honoring and celebration of Deanna’s life is being planned at Oregon State University’s Native American Longhouse. A private family ceremony will be held at a later date.<br />
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In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Deanna Kingston Memorial at the OSU Federal Credit Union, PO Box 306 Corvallis, OR 97339-0306Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-45319473723683205082011-12-07T15:43:00.000-08:002011-12-07T15:44:40.228-08:00Memorial Fund<div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A few notes from Deanna Kingston's family.</div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Kim Nelson has set up a memorial fund to help the family with impending costs. Donations can be made to Deanna Kingston Memorial Account, OSU Federal Credit Union, PO Box 306, Corvallis, OR 97339-0306.</div><div style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The family is working on setting up a "Memorial Service" for Deanna at the OSU Native American Longhouse sometime in January. Please check back later for more information.</div><div style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Deanna's family will also be hosting "A Celebration of Life" for Deanna next summer. This event will most likely be held at the coast where the family intends to go out on a boat and spread Deanna's ashes in the ocean. Deanna chose to be cremated with some of her ashes spread along the Oregon coast and some sent to Nome to be spread at King Island by King Islanders. </div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-70813225070493523792011-12-02T13:28:00.000-08:002011-12-02T22:52:47.337-08:00In Loving Memory<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Deanna Kingston passed away this morning, December 2, 2011 at 7:30. We send her on her journey in light and love. She will be missed by many. </div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Rebecka Daye</span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-89393110403160530452011-11-25T15:26:00.000-08:002011-11-25T15:27:05.887-08:00Still Alive<div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello. I'm still alive, though I'm really weak. I can't get up on my own. It's so bad that I have to wear diapers because I can't even get to the bedside commode. My family was here for Thanksgiving, but I slept too much. I'm going to sign off because my voice is weak. I love you all.</div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(note: My apologies but this is all of Deanna's message that I was able to decipher. There was a little more, not much, but her voice is very faint.)</span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-63568340466074403992011-11-20T15:15:00.000-08:002011-11-20T15:16:22.640-08:00This Might Be My Last Post<div style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hello. I'm not sure if this is going to be my last posting or not. If I feel well enough later in the week, I'll post again. In the meantime I'm feeling much weaker today. I can barely make it to my bathroom without trembling. My legs are very, very weak. </div><div style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I don't know how much I have left in me, maybe another week. But don't be sad, be happy for my passing cause I'm going on a wonderful journey. I'm not sure where, but if you miss me just think about me and I'll be there- wrapping you with my spirit, keeping you comfortable, wishing you well. </div><div style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You've all been great people to me, especially lately with all the gifts- gifts of money and time, meals for me and my family, and flowers. I really appreciate all the Jamba Juice certificates. </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I hope you all are doing well. </span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-65513660987906212892011-11-17T17:17:00.000-08:002011-11-17T17:20:33.183-08:00Please Understand<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Just a quick note. I didn't mean to be so harsh in my last blog. When I went back to read it it sounded harsher than I intended. But I would appreciate no more visitors because I'm just getting so tired. I hope you all understand. Talk to you later.</div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-87318639329789746352011-11-17T11:07:00.000-08:002011-11-17T11:07:33.926-08:00No More Visitors, Please<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So I guess the cat's out-of-bag. I'm at that stage where I only want family around me and no visitors. I feel like I've said good-bye to my colleagues and to my work. Whatever needs to get done will get done, and I don't need to worry about it. So I would appreciate it if you would respect my wishes and not visit anymore. It's just been too hard between my dry throat and the thrush, and I'm feeling a lot weaker. I need help getting up from my bed and I need the walker. I just feel too weak to have visitors. Thank you for understanding. </span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-64358420610586052752011-11-14T17:30:00.000-08:002011-11-15T13:11:34.225-08:00Eating Watermelon<div style="color: #073763;">Hello. Today is Monday. Sorry I didn't post anything yesterday. No nausea so far today. I've been eating a lot of watermelon and I think I'm going to get constipated, but I'll worry about that later. </div><div style="color: #073763;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #073763;">Thank you all for paying attention to the number of visits. Today Chris is coming to visit me, then I have wound care and sponge bath. So I keep busy, regardless of whether or not I receive visitors. Tomorrow Brenda and Leah are coming, so I would appreciate it if nobody else came on Tuesday. It takes a lot of energy to have visitors, and my voice doesn't hold out. Cat is also bring by food. </div><div style="color: #073763;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #073763;">But yey! no throwing up, no dry heaves, no nausea. I even had a little Ativan to go to bed, cause it helps to calm me down. Other than that my thrush and dry mouth are doing okay. I wish I could eat more, but at least I'm eating something.</div><div style="color: #073763;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #073763;">Mary told a nice story in one of the comments about a woman named Catharine of Sienna who was almost anorexic, and stayed alive for years on just water. It just made me think, where did she get her strength? I mean I don't have any strength. Then it makes me wonder about anorexics and bulimics. You know they're so skinny, where do they get their strength. Just random thoughts.</div><div style="color: #073763;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #073763;">Anyway, hope you're all doing well. Talk to you soon.</span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-9397658467161786182011-11-12T20:24:00.000-08:002011-11-12T20:27:04.987-08:00Watching Harry Potter<div style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been watching Harry Potter all day. I also managed to get down some more watermelon. I did have some dry heaves this morning, but that was because my legs and arms were shaking with anxiety like I had a couple of weeks ago in the hospital. So my dad gave me a little bit of Ativan under the tongue and I ended up dry heaving that. But the shakes went away so hopefully I won't need any Ativan tonight. I also figured out that I haven't been shaking my legs and feet as much as I had been. So I'm gonna do more of that so hopefully I won't get the shakes again tonight. </div><div style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I continue to be awed by colleagues who are sending notes and cash, and I just want to give a big thank you to them. I really appreciate it. I got another check in the mail today for Eddie. I could use it for his tuition, but I think I might set it aside for his Christmas use. </div><div style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Not much is new. I hope you all are well. I guess I'm doing okay, but I still have the thrush. I appreciate those of you who agreed to wait to visit until the thrush is gone. Thank you. </span></div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-3407926900127950322011-11-11T21:02:00.000-08:002011-11-11T21:03:27.792-08:00Happy Veterans Day<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello. Happy Veterans Day for all you out there today. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have been reluctant to have visitors due to the thrush in my mouth, how hard it is for me to talk, and how dry my mouth gets after just saying a few words. So I guess for the next week or so if you could keep your visits to a minimum I would appreciate it. It's just too hard on me and hard on my voice. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I am better. I finally ate some watermelon today for the first time in about a week and a half. Yesterday I asked the wound care nurse if she had heard stories of how long women had lasted only drinking water and other fluids. She said the longest they have on record is 70 days, or about 10 weeks. I guess I don't have to worry about that because I had watermelon today.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The physical therapist stopped by today and she is going to put in a raised toilet seat for me. I hate to say it but it is getting difficult for me to stand up from sitting on the toilet. Other than that, the mattress is feeling wonderful. Not much else is happening. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hope you all had a good day and I will talk to you tomorrow.</span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-37146511431274980772011-11-11T06:06:00.000-08:002011-11-11T06:08:57.566-08:00Stories about me<div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hello. I haven't posted in a couple of days and I apologize for that. I am feeling a little bit better though. My nausea is better, but I have been having some dry heaves early in the morning. I'm not sure what from, but they don't last long. It does make me afraid to eat anything solid, because I am heaving the fluid that I am drinking. </div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Other than that, I didn't post yesterday because my tailbone was sore. But now I have a wonderful mattress pad that alternates air every so often. I can barely feel it but it's nice. I also had wound care and a sponge bath today. </div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Anna at NSF gathered together stories about me from my colleagues: individual letters that they each wrote. Two other colleagues of mine, Joan and David, dropped them off. It was really touching to receive, though I haven't yet read through all of them. There's 30 or more stories to read, and a bunch of pictures at the back. I'll go through it slowly, as time goes by. So that was really nice to receive. </div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A couple of my students also dropped by for a quick visit. I have been getting some visitors that just drop by, although it's better to schedule because of wound care and all that. I guess people understand that if they do just pop in I might have wound care.</div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yesterday I had a visit from my office manager. I hadn't talk to her in awhile, so that was nice. </div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My thrush is also still kind of bad so my voice sounds funny and my mouth gets dry really quickly. I'm not sure what to do about that. Just keep swishing with the Nystatin, I guess. </div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Well that's about it. Hope you all are having a good evening. I'll talk to you soon. Bye!</span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-2388463085390054622011-11-09T05:21:00.000-08:002011-11-09T05:24:38.898-08:00A Big Global Thank You<div style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I had a very busy day today, so I'm really tired. I didn't expect it to be quite so busy. First I saw the wound care nurse, then a colleague came by, then I had a visit from a friend and her family who live in Bend. Then I had an unexpected visit from Brenda and we talked for about an hour and a half.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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This was my day to write thank you's. I just want to give a big general THANK YOU to everyone. People have dropped off meals, gift cards for Jamba Juice, flowers and little gifts, paid me visits, given me money, and given Eddie money for tuition next year. I've receive so much that I can't really name everybody who has given me stuff. So I want to give a big global thank you to everybody who has contributed, or given our family food, or helped out in some way. I just want to say thank you. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I did find out from Beth, the woman in Bend, that my program officer wants to contribute money to the book about King Islanders that I want to get out. For that I'm very thankful to Anna at NSF. She's been so sweet to me. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once again, <span style="color: #741b47;">A BIG GLOBAL THANK YOU</span> to everyone who has helped. It really helps me. </span></div><div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hope everyone is doing well. </span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-67141169619292149582011-11-08T06:29:00.000-08:002011-11-08T06:29:23.894-08:00Feeling Better but Weaker<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello. My nausea seems to be under control. I've also had thrush, which is slowly getting better. I'm waiting for the thrush to be completely gone before I try eating, then I'll go back to eating my applesauce and watermelon at first and see what happens. But that might be a couple of days away. In the meantime I seem to be getting weaker, although I am feeling a little bit better.</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dad put Christmas lights out in the back so now during the early evening when it's getting dark, I get to see pretty lights outside my window. </div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I haven't really done much, just tried to make sure I'm drinking some fluids. I take the Nystatin for the thrush in my mouth, mom gives me the suppositories, and I have the Fentanyl patches. That's all I'm taking. I've really trimmed down what I'm taking in terms of medication, and I think that's a good thing.</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hope you're having a good evening. Talk to you later!</div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-39249542950449116822011-11-04T20:17:00.000-07:002011-11-04T20:17:35.551-07:00A Better Day<div style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today has been a much better day, in terms of nausea. We figured out that one of the drugs they were having me take as a supplement was actually giving me the dry heaves. So I haven't had any dry heaves since I quit taking it. All I've had is a Compazine suppository, and that seems to keep the nausea at bay. I still don't have much of an appetite and I'm all skin and bones. I don't know how long my body will be able to keep that up. But hopefully the nausea will get under control so I can eat. </div><div style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm trying to keep tabs on what else I'm doing. I still have to make some changes to the will, a gift of stock to my son. We did it wrong the first time so we have to do it again, and have it notarized. And I need to get a new child support agreement done. Hopefully my sister can help me with the child support and the will, then I'll feel like two heavy things that have been weighing on my mind are done. </div><div style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As far as my book goes, I haven't touched base with my friend yet to see where things are at. I know she's busy with school; so is my other student. </div><div style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That's about it. I hope you all have a good evening. I wish you well. </span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-43256389849419746612011-11-04T08:08:00.000-07:002011-11-04T20:19:33.046-07:00Dry Heaves and Nausea<div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For Thursday.</div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hello. I started out the day feeling better, but I ended up having dry heaves again around 6:00, or maybe even 5:30 when Allison was visiting me. So now I'm apprehensive again about my belly and nausea. Finally had a bowel movement, but I needed a suppository to do that. Mom's been helping with the suppository, which I need to get twice a day to help with the nausea. </div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Other than that I've just been watching tv. I've had three visits from hospice, and one from Allison, who gave me a lot of news about what was going on on campus, which was nice. But she talked more than I did, cause it's hard for me to talk. </div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I guess I don't have much else to say.Talk to you tomorrow. Hope it's better. Bye!</span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-77885520493176414452011-11-02T18:33:00.000-07:002011-11-02T18:33:40.110-07:00More Nausea<div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wednesday afternoon.</div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Basically it's been a bad day for me today. I started off with dry heaves last night and this morning, and I've had nausea off and on all day. I need to get that under control and then I'll feel a little more human. In the meantime I've had visitors that I've had to turn away and I apologize. I'm sorry I didn't get to visit much with Barb, or Heather, Kevin and Meg. And then I cancelled the appointment with Lenea and MaryAnn and Bev, so I apologize for that. </div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyway, we'll see how I'm doing tomorrow. I hope you're all having a good night. Talk to you later. </span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-53187605279438816182011-11-01T19:06:00.000-07:002011-11-01T19:06:36.675-07:00Tech Troubles, but back on track<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hi Everybody. Sorry I haven't blogged in a couple of days but there were some technical difficulties between my email, having enough memory, and sending voice recordings to Rebecka to post. </span><br style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's been kind of an up-and-down weekend and early week so far. What seems to have done the trick is the Compazine suppository, which means (long story short) I've been able to keep some fluids down at least. The Phenergan and Zofran weren't quite doing it. I also decided to start taking steroids again, just in case my head was swelling and causing the nausea. What I really want to be is nausea and pain free, so that I could eventually do some work. I'm still getting things under control so I haven't really done much. </span><br style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have received a lot of nice gifts. I told you about Margret's Pomo Medicine Basket. A girlfriend gave me a check, a fairly large check, for Eddie's slush fund that he can use for whatever he wants one day. I just had a colleague stop by around lunch time and he brought flowers and Ganesh, who will help me on my journey- whatever my journey might be. He also shared some Hindu words of enlightenment and ways to look at things that will help quite a bit.</span><br style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I've had a lot of visits from hospice. I tried to do my own suppository in the middle of night last night, but didn't quite get it. So a little before 7am we called hospice and within 10 minutes Mary Lou was here to give me my suppository. And I've been feeling a lot better ever since. I need to learn how to give them to myself, or have my mom learn how to give them to me. </span><br style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I can't really think of anything else, but if I can get this nausea and constipation under control I think I will be able to get a lot more done. </span><br style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><br style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Hope you're doing well. Talk to you later!</span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-47640214082403279782011-10-29T11:12:00.000-07:002011-10-29T11:26:40.281-07:00Pomo Indian Medicine Basket<div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm writing this late at night on Friday. I woke up after a long nap and I'm wide awake for once. I had a fairly good day today. Started out a little nauseous, so I'm still taking the anti-nausea pills. I think it was the Zofran that was making me sick, so I'm taking the Phenergan and Dilaudid and I'm keeping it to just those two medications plus a stool softener. So I'm feeling fairly well. </div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We were fairly busy today. We had hospice stop by for a couple of hours. And then while they were here I had another friend and colleague, Margaret, stop by with a Pomo Indian medicine basket. They're tiny little baskets that will hold the illness and will empty it. When she gave it to me, I just burst out in tears cause I know the significance of those baskets and it really touched me. So thank you Margaret, I really appreciate it. </div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After Margaret left, home health care stopped by and taught the hospice nurse how to change my dressing. It's convoluted and hopefully it will go quicker with someone having seen it once. But then I spent the afternoon resting and watching a movie with my brother Kevin. We watched Bridesmaids. I thought it was going to be funnier, especially with funny scenes from Vegas, but it was cute. Then I slept; slept and drank some Jamba Juice. </div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm hoping you all have a good day. I'm hoping I will have a good one tomorrow and actually get some organizational stuff done. Not only writing for the book, but I also have a lot of stuff laying around my room that needs to be picked up and put away. </div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Love you all!</span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-61482713180637362172011-10-29T08:29:00.000-07:002011-10-29T11:18:45.170-07:00Visits and Appointments<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today is Friday, and it was a pretty good day although it was really busy.<br />
<br />
Turns out I triple booked myself and I totally forgot about it. I told two people they could come over, and mom and dad also booked hospice. So our priority was hospice. One friend totally understood and just dropped off a Jamba Juice and said she'd come back later. Thank you Shannon, I appreciate it. My other friend was Margaret. She dropped off a medicine basket for me, and they have a lot of healing and medical significance to them. It made me cry, I hadn't seen Margaret in so long. It was so nice to get that gift from her, I really appreciated it. She's such a sweet person. She'll be one of the people I will miss at OSU. </div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Later, my brother brought over movies. He brought Bridesmaids, so I watched that with him. Then I promptly fell asleep for a couple of hours. I was pretty tired by then. </div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On Saturday, I think I have a couple of appointments. The hospice nurse will come at 10:00am and learn how to change my wound dressing. It seems I have something else going on, but I can't remember what it is. At any rate, instead of being so tired I need to start working on some stuff. Yesterday I had the nausea; I haven't had it today but I sure have been tired. </div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No other news. I hope you're all well. Love you!</span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-32550759663521855852011-10-28T16:33:00.000-07:002011-10-28T16:33:11.091-07:00Hope Tomorrow's a Better Day<div style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Good Morning. </div><div style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yesterday was sort of a bad day; I woke up throwing up and I couldn't keep food down the rest of the day. I'm feeling a little better right now and my stomach doesn't ache. But I'm trying to figure out which medication I should take for the nausea, to get my stomach settled down again. Then I could put my head back into work or other fun stuff I wanna do. I sure hate feeling nausea. I threw up again last night, so like I said, I'm still trying to get my nausea back under control. But I feel a lot better than I did a few hours ago, so that's why I'm posting. </div><div style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the meantime, I think my son and his cousins and friends are going to go to Wacky Bounce this weekend, and they might wear Halloween costumes. </div><div style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm just amazed at how often my mood goes along with how I'm feeling. And now that I physically feel better, I emotionally feel better. Hopefully the physical side will continue to improve, cause I've got stuff to do. I've got the books to write and other things that I need to take care of. I hope tomorrow's a better day. </span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-2533821911672264532011-10-26T14:52:00.000-07:002011-10-26T14:52:12.530-07:00No More Chemo<div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This may be a bit of a surprise for all of you, but I've decided to discontinue with chemotherapy. I've spent the entire time since my last chemotherapy feeling nauseous, and I've thrown up several times. I've decided I just don't want to spend my time that way, with lack of appetite. I've lost 15 lbs in three weeks. I've decided that's not the kind of life I want to end with. It's a hard decision because I wanted to do everything possible to fight to be around for Eddie as long as I could. But apparently that's not in the cards. </span></div><div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When I woke up this morning, after having talked with Dr. Kenyan yesterday, I felt perkier and happier (but a little sad of course). But I felt better about my physical self and I felt a little bit stronger. When I asked Dr. Kenyan what he would advise, he said if you were my wife I would tell you to discontinue with treatment because the chemotherapy will buy you, at most, two weeks to four months. Whereas if I went off the chemotherapy I will have two weeks to two months maybe, but those are just guesses. I'm expecting that I may be able to do more. I would like to be around until after Christmas, to be here for Eddie. </span></div><div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Please don't say anything to Eddie just yet. I want to talk with him but won't get a chance until later this weekend. I want to talk to him and spend some time with him so that he can understand the situation. I really think it's the best situation for all of us. And even though Eddie won't have me around much longer, he'll have a more energetic mom around. That's what I want. Someone who has a little more strength, a little more energy, and a little more ump to them. All I've really been doing is sleeping and resting. </span></div><div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had to go the hospital again the day before yesterday. I had been so nauseous that I lost a lot of fluid and they gave me a different anti-nausea pill and saline solution. Now that I've talked to Dr. Kenyan and made the decision to stop chemo, I feel a lot better. </span></div><div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">I appreciate all of you out there who have given me support, wishing me long life. I wish I was, and maybe I will. I'm never going to say never. I'm not giving up; I guess it's just time to lay down, or rather just let things go. So thank you very much and I'll be around. Take care!</span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-47378492763067821992011-10-24T06:28:00.000-07:002011-10-24T06:28:48.124-07:00Another Trip to the ER<div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Good Morning or Evening , whenever you happen to read this. I just wanted to say that the furnace is working again, which is nice. </div><div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My appetite hasn't picked up yet. My sister and the doctors convinced me to go up to the ER, so now I have another ER visit that I have to pay for out of pocket. But in the end they gave me a different anti-nausea pill and said you can feel nauseous like that after you've had enemas. I see Dr. Kay on Tuesday, but I'm not quite sure what I'm going to say. I have half a mind to skip my treatment this Friday. I just don't know if I can handle the Gemzar and more nausea. I really need to get my appetite back, so I don't know what I'm going to do. </div><div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hope you're all having a good evening, and I'll talk to you soon. </div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-21293234399321882272011-10-22T18:44:00.000-07:002011-10-22T18:44:32.078-07:00Feeling Under the Weather<div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I realize I haven't posted in a couple of days and I apologize. I've been a little under the weather the past couple of days. I was okay yesterday (Friday) during the day, and I had a lot of visitors. I also had two enemas that didn't quite work so the nurse had to do it manually. Finally I had a bowel movement, and later that evening I had two more bowel movements. About an hour after that, maybe 8pm, I took a drink of something which made me really nauseous. I didn't throw up but I was in the bathroom for 10 minutes standing over the toilet waiting to get sick.</div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today, I slept a lot this morning and my stomach still feels tight and sore. I know I said I wanted visitors, but not when I feel like this. I don't even feel like making phone calls. So thank you Rebecka for understanding (we were supposed to meet on Friday but we put it off till next week). And another friend was supposed to come over today and pick up some stuff. I also asked her not to come over because I don't quite have the energy. </div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tomorrow my friend Beth is going to interview me, so I hope I feel better by then. After that (around 3pm) I'll be talking to my ex-husband about the will and I'm a little apprehensive about that. </div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Other than that, my mom's birthday was yesterday- so you could wish her a happy birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! </div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hope everyone takes care and I hope to see you soon.</div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78517684417601082.post-24645533613766337612011-10-20T12:22:00.000-07:002011-10-20T12:22:52.294-07:00Furnace on the fritz<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our exciting news is that as of Tuesday we learned that our furnace is on the fritz. Apparently because we weren't cleaning the filter the fuze box didn't get properly cleaned and we blew a fuze. Then that caused the whole control panel to blow a fuze. The repair technician was really surprised we were getting any heat at all out of the furnace. So now we're going to have about a $1500 furnace repair bill coming up here in the next week. Hopefully it will pay for itself over the next couple of years in better performance and lower heating cost. </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well that's our exciting news. Hope you're doing well. Love you all!</span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16345066981389467770noreply@blogger.com0