AAB Spinathon continued…

I want to personally thank all who gave to the Arms Around Bainbridge Spin a Thon.   AAB goal was to raise $10,000 and they raised over $17,000!  I was able to ride for a bit (as you saw from earlier pictures) and meet several of the current AAB recipients.  There were over 40 raffle items given away and I was lucky enough to have won one; a bottle of wine and a gift certificate to Black Bird Bakery.  It felt good to be back on the bike.  I hope to start teaching again in June.

Today starts the new chemo regime.  Here’s hoping I keep my fingernails and feeling in my fingers and toes!  We will keep you updated as the day progresses.

As always, thank you all for the love and support you have shown me and my family these past few months.

AAB Spinathon

Loretta and Team Loretta are at the Arms Around Bainbridge Spinathon where they helped to raise more than $16k!  They were hoping to raise $10k.  You can learn more about AAB here.  Team Loretta has awesome T-shirts featuring this blog’s logo art.  We’re so proud.  And proud of being part of this very worthwhile event.

Here are some of the team members:

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And Loretta on one of the new bikes for the first time:

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The Lorettatron 5000

Introducing the Lorettatron 5000, the latest and greatest Loretta What-If engine ever conceived.

To see the Lorettatron 5000 go here:  www.lorettastanton.com/lorettatron5000.html.  There is also a link in the menu of this blog so you can get there whenever you feel like taking a spin in the Lorettatron 5000.

It contains a big file so it might take a while for it to open.  Be patient.  I hope you enjoy it.  I certainly enjoyed* making it.

There is a help link in the lower right corner if you need some pointers.  Click “Reconfigure” to get it started.

Let us know what you think.

-Scott

*I busted out laughing several times while making this.  Maybe I’m just not very stable.

Loretta’s Last AC Cycle

Hello Fellow Loretta Fans!

Loretta had her last AC chemo infusion on Monday, 6 May.  The effects of the four rounds are cumulative so this latest cycle is the worst (assuming you discount the whole going to the hospital due to life-threatening neutropenia).  The last couple of days were the worst for her.  She doesn’t have any energy and tasks that used to be easy are draining.  The good news is that historically she starts to feel better starting on day 5 (today) and gets better each day after that.  And she is starting to feel better.

The good (great!) news is that she is done with the AC.  The not-so-good is that she still has a long road with the “T” rounds starting in a little more than a week.  We don’t know how she’ll fair with that set of drugs.  It’ll be faster cycles, too, since she will get an infusion every week.  Then it’s more surgery and radiation.  One day at a time…..

There are a couple of things that amaze me about this whole process:

  1. She is incredibly strong emotionally.  She has her moments when things seem a little too tough but those moments are few and far between and pass quickly.  I’ve known her for more than thirty three years and I’m still amazed at her ability to exude grace and dignity.
  2. Her web of friends and family are an incredible resource for her.  So many people – even people she has never personally met – are helping her through this.  She (we) are truly blessed to have such a wonderful group of people behind her.  I can feel comfortable going to Seattle every day knowing that you are all out there ready to help.

Her brother was here the last week (thanks Ed!) and our daughter is here starting tomorrow for two weeks.  And many of you are here at a moment’s notice.  We really couldn’t ask for more.

Thank you all.

As a little tribute to Loretta and to celebrate the end of the third phase of her treatment, I’ve been working on a little project which I will introduce in another post.  I hope you all like it.

-Scott

Are we crazy?

Scott and I were just hanging out around between chemo sessions and thought “What more can we add to our lives.  Why, let’s buy a house, update it and move in at the end of July”.  So we did.  We bought a townhouse/condo in Harbor Square with the most amazing view of Mt Rainier, Eagle Harbor, and the Puget Sound.

It is an end unit with loads of beautiful light.  We love living at Harbor Square and were thrilled when this unit came on the market on Wednesday.  We made an offer on Thursday and signed the papers on Friday.  Are we a little bit crazy, probably.  But, we didn’t want to miss this opportunity to live in an ideal location with a fabulous view.

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Arms Around Bainbridge

There is an organization here on Bainbridge Island called Arms Around Bainbridge.  Arms Around Bainbridge began in 2007 with seven friends, a thirty mile swim around Bainbridge Island, and one vision: to provide financial and emotional support to Olivia Carey as she battled ovarian cancer (Olivia was my friend and colleague.)  It immediately became apparent that Olivia’s challenges were not unique.  Since 2007, AAB has helped and supported other residents in financial crisis due to life-threatening illness.  Recently, cyclists, runners & rowers have joined to assist AAB in raising funds for current & future recipients.

On May 19, there will be a Spin-A-Thon  fundraiser at Island Fitness.  A group of friends/students/clients has put together a Team Loretta.  Please consider giving to this worthwhile organization. While I am not a AAB recipient, your donation will help serve more people who need help during the most difficult time of their lives.

Thank you!

http://aabcycling.givezooks.com/grassroots_fundraisers/team-loretta-2

Loretta is beeping

The infusion for round three is underway.  She has finished the easy stuff – the anti-nausea drugs – and the pump starts beeping to let people know that it is time to do something else.

The “something else” in this case is the “Red Devil” – Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) – which is the stuff that is so caustic that the nurse has to use a special gown, gloves and mask to protect herself.  They also have to have another person verify that what they are about to inject straight into her heart is the right stuff.  They don’t like to make mistakes.  Probably because it is so expensive.

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Dinner (for Loretta) was tomato soup, some crackers and Lorna Doones.  For some reason, Lorna Doones seem to be the cookie of choice in places like this.  I’m not sure if it is because they get them cheap or if there is some curative property of the lowly Lorna Doone.

Here is the red going in:
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A lovely day for chemo

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Another perfect day in the Pacific Northwet as seen from the waiting room at SCCA.  Another day of chemo.  This will be number three of the four AC rounds.

They are working up her blood first to see if she’s ready.  We are waiting to see the oncologist next.  Then the infusion.

The Helpers

I was going to write a post on Monday but when the events in Boston occurred it didn’t feel right or appropriate to go on about my mundane week.  My thoughts and prayers go out to all those injured and their families and to those who witnessed such horror.

As earlier stated, my week was fairly mundane.   I did not feel great on Friday – Sunday but not horrible either.   I think the combination of Nuelasta and a lower chemo dose worked.  I have not had to visit Paradise.  I feel stronger each day this week and will be ready for the next onslaught on May 22.

My sister Christine left this morning.  She stayed for three weeks.  She was originally scheduled to stay for two weeks but since my chemo was delayed a week, she stayed longer.  It was great having her here.  It means so much to me that all my siblings will come and visit.  I am very lucky to have such great family.  My friends (and family) have brought meals, sent cards and flowers, bought me great gifts, prayed, knitted hats, texted, emailed, walked my dog, visited, called and performed many other acts of kindness not mentioned but greatly appreciated.  You all are the helpers in my life.

I will end this post with a quote from Mr Rogers.  Even if you have read it, it is always good to read it again.  I am very grateful to all those in my life who are helping and caring for me.  We should remember how many helpers there are in the world.

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world. ” Fred Rogers