Difficulties are just things to overcome, after all. - Ernest Shackleton

I hope you all had a WONDERFUL holiday! I had 3 days treatment- free so we all got up to snowy Vermont for a quick celebration with friends and family. At this point, it seems the chemo leaves my system pretty quickly, so on the days off, my symptoms subsided and I was able to eat the foods I love and to be pretty active.

Rory is home this week! Rory, Steve, Laura and I got to ski at the Craftsbury Nordic Center yesterday. I'm paying for it a bit today, but for the few hours of whizzing through the scenic rolling terrain, it was worth it! Rory and I also had a lovely Christmas Eve sunset-snowshoe up on our friend Melissa's land, followed by delicious cheese fondue in Melissa and Lee's cozy log cabin. Delightful!

Now back to reality and day 4 of chemo and radiation. It is working well to go straight to treatment at Lowell General from work (I leave a bit early every day) and I plan to keep this schedule as long as I can. I am told in a week or so the effects of radiation will start to kick in so I am saving my sick time should I need it. But.....so far, so good!

A BIG huge thanks to everyone who has sent me inspiration, from hysterical video clips to rabbits bearing inspirational messages, to beautiful plants and flowers. It makes a huge difference to head into my treatments with the support of you all! XOX!

Hello Friends! I will be planning 2 meals/week for my family starting mid-January

Hello Everyone! 

If you are interested in bringing over a meal in January or February please send me an email at
 mslowe@paragon-c.com. I will schedule and coordinate gluten- free veggie meals for the family. 


Sage

New Tattoos

I made it through my multiple biopsy surgery last night with a few side effects from being under general anaesthesia in a reclined position for 3 hours. Those issues seem to be resolving today, and we are hoping that my very sore butt resolves in the next week! 

Assuming speedy healing, chemorad is planned to start Dec 20 or 21 so we've been busy meeting docs, getting educated, and even getting radiation tattoos for proper placement of the rad beams. Yikes. 

Now I just need to get mentally prepared for moving full steam ahead into treatment!  

Love you all! J 

“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” ― Albert Camus

Hello Friends,

I am touched that many of you have told me you check this blog frequently - I am honored! I will be better about posting.

Sadly, we lost Steve's mother, Eileen, this past weekend. She died peacefully and pain-free and Steve and his sisters were nearby. She lived a long healthful life - almost to 92 years. Rest in peace sweet Eileen!

I head to a mini-surgery tomorrow where they will put me under for a few hours to take a number of biopsies to determine the extent of the Paget's for skin grafting surgery at the tail end of my APR surgery (probably in late March). I am hoping to be healed enough to make the ride down to NYC Saturday for Eileen's memorial.

It looks like I will start my daily chemo-rad treatments December 20th. I am told it takes a few weeks to get knocked down by them, so I am looking forward to enjoying a pain-free respite for the holiday.

So many of you have thoughtfully asked what you can do. I think that later in January, as radiation treatments progress, we may need some healthy meals and maybe even visits or errands if I can't work. Steve will post something here in advance when that time comes.

We do so appreciate all the kindness that has come our way - you all rock!  XOXO, Jane