Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Shane and Sheri have had quite an adventurous year. Most of you know the details of what has gone on this year but for the few who do not, here is a summary.

The biggest highlight was that we got MARRIED this year. What an amazing day our wedding was, one we will never forget. The day was perfect, what more could we ask for. We love being married and have enjoyed the change and new experiences it brings.

Sheri was also diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 5 weeks before our wedding. Chemo started the week before the wedding and lasted until the end of July with another month of Radiation afterwards. She is happy her hair is growing back and she is feeling good. Being married and cancer free are her two favorite terms for the 2008.

Shane moved his office, sold his place and made a clean cut from living in Utah County to Salt Lake County. Sheri also sold her place and together we bought a new home in Draper. We love our home and moving into a place together has been nice. We live in a great neighborhood and now enjoy teaching the 6 year olds at church.

Amongst the marriage, chemo, and moving we managed to get in a few trips this year. Orlando, St. George, S. California, Boston, and N. California were all fun times and we were happy to get away from life for several days.

We want to thank all of you for blessing our lives this year. More then ever we have appreciated our family, friendships, the prayers, and the many kind thoughts and deeds in our behalf. We are especially grateful to the Lord for his tender mercies and blessings in our lives this year.

2009 will bring more marriage, more cancer free testing, more vacations, and hopefully no moves!

We hope everyone has a great Christmas and a Happy 2009!

Shane and Sheri Glover

Tim Tam Slam Party!

Last night was our annual Tim Tam Slam party. For those who don't know what that is, Tim Tams were introduced to me on my mission. They are very yummy biscuits (cookies) that you can buy in Australia and other places. They are chocolate cookies with a chocolate soft center. They used to be hard to come by here, however, Target now sells them...yeah! Now...you can just eat a Tim Tam, no problem. But to Slam a Tim Tam is a whole other experience. The slide show will show the process but basically you get a mug of hot chocolate, bite off the ends and suck the hot chocolate through the cookie as it melts, and while using no hands, slam the whole cookie into your mouth without letting it disintegrate on the counter or into your hot chocolate.

So every year around the first snow fall (we were a little late this year) we get together to carry on a tradition of Slamming Tim Tams. It started with just a few of us and have grown. This year was a lot of fun and so I put together a slide show of our night.

Thanks everyone for coming, it was a lot of fun!

Numbers and Results

So at work this week I have been putting together my year end contributions. I have to include all projects, tasks and results that I've completed this year. It is what they use to determine my raise and job security. So I've been going through my year and as I put down all my job related accomplishments, I really wanted to add in this list:

12 rounds of chemo
13 radiation treatments
3 surgeries
9 consultations/other doctor appts.
6 scans and tests (2 PET, 1CT, bone marrow, EKG, diffusing capacity)
8 different doctors seen this year
296 hours of sick time (which is actually only 14% of working time)
8 lbs gained, 4 lost
15 inches of hair lost, 2 gained so far
16 hats
1 wig
3 fevers
0 throwing up (thank goodness for anti-nausea medication!)
10 neulasta shots
10 baths for my aching bones because of my neulasta shots
$170,000 in Medical Costs
$1500 of which I paid
1 GREAT Health Insurance Plan
too many to count…nurses and blood draws (fyi to the nurses, I have floppy veins)
1 Body free of Cancer!
2 houses sold, 1 bought
1 wedding planned
1 amazing husband
9 months of marriage
250 (appx.) Thank you notes written (I really am blessed by all of you!)
4 trips (Florida, St. George, California and Boston)

I left it all out of my work list, but if I got to give myself a raise for my personal accomplishments this year, I would give myself the highest raise if I do say so myself.

Mostly I just thought all the numbers were interesting and wanted to remember them.

This also reminds me why I keep telling people that life is normal and almost a little boring...which I LOVE!

NKOTB Forever!

Saturday night was a night to remember! I went with all of my sisters, Brigitte and Michelle to the New Kids on the Block concert. Christy came all the way up from California to go with us.

(All of my sisters...and me)


My sister, Michelle, made us all NKOTB shirts to wear...and NO we were not embarrassed to wear them! Thanks Michelle!


I haven't screamed that much in years. As they came out on stage I had chills and had total flashbacks to when I was 16 and went to their concert with my sisters and Michelle at the LA Forum.


I felt like I was 16 again the way we were all screaming. It didn't matter that 19 years had past since that concert, it was as good as the first time.


They actually sounded good and I even like their new music that just came out. We had a blast, screamed our lungs out, couldn't stop smiling, and had a great trip down memory lane. Our ears were ringing as much as they did the first time, only this time we had to/got to drive ourselves home instead of getting to the car and finding a sleeping dad who had waited in the parking lot for us the entire time. What a great dad we had...well we still have a great dad, but he was a terrific sport for taking us 19 years ago when we were too young to go ourselves, and then sending us in and waiting!

Our Trip to Boston

Shane and I were in Boston last week. My work sent me there for a conference so Shane decided to join me when the conference was over and take some time off to enjoy the sites of Boston. It was sooo nice to get out of town and relax a little (although we did a ton.)

We were able to see all the sites of Boston and also get out of the city. We drove up to Maine for one night and were able to see the beautiful fall colors. We had a great time and I am already trying to think of where we can go for our next trip.

Here are some, ok a lot of pictures, from our trip:

Nubble Lighthouse - York, Maine


Puffin Inn - Ogunquit, Maine


Celtics vs. Knicks Pre-season (I secretly cheered for The Knicks, don't ask me why, but I used to be a big Knicks fan!)


Fenway Park


USS Constitution


Bunker Hill Monument - Yes we climbed all 294 steps to the top, the view was beautiful. My quads burned, it felt good!


Where everybody knows your name...


Fabulous trip! What more can I say?

Update on Normal Life

I can't believe it's almost been a month since I posted last. Time is flying by again and life is back to normal. I love normal life. Just busy living normally. Work has been a little crazy and then just trying to get things done around the house before winter sets in. We had our front yard landscaped so it's been nice to not have to look at dirt when we drive up.

I have had 2 doctor's appointments in the last couple of weeks. One with Dr. Harker, my oncologist and then one with Dr. Avizonis, my radiation doctor. Both appointments have been pretty uneventful. Just follow ups to see how things are going. No scans yet, but they didn't feel any bumps, which is always good news. Next scan and follow up appointment will be the beginning of January. I am feeling pretty good. Still little things here and there that are lingering around but overall pretty back to normal. They told me that all this stuff stays in my body up to a year so although I will feel back to normal, small things can stick around for a while.

My hair is growing, you'll see by the next post. It finally feels like I have the ability to have a little style to it.

So I just wanted to update you that life is good and normal, just how I like it.

I'm a Modern Bride

As you may remember from a previous post several months ago, I was interviewed for an article in Modern Bride Magazine. Well, I went to the store this week and the article has been published. It's in the October/November issue. Kind of exciting as I have never been in a magazine before. The article is called 'In Sickness and in Health' It's about 'when serious illness affects wedding plans, how to brides, grooms, and families cope?'

I am in 2 small parts of the article but it was fun to read my name. The article is such a good article and I actually found myself almost emotional reading about other people's stories. Although the stories were different (and most of time a lot worse off then I was) I found myself relating to every single emotion they describe in that article. That month between when I was diagnosed and when we got married was such an emotional roller coaster that re-living it through this article was a little difficult.

Anyways, don't feel like you have to go buy the magazine, unless you really want to. Next time you see me, I'll show it to you if you ask.

I'M DONE!!!

What else can I really say...I'm done with ALL my treatments and that I really have Kicked Hodgkin's Lymphoma's Butt right out of my body. I'm officially a Cancer Survivor!

I had my last Radiation Treatment today. And now I don't have to go back to the Cancer Clinic for 4 weeks. Wow...that sounds sooo nice.

All the radiation staff signed a certificate of completion for me:



When you get done with your treatment they have a Bell for you to ring. I've heard the bell many times while in the waiting room and was so excited for the day I got to have my 'Bell Ringing Ceremony' as I call it.



Brigitte came with me for the experience and to photograph the event.


My cousin Travis, who works at the clinic, showed up for the bell ringing ceremony.



And here is the 'Bell Ringing Ceremony'

So this is it...I'm done. Of course there will always be follow up appointments and check ups for a long time but for now I am trying to put it out of my head and get back to life without cancer. I can't wait...

One big THANK YOU to everyone for all their support through this. I can't even begin to name names, so I won't but everyone has been so supportive and great through this and it's really helped me keep my spirits up and get through it all.

I am not sure what this blog will become now. I haven't decided if I am going to continue and just post regular updates on my life or if I will leave this blog dedicated to my cancer life and start a new one. I'm going to take a break, hopefully not too long, and I'll let you know when I decide.

An apology with a safe picture

So I feel I need to post a little apology for my last post. I really had no idea how shocked everyone would be over the pictures. Obviously I don't see myself like that, since I am in the mask so I didn't think people would think I looked so weird.

But, I made a girl at work tear up, being fore-warned my dad refuses to look at the pictures and Brigitte wouldn't even comment or barely talk to me about it. Yep, everyone thinks I look like a corpse in the picture. Maybe because it's in a large sterile looking room, or that I have a hospital gown on, or the fact that my face is covered up, or that I am laying on a flat table. Not sure which of those contribute most to my corpse look a like but I guess I can kind of see why no one liked the picture. Remember I said I was smiling, doesn't that count for anything to help the situation?? :)

Ok so to redeem myself from the last post and to help push that post down a little further on the page, I decided to take a picture of myself so you can all see how much my hair has grown in. I made it stand up so you can see the length. I wore it like this all day Saturday out shopping. Shane thinks my hair is in the 'in-between' stage that people are going to look at me and think 'Did she have cancer or does she like her hair cut that way?'



Radiation is still going well, only 3 more to go. I have a little bump in my throat but it's pretty minimal and just a mere inconvenience at this point. I have been getting a little more tired but all in all still feel pretty good. No hair loss yet...

Once again, sorry if I freaked out my readers. I hope I didn't scare you away. I promise not to post any more freaky pictures. Please keep reading and commenting.

Radiation Update

I am more then half way done with my radiation and so far so good. I have felt little to no side effects. Starting just yesterday when I swallow food it feels like it gets stuck going down, which they said I would experience. But so far it's not painful, although I think they expect that to change with some type of sore throat coming soon. I haven't lost my hair in the back yet and my doctor said I won't lose it until they very end of treatment, so some time next week. Other then that I am feeling really good.

So I finally took some picture, well the nurse took some pictures of me in my 'mask' right before treatment today. Yes I am under that big white thing and yes I did smile when she said 1,2,3 which I thought was pretty funny but I am sure just a habit, for both of us. So that white mask is molded to my face and I can't really move at all when they put it on and strap it down to the table. I can barely say ok, yes, or no if they talk to me.

This first one shows the holes in the plastic that allow me to breathe.


This next one shows the round marking where they line the machine up to and the radiation affects anywhere on the inside of the red lines. The masking tape is to block out certain parts, so they don't hit my mouth or my throat and spinal cord.


This last picture shows the machine (above me) they move my table back to that machine and line it up exactly as needed.


They are very exact with their numbers and where they place it. Once I'm all lined up, they leave the room and the machine zaps me (I don't feel anything) 2 different times for about 10 seconds each time. Then they come back in, unsnap me and I am done.

Anyways, hopefully you found this interesting. I think it's pretty interesting and they certainly have it all down, so it's quick and easy. I have just been taking an extended lunch each day and go up there and then back to work.

I was going to post a picture of how much my hair has been growing back but I will wait until next week and post it with another update.

I'm Radiating

Yes...that's right...my radiation has begun. I went in yesterday for my 'trial run' and they offered to just start my treatment that day. I was really excited to hear this because that means I will get done Friday, Sept. 5, instead of waiting until that Monday, Sept. 8, for my last treatment. That also means I will be completely done with all treatment 2 days before my birthday. What a nice birthday present that will be for me. When I was first diagnosed and Dr. Harker was going over my treatment schedule, I remember thinking that my goal is to be done before my birthday. In fact I told one of the chemo nurses that during one of my first treatments. So I made my goal with just 2 days to spare. Yippeeeee!! I was seriously perma-grin yesterday thinking that I have started my last phase of treatment. Who knew I could be so excited to start radiation, but I am! So I am not glowing from radiation, just radiating happiness that I am almost done.

ok so about radiation. It's actually quite uneventful, which of course I am not complaining about. I go in, change into a hospital gown, they bring me into the room with a big machine in the room (it's kind of like a CT Scan machine if you've ever seen those (and feel lucky if you haven't!) I lay down on the table, they put the 'face mask' over me that they molded to my face, and they strap it down to the table. They leave the room, line the machine up, and zap me. I don't feel anything at all, it just makes a loud buzzing sound for about 15 seconds. Then they move the machine to the next place, and zap me again. Then they come in and unstrap me. I go change and leave. All in all I am there for about 20 minutes. So far I haven't felt any side effects so I am feeling very normal. The side effects will probably come towards the end of next week they say.

So that's about it, I told you not that exciting. I still plan on taking pictures of my face mask and maybe the radiation machine but just haven't done it. I'll save that for a post maybe next week.

The Lighter Side

I had my radiation consultation this week. It is at the same clinic as where I have been going for chemo. There is a Chemo side of the clinic and a radiation side. As I walked into the Radiation side, several of the employees there greeted me with 'Welcome to the lighter side.' That sounded like good news to me. Everyone said that radiation is a breeze compared to chemo so I hope that is the case.

I met with my new doctor, Dr. Avizonis, a radiation oncologist. She is really nice and explained everything to me. So here is the run down on my next and last part of my treatment.

Having radiation ups my % points of my cancer not coming back. They like to do radiation anytime the tumor is more then 5 centimeters. Mine was 9. Those 2 factors is why I will be having radiation.

I will have 13 days of radiation. I go to the clinic every day (Mon-Fri) to receive radiation. The appointment is really fast though, they line me up to the machine, zap me really quick and I am done. So I will only miss an hour of work each day.

The most common side effects are fatigue, a sore throat, and skin redness (like a sunburn.) They say most of these side effects start towards the end of treatment and then go away pretty quickly after I am done. I will not get nauseous because they are radiating my neck and chest area where my tumor was. I guess you only get nauseous on radiation if they radiate your stomach areas. I will lose my hair on the back of my neck due to the radiation being targeted on my neck. A few more weeks of wearing a hat won't kill me, but the top of my hair is already growing back.

The other news that I think a lot of people will be disappointed in is that I don't have to get tattooed. I know everyone was anxious to see my tattoo dots. Instead they made a face and shoulder mold of me and they will put that on me each day and line the machine up to the marks on this cast type thing. So I will be strapped down but it will ensure that I don't move and am in the exact right position each day. To make up for not seeing my tattoos, I promise to take a picture of me in my 'mask.' Trust me it will be well worth it when you see this crazy thing over me. I wish I had my camera with me the other day, but I promise to post it next week.

So I start radiation next Wednesday, with a 'dry run' scheduled for the day before. Hopefully everything will go smoothly and there won't be any mishaps. The thing with radiation that makes me nervous is there can be some pretty permanent side effects if they aren't careful. But the benefits outweigh the risks by far so I am moving forward.

Keep praying for me! Thanks!

Normal Life - My Favorite Day at work!

Today is my favorite day at work this year. I was so excited to come to work today. I told Shane last night just how excited I was to go to work and he looked at me like why in the world would I be excited to go to work?? I know it sounds a little crazy as going to work, especially on a Monday, never sounds all that exciting.

However...going to work today means that I am not at the clinic getting chemo. This is the first 2nd Monday (since I go every other Monday) that I am not at the clinic since February! So as you can tell I am just happy to be living a normal life at work today. I am working hard, despite this quick break for the post. For those of you that don't know, I have been working pretty much full-time through this, so being at work isn't abnormal, just being at work on a day I am normally getting chemo is the reason for celebration.

Tomorrow I go to my radiation appointment and then soon after start radiation. Yuck, back to treatment, but that's the last step! So for today I am celebrating living a normal life at work. Maybe I'll go get a milkshake at lunch to celebrate!

Deported

I was deported on Wednesday and was sooo happy. Yep, that means my port came out. It's another milestone to being done. It came out in the same place they cut me open to get it in. I think I told 3 different people (2 nurses and the doctor) to make sure when they sew me up to sew it up nice and tight so the scar is minimal. They assured me they would. I haven't seen it yet as it's still bandaged up but am hoping for a good stitch job.

They let me keep my port as a souvenir and thought you would all want to see what it looks like, so here it is.



The middle part of it is soft like a pin cushion and that is where they would poke through my skin into that and then the chemo drugs would go through the white tube into my veins, pretty interesting if I do say so myself. They are also able to draw blood from there as well. It's made of some type of metal and so it was heavier then I thought it would be. No wonder I was in so much pain when it went in.

Overall the surgery went really smoothly and recovery has been MUCH easier this time around. Thanks Mom for taking me and waiting around for all the hospital 'stuff' to get done!

Bye Bye to Chemo!!

I am officially done with all Chemo. I am sooo excited to be done with this phase. I can't believe this day is finally here. My sister Christy, who is visiting from California, came with me. She brought me balloons to congratulate me on being done. She has a daughter that just finished a 2 1/2 year treatment for Leukemia so you would think she would be the last one that wanted to step foot into another cancer clinic but she did, and she was actually excited about it.



There was a lady there whose husband was just starting chemo for the first time that day. I felt bad that he was just starting because I remember meeting someone my first day that was just finishing and I never thought I would never finish...but here I am, done!

The nurses there gave me a bottle of sparkling cider to congratulate me. I finally took some pictures at the clinic. I had never taken any pictures of me at the clinic so I finally brought my camera along to document it.



The other good news is, I get my port out tomorrow. So soon, but they wanted it to quickly so I would have 2 weeks of healing before they started my radiation. So tomorrow is the port removal. Hopefully it's not as painful as it was going in.

Then in 2 weeks, on Aug. 12, I meet with my radiation doctor to get all ready for that and then radiation should start just a few days after that. They are still estimating 3 weeks but I will know more when I meet with them.

I'll update in a few days and let everyone know how the port removal went. Until then, I am just enjoying the last of the chemo side effects. Ok, enjoying is a little strong but knowing once they go away they aren't coming back makes me feel soooo good.

So BYE BYE to Chemo!!!!!!!!!!!!

#11 feels one step away from Heaven (figuratively only of course!!)

It feels sooo great to know I only have to have one more chemo! #11 went fine. My sister, Michelle, came with me this time and was nice enough/brave enough to leave her one month old behind for the afternoon to come with me. Hopefully it was a nice break for her and got her out of the house while my parents watched all 3 of her kids. Thanks Michelle for coming and mom AND Dad for watching the kids. It was fun to sit and talk like always. One other thing I don't think I have ever mentioned is that I have a cousin my age that is the manager of the lab dept. at the clinic and every chemo I have had he comes in and sits down and talks to us for a while. It's always nice to see his familiar face at each of my appts. and has been helpful with some good information from time to time. Thanks Travis for all your support.

Some positive information from this last chemo:

• I get to have my port taken out as soon as my last chemo is done.
• I really don't have to have a neulasta shot next time
  (so today will be my last neulasta shot. I told my doctor that I was so happy to hear that news that I am almost happier about that then being done with chemo!)
• I will meet with the radiation doctor on Aug. 12 for my consultation and will start very soon after that. They are still saying about 3 weeks of radiation.
  
• After radiation finishes I will meet with my doctor every 3 months and get a PET/CT Scan every 6 months for at least a couple years to make sure this all stays away!

So while I have some insomnia (due to some steroids they give me), a little nausea, and a nasty taste in my mouth right now, all in all I don't really care because I only have to do this one more time!!!!

Double Digits, #10 is Done!

That's right, I am in double digits. I really never thought I would see the day I hit double digits in chemo's. After #3, I thought it might be an eternity before I got to the end, but here I am. I am still on cloud 9 with my cancer free news and the light at the end of the tunnel is helping me get through the rest of it.

Chemo went on right as scheduled. My sister Lori came with me this time. My mom volunteered to watch my sister's kids for her and for my other sisters so they can each take a turn coming with me. I think everyone is a little curious what this is all about. So we had a good time talking and telling stories.

The best news of the day is that most likely I will not have to get my nasty Neulasta shot on my last treatment. That will be the best present ever. Not only to be done with Chemo but not have to put up with the side effects of Neulasta will be a little (ok a lot) of an extra treat for me.

Thanks for everyone's comments, phone calls and emails of congratulations. It's been fun to read them all and celebrate the great news with you.

I'm Cancer FREE!!!

I got GREAT news today from my doctor. My PET Scan results came back normal! All the cancer is gone! I was a little anxious going to the clinic today to find out. Even though I felt really good that the results were going to come back normal, I was still preparing myself for the worst just in case.

So, I had treatment #8 today and will have to have 3 more treatments of Chemo (just to make sure what is gone stays gone!) Then I will get a break for a few weeks and then most likely will need about 3 weeks of radiation. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Although treatments are never fun, for some reason I think they might be a little easier now that I can see the end in sight.

Shane came with me to my appointment this time for great support. When the doctor left the room after sharing the great news I burst into tears. Shane looked kind of confused until I was able to explain that they were finally tears of joy!!

Thank you all for your prayers, prayers really are answered!

3 Additions to our family!

Within 8 days, Shane and I have had 3 additions to our families. We are excited to welcome them ALL into our family!!

Shane’s brother and his wife had a baby girl last week.

My brother Jeff married the cutest girl, Whitney. We are excited to have another sister and she really does fit in great with all of us. And...for those that haven’t seen me in my wig, there it is!

And the 3rd family member this week is a little baby boy. My sister, Michelle, had a little baby boy last night.

8 is Great???

Ok so 8 isn’t that great, but hey, having 8 chemo’s done feels like a pretty good accomplishment these days. I thought I would post a little on treatment #8. Everything was fine. There actually isn’t a lot to report, except for the fever update. As you know, I have had a fever the night after my treatment for the last 2 times. They now think it’s a reaction to one of the chemo drugs. So they let me take Aleve this time. So as soon as I got home I took Aleve and low and behold, it worked…no fever!! So it looks like that will be my new thing for the remainder of my treatments, which is great news.

My mom came with me this time. She has been so good to come with me to my appointments. Everyone in my family has been taking turns, but I think this was her 4th time coming with me. Thanks mom, I love you, it’s fun to have you there to talk to through the long process.

The other big news is that next Tuesday, June 10, I have my PET Scan. I had this scan when I was first diagnosed to help stage the cancer. I haven’t had one since and this scan will show how much progress has been made to me becoming cancer free. If the results are good, then I will finish my last 4 treatments of chemo as scheduled. If the results don’t look as good as they hoped by this point then I will need 8 more treatments! Ugh…so I am asking that everyone pray that the results will come back so that I only need to have 4 more treatments. I won’t get the results until my next treatment, June 16 but I will let you all know as soon as I find out.

Thanks for all your prayers, keep them coming!!

Co-worker Hair Support

I thought I would post this picture of myself and 2 of my co-workers. They buzzed their heads in support of my baldness! I thought that was so nice and supportive of them. I kept telling them just to keep all the hair they can get but they insisted. I wish I had a before shot but for those that don't know them, they usually have a lot more hair then this. Thanks guys!!!

Check off #7

Treatment #7 has come and gone this week. It feels good to have one more treatment checked off.

Shane came with me to my appointment. He took the day off work to be with me. I don't think he was thrilled to watch chemo being infused into his wife but I told him he at least needed to experience this with me one time. He was a good sport even if the appointment took 2 hours longer then it normally does for some odd reason. We have been listening to a book on cd and were able to cover a lot of it during chemo time.

The bad news is as soon as I got home I came down with another fever (like the last treatment.) It lasted 4 hours and then went away. When I called my doctor this time he was pretty sure that I had some infection in my port and that my port would most likely need to come out. As much as I dreaded the port being put in me, the idea of it coming out early was NOT good news. I would either get the rest of my chemo through veins in my arms (my veins are small and floppy) or take the port out and put another one back in a few weeks (oh yeah, remember how much fun that surgery was...and I get to do it twice??) So the short of the long story is, they did more blood work the next day and as it stands today I will not have to get my port out. YEAH!!! It might just be a reaction to the chemo and not an infection. So they are going to watch me through my next treatment and see how it goes. I can put up with a fever for 4 hours.

Other then that the treatment and side effects have been right on schedule.

Hair Today...Gone Tomorrow!

I've been trying to think of what to write about the SHAVE PARTY ever since Saturday evening when it occured. Well, honestly, even before that. For the past few weeks, in anticipation of the inevitable day, I would find myself thinking of ways to express that Sheri had to shave her head. And, you know what? Nothing! No words can accurately describe the day, the event, and more importantly...the anticipation of it all.

So, here is what I will say: Sheri had hair on Saturday...and then, after putting on her "Cancer Sucks" T-shirt and taking a few before-shots, Shane leaned over and gave Sheri a kiss, Sheri and Brigitte both started crying, and then the clippers were in action. At that point, Shane let out a little laugh and the whole mood changed. He truly made the experience better than anyone had envisioned. Shane is so supportive and obviously exactly what Sheri needs now...and forever!

As you will see from the pics below, the shave was not premature. Sheri's hair was falling out fast and furious and now, turns out, Sheri is one attractive girl who just happens to have had to shave her head due to cancer-schmancer! Could she maybe be mistaken as her younger brother Jeff? Hmmm...maybe. =)

Okay, but really, Sheri looks great with a shaved head! I'm sure she would prefer to have hair, but with a perfectly shaped head like hers, who knows, maybe she'll forever try to pull off the new look. Ya, you're right. I doubt she'll keep the look either. But for now...looks good!

Of course, boys will be boys, and Shane just HAD to shave a mohawk before finishing the entire shave. It was actually quite hysterical! He tried as hard as he could to convince Sheri to leave the hawk for the entire night of dinner and a movie. Turns out, the shave proceeded to completion before Sheri would leave the house!!

Since the shave party Sheri has said that the anticipation of it was worse then not having hair. She has a wig which you might see from time to time but she said she feels better just wearing a hat or bandanna. As she said 'If I have to look at my bald head, so should everyone else!'

HALF WAY DONE!!!!!!

I can't believe it, I am really 1/2 way done. In some ways it feels like I have been going through treatment forever and in other ways I guess it's gone by relatively fast...maybe.

My treatment at the clinic on Monday was same ol', same ol'. Nothing much to report. The physician assistant I met with did give me a surprise and told me that I only had 2 more treatments left! Can you imagine?? I didn't even let it get my hopes up because I knew he didn't have the right information. Sure enough when he read further he realized I have 2 more treatments until they start re-checking me and then 4 more treatments after that! Oh well, it was a nice fleeting thought.

The most excitement from this treatment came Monday night when I came down with a fever. Anytime you have a fever above 100.4 you are required to call in immediately. Since it was after hours I had to page a doctor. Many times if it's after hours they will just send you to the ER and a lot of times you are admitted to the hospital so they can watch you. Luckily the on-call doctor just had me start my anti-biotic and 2 hours later my fever broke. I didn't have any other symptoms of being sick so they think it was just a reaction to the medication. Hopefully it doesn't happen again! I was NOT happy at the thought of maybe having to be hospitalized or going to the ER, although I have heard but never confirmed that cancer patients get preferential treatment in the ER and get 'bumped' to the top of the line. Hopefully I never find out if that is true.

So the rest of the week has been the same old side effects. It seems like I get a little more tired after each treatment and the nausea lasts longer, but so far I am managing it ok.

You will want to check back here in a day or two. A new post is coming that most won't want to miss...yes the head shaving party is this weekend. I am trying to be logical and brave about it but needless to say it's not going to be easy.

Thanks to everyone for your comments, emails, phone calls, support and prayers. It really does boost me up and I appreciate it!!

FIVE...and feeling alive!

Okay -- but really, what else rhymes with five? Dive. Hive. Jive. Live. None of them really seemed to fit. I realize that 'alive' makes you think Sheri is not at all tired from her chemo this morning. And, the truth is, she really is tired (as with the other sessions.) But, cut me some slack. I'm working on my poetry skills!

Off my poetry, on to Sheri's 4-1-1.

Jude went with Sheri this morning for her treatment. They had to be there at 845am. Ugh! (NOTE: Sheri is NOT a morning person.) What? How would I know? Trust me...I know! =) This treatment and the previous ones were 'accidentally' scheduled for early morning. Sheri took care of that as quickly as possible, and the next treatment should be back to a comfortable 10ish time. Whew.

This past Friday Sheri was feeling a little sick. Ah oh! So, she stayed home from work to rest -- and pray -- that her blood counts would stay high and would not stop her from getting this treatment. The good news: Her counts weren't low at all and the treatment went well.

Update from the doctor: After 8 treatments Sheri will have another PET Scan to see if the cancer is gone. If it is, she will have 4 more treatments and then be DONE! That is great news!! If not though...if the scan shows that there is still 'activity'...she will have to have 4 more treatments, then another PET Scan, and then...4 more treatments. Ugh! That would make 16 treatments as opposed to 12. So -- everyone -- think 12!

The doc prescribed a new med for the back aches. We'll have to see if they work. Hopefully so!!

Eliza is done with her Chemo!

My niece, Eliza, is officially done with all her chemo and treatments for her Leukemia. 2 years and 76 days!! And to think I am complaining about 6 months! She has been such a trooper through this and I just wanted to Congratulate her on finishing. She is an inspiration to me!

Congratulations Eliza, I love you!

Modern Bride Magazine?

Not sure how many of you read the comments posted on my blog. I read them all and enjoy reading them. I received an interesting one the other day. Part of it went like this:

• Hi Sheri...I am writing an article for Modern Bride magazine about engaged couples facing serious illness. I have talked to a lot of couples who dealt with cancer together. Most of them waited until after their treatment to go forward with their weddings. I would love to be able to share the story of someone who opted to go ahead and have their wedding...I wish you the best with your treatment.Catherine

Interesting! So I contacted Catherine this week and did a short interview with her over the phone. We mostly talked about my decision to keep my wedding as is as opposed to postponing it or even moving it up and doing something smaller. Many of you know that was one the many hard decisions I had to make when I was diagnosed. Looking back I know I made the right decision and was sooo happy I didn't change a thing. I credit Shane for making sure I had the wedding I always dreamed of (I know he would have loved to just elope) and my doctors for working the schedule of treatments around my wedding.

Anyways, Catherine was really nice to talk to (I have to say that because she is probably still reading my blog!) No really she was very nice. She says the article will be published in the fall. I will keep you all updated if/when the article is published.

PS A new post 2 days in a row....what is up with that? I must be feeling good! I am actually.

PPS Brigitte will be back to posting for me next week. I miss her perspective on all of this and the funny things she adds in.

Spring, Chemo, and Oil Changes

I know you are thinking, what does Spring, Chemo, and oil changes have to do with each other? Keep reading, you'll find out.

So yesterday it was 80 degrees here. I was loving it. I logged onto my blog and was instantly depressed. It looked so wintery. So I changed my template. I like it much better and it's more fun to look at. Of course now as I write this, it's in the 40's and raining/snowing. Ugh...when will it be summer???

So, I know I never posted about my last treatment, sorry. There wasn't much to report. Things pretty much were a repeat.

I had #4, so I am now 1/3 of the way done! That made me happy. Then today I went and had my oil changed. Now a random habit I have is everytime I get my oil changed I look at the date of my next oil change (3 months) and think 'what will be going on when I have to get my oil changed again?' Last time, I was so excited because I was engaged and I remember thinking, next time I get my oil changed I will be married. I was so excited I called Shane to tell him and I am pretty sure he realized then (if not before) that I was crazy! This time I looked at the date and thought 'next time I get my oil changed I will STILL be getting chemo.' That was depressing. But then I realized that date will be chemo 11 of 12, so I will be sooo close to being done. All in all it's not really that bad but I just wish it was over with already.

So here's to spring and my next oil change!

FAQ's by Sheri

I thought I would answer some questions that I have gotten from several people about my treatment and side effects, etc. I don't mind talking about any of it so if you have more questions, just let me know.

What is your chemo treatment like when you go to the clinic?

Every other Monday is my chemo day. I go to the clinic they take my weight, blood pressure, and temperature. Then they access my port (poking a needle into my port which is just to the side of my armpit) and they draw some blood. I then go meet with the doctor to ask any and all questions I have and for him to make sure my blood count is high enough to have treatment and make sure I am still doing ok. My doctor is so nice and will sit there and let me ask question after question until I can't think of any. Finally when I run out of questions, I go back to the 'treatment room' and they start up the IV. I get a bag of anti-nausea medication, then 4 different chemo's. This whole process from when I walk in the door to when I walk out takes just over 3 hours. The 'treatment room' is just like it sounds, a big room where everyone gets their chemo. They have about 15 recliners set up and a big nurses station and you pick a recliner and they hook you up. It's a big chemo party. Some people sleep, some bring portable DVD players and some have people there with them to sit and talk to. That is what I have usually done, brought someone with me to provide entertainment, it helps pass the time and it's fun to have someone there to support you. Some people are there all day and others are in and out. I found most people that are there when I get there, are still there when I leave, sad. By the time I get home I have about an hour before I start feeling sick. Although that time seems to be getting shorter at each treatment.

What side effects do you get and how bad are they?

It's easiest to just write out my schedule since after 3 treatments, my side effects have started and stopped at almost the exact same time. At least I know what to expect now! Although the day of chemo now seems less and less desirable because I know what's coming!

Monday - By the night of my treatment, I am feeling nauseous. I don't feel hungry one bit but I have learned that if I eat a little bit it helps me feel better. So I do a lot of snacking the rest of the day. I have anti-nausea medication but have only had to take it once. The nausea seems pretty manageable, nothing great but could be a lot worse! Last treatment I didn't sleep Monday night (which they say is normal) so for the next treatment I will be taking an anti-nausea pill which will make me drowsy and help me sleep.

Tuesday – I still feel nauseous throughout the entire day and continue to snack and eat little meals. Tuesday morning I get my Neulasta shot which helps my white blood cell count stay high enough to continue treatment. The side effect of this shot is achiness. So by Tuesday night I feel VERY achy, like every bone in my body hurts to touch. Top that achiness and nausea with being really tired and it's not a fun Tuesday night for me.

Wednesday – Still pretty tired, the nausea is gone today...yeah. The achiness is gone, but I still feel really stiff and sore from the Neulasta. By Wednesday night I think I might survive and then the mouth sores hit. The mouth sores have decreased in severity with each treatment and the doctor thinks that my body might just adjust to it and I won't get mouth sores every single time. This would be the one side effect I would LOVE to get rid of.

Thursday – Mouth sores are still there but the achiness/soreness from Neulasta is mostly gone.

Saturday – The mouth sores are mostly better

Sunday – My lower back starts to ache. The doctor says this is from my bone marrow re-building. This lasts until Tuesday-ish. The rest of that week I am feeling pretty good and just have to stay healthy. My fatigue seems to come and go throughout the 2 weeks and I just have to watch myself that I don't overdo it and get rest. Sometimes I don't realize it until it's too late and I am so tired I can barely function. It's all a learning process still.

How is your hair? and...when do we get to see your cute wig?

Most of you know that I have REALLY thick hair. So thick in fact that when I used to get it cut, my hair dresser thins it for me (my favorite part of getting it cut!) So when I started losing my hair, although traumatic, wasn't too bad because I had a lot to lose. It slowed down for a little bit and has recently started falling out more. I still have my hair but the time will come in the near future when I will have to shave it. For now, I have enjoyed knowing what it feels like to have naturally thin hair.

When my hair comes out, although I am trying to prepare myself, it will still be a very hard day. I have a cute wig and lots of bandanas and we'll just have to wait and see how often I wear what. I don't picture myself wearing my wig everyday but will be nice to have from time to time. Don't worry, I'll have Brigitte post some pictures when it happens, so you can all be part of it!

Sorry for the long post, but there you have an update on life with Chemo.

Any other questions you've been wondering about?

The good news is...

...Sheri is one-quarter of the way done with her treatments!!

As you may recall, Sheri is scheduled to have 12 Chemotherapy treatments. Seriously, how fast did the first quarter go for all of you? One. Check. Two. Check-check. Three. Check-check-check! That's right baby...Sheri is now in the single digits.

Okay, perhaps this is all flying by a bit faster for those of us NOT having to deal with actually having cancer. Although it's not really flying by for Sheri, she is happy to see three treatments checked off the list.

The side-effects are still present -- darn the darn! Fatigue? Yes. Nausea? Yes. Mouth-sores? Yes. Back pain? Yes. Bone pain? Yes. But, all of these mean the medicine is working, so Sheri deals with it. And, if I do say so myself, she deals with it better than one can imagine!

#1 To Do List Item: Be grateful that she was blessed with so much GOOLD hair! Even though chemotherapy is causing it to fall out, she still has more hair than the average girl!! Who knows, perhaps a wig will never be needed... =)

#2

Sheri had her second round of chemo yesterday (Monday.) Her white-blood cell count was up (thanks for everyone's prayers), and the treatment went well. Yeah -- two down -- 10 to go!!

Today she went to get a Neulasta shot http://www.neulasta.com/, which helps to boost white blood cells (the little suckers that fight for what's right! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_blood_cell), so that she will, HOPEFULLY, not have to miss a scheduled chemo treatment again!

If you click on the Neulasta link and then go to "Important Product Safety Information" you can read about the side-effects. One of the side-effects is bone pain, and tonight Sheri is dealing with that. No fun!! But, on the positive side, the shot is supposed to reduce the chances that she will get those darn mouth sores again. She said that she'll take the bone pain over the mouth sores at this point. If she wakes up in the morning with bone pain AND mouth sores -- believe me, she will NOT be very happy!! So, lets all hope that the shot does its trick.

If you are reading this, and haven't read the posting with the link to Sheri's wedding pics make sure you scroll down and check it out. GREAT PICS!!!

Our Perfect Wedding Day!

Sheri here!! I just wanted to let everyone know that our wedding pictures have been posted online if you would like to take a look at them.

http://simplybeautiful.instaproofs.com/collection.php?event=44318

There are 3 categories when you click on the link, one for the temple, one for the reception, and then one for the reception details (centerpieces, cake, flowers, etc.)

Amanda Abel, our photographer, did a great job and I love all the pictures. Her website is: http://www.simplybeautifulphoto.com/

Our wedding day was so amazing. I can only describe it as the perfect day. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. There were no major disasters, the weather cooperated, and I felt great and on cloud 9 all day. Thank you to everyone for making our wedding day amazing!

We had a great time in Orlando. The weather was even better there and all the theme parks were not crowded so we walked onto most rides. Take note, February is the time to go if you want good weather and no crowds! Here are a few pictures.

Sometimes a HALF is just as good as the WHOLE!

Especially when it comes to Birthdays! HAPPY HALF-BIRTHDAY (yesterday) Sheri!!

Why only celebrate things once, when you can celebrate them twice!? And, considering all that Sheri is going through with stupid, dumb, evil, nasty (insert descriptive word of choice) Cancer Schmancer, at least there will be little things, and some BIG things (...like 34 1/2...) to celebrate along the way.

Party like it's 2008...BECAUSE IT IS!

Wasted numbing cream...

Yesterday was Sheri's appointment for her 2nd session of Chemo. With her numbing cream slathered over her port, in preparation for her treatment, the nurse poked an IV-ish looking devise into Sheri's port as though he was pushing a thumbtack into a corkboard. Sheri says she didn't feel a thing...thank goodness for numbing cream.

...Side note: I (Brigitte) went with Sheri for her treatment. I was so excited to be there to provide some conversation and entertainment -- but, I have to admit that as soon as the nurse did the poking thing I got pretty lightheaded and didn't feel like I could provide much support. I'm not sure I'll be invited back for future Chemo treatments.

After drawing a couple viles of blood, Sheri waited to meet with the doctor. The wait seemed a little long...and then, finally, a doctor came in. He started off with something along the lines of, "This isn't unusual..." and then proceeded to inform Sheri that her white blood cells are only in the 200s! They need to be in the 600s in order to get treatment. BUG-O-LA!!

So, long story short, the much-anticipated (or something like that) 2nd session of Chemotherapy will not take place until NEXT Monday! Pray for white blood cells and for all sick people to steer-clear of Sheri!

The good news is: Sheri and Shane had a GREAT time on their honeymoon, and now they have another week before Sheri will be sick and tired (darn side-effects of Chemo) from her next treatment. See! There's always a sunny-side to every situation!

Something Old...

...something new, something borrowed, something blue!

Old: Sheri and Shane (according to the Mormon culture average age for getting married)

New: Sheri's last name -- it's now Glover!

Borrowed: hmmm...I can't think of anything that was borrowed. Oh well!

Blue: The sky!!

So...Sheri and Shane are officially married. The day couldn't have gone better! The minute they both walked out of the Temple together the sky was completely BLUE.

What more could they have asked for?

Oh, I'll tell you what more they could have asked for...and, exactly what they got:

A perfect wedding time, 1:40pm (not too early, not too late.) A wedding dress that was so gorgeous it made Sheri shine (and made Shane's face light up the second that he saw her.) The perfect decor for their reception (Jennifer did an amazing job with the centerpieces placed on each table.) Fabulous flowers! Scrumptious food and desserts (of which Sheri's nieces and nephews could not help but continue to sneak more and more of...) A beautiful, square, 4-tiered cake (it not only looked good, it tasted a lot like chocolate heaven!) The cutest nieces and nephews, all dressed up in matching outfits and huge smiles for the big day! And, on top of all of that, they were blessed enough to celebrate their special day with tons of cherished friends and family!!

At 8pm the reception came to an end and we sent the couple off on their honeymoon. Are we supposed to keep it a secret where they went? Hmmm... Well, they aren't here to answer that question, so if you can keep a secret I'll tell you. No....I'm serious...you can't tell anyone! Okay....Orlando! Don't try to hunt them down, or I'll be in A LOT of trouble I'm sure. I hope they are now enjoying a little R&R, a lot of SUNSHINE, and a fun beginning to a happy life together!

Now, before you get mad that I didn't add any pictures, I PROMISE I will attach them tonight. It's just that I'm at work (don't tell my employers I typed all of this "on the clock") and the pictures are at home. But, I had a few minutes so I thought I should at least update the blog. So, again, I promise if you check back later tonight you will see a few pics of Sheri and Shane on their first day as Mr. & Mrs. Glover!

One down...11 to go!

Sheri had her first Chemotherapy on Friday. Jennifer, her oldest sister, went with her -- as she basically just sits in a recliner for 3 hours while they dispense the drugs through her Port. I'm sure it can get pretty boring. Hence, Sheri invited Jennifer along for entertainment...and, of course, support! They passed the time munching on Wheat Thins and M&Ms!

Sheri was pretty nervous -- as we all would be -- which made her blood pressure a bit off the charts. Now that the first session is over, and she knows what to expect, I'm sure her blood pressure will be a bit more normal...hopefully!

Funny story from Jennifer: The nurse weighed Sheri before taking her back to the treatment room, and as the nurse recorded the weight and Sheri stepped off the scale, the nurse said, "Okay. I weighed that in High School. Follow me." Too funny!!

The doctor said that she should start feeling side-effects from the Chemo within 24-72 hours. So far, Sheri has felt waves of nausea and is a little tired, but other than that she feels pretty good! Now, if only the side-effects are this minimal throughout the whole 12 sessions. Fingers crossed!

Okay, everybody, drumroll please... One week from today Sheri and Shane will be married! Yep! It will be official. It's the final countdown. And, personally, I cannot believe how quickly it has come. I guess the Cancer Schmancer helped fill the time and make it fly by. Thank you cancer? Um...not sure.

#1 on Sheri's To do List: Final preparations for the wedding!!!!!!! (yes, 7 exclamation marks -- 'cause 7 is a lucky number)

The Port

This past Tuesday Sheri had her Port implanted. OUCH! She was apparently NOT properly prepared for the procedure. The surgeon said that it would just take a couple of hours and that she should be ready to go back to work by the next day.

Uh...more than a couple of hours and not quite as SIMPLE as explained. In fact, Sheri told Dr. Harker today that she would choose to have the neck biopsy, PET Scan, and Bone Marrow test all in the same day, over having a Port implanted again!! However, she knows once it stops hurting it will be worth having. At least now her arms can heal from all the poking they have done these last few weeks. They were able to implant the port below her wedding dress line. YEAH for caring doctors!

Eliza, Sheri's niece who is currently going through cancer as well, called Sheri the other night to see how she was feeling. She asked Sheri if she got her Port in. And then asked if it hurt. Sheri said yes, and then asked Eliza if it hurt when she had her's put in. Eliza responded by saying, "I don't remember!" It has been a while and she is only 5! Next, Avery, Eliza's younger sister, gets on the phone and asks Sheri the exact same questions that Eliza had asked. Smart little girl!!

First session of Chemo is next week on the 15th. Happy Day-After Valentines Day to Sheri!!

# 1 on Sheri's To-Do List for this week: Enjoy 6 days off with absolutely ZERO doctors appointments!

Sheri SURVIVED...

...the week of TESTS!!

As you may recall from a couple of posts-ago, Sheri had a full-schedule of tests this past week. All of the tests were routine for getting started on the path-to-recovery. But(t)...pun intended...the bone-marrow test was the one that left the most lasting effects. I was laughing the other night when Sheri tried to stand up from a chair and then sit back down on my couch. Okay -- not laughing out loud, but it was almost like watching a fully-pregnant lady try to move from seat to seat. In fact, I thought for a second that she was Lori (Sheri's sister who is about to give birth any day now...)

The results of these tests will not be available until next Friday, and then will be used as a baseline to see how Sheri responds to the Chemotherapy. So, basically, they will retest after her treatments to assure that she is progressing toward the ridding of the nasty cancer!!

This Tuesday Sheri will have her port implanted. Let's remember, that although it does not sound fun to have anything IMPLANTED into your body, this port will make Chemotherapy a "one-poke" experience per session. Yes -- that's a good thing!

On the last wedding-dress fitting, I pulled out my pen (I refrained from using a Sharpie) and marked the neckline of Sheri's dress. So, her surgeon has agreed to work around the marked-boundaries necessary so that Sheri can still be the beautiful bride she has always dreamt she would be. And believe me -- everyone is going to find her stunning in the dress she has chosen. Seriously!!

The Chemo Class on Wednesday night was very INFORMATIVE and very OVERWHELMING! Sheri said her head was spinning with all of the information given. They went over ALL of the possible side-effects. And, all Sheri could think about was going to the store to stock-up on all of the necessary drugs to combat the side-effects mentioned. Ugh!

Sheri's sister Christy was up last weekend and she had a t-shirt made for Sheri. Since Christy's daughter, Eliza, has Leukemia, she thought it appropriate that they got a picture together! Thanks Christy, you would know that cancer really does suck!

My Overwhelming week!

Here I am. I didn’t want anyone to think I haven’t been looking and reading this blog because I have…constantly. The only way I can describe this last week is overwhelming. That’s the word that keeps coming to mind. However, it has been both good and bad.

Bad…obviously no one wants to hear they have cancer…and then 5 weeks before you get married?? Wow…who knew.

Good…who knew I had so many people that loved and cared about me. It has been amazing to me all the comments, emails, phone calls, prayers and service that have already been given to me on my behalf. That’s the good part of overwhelming.

Good…Of course Shane!! Wow, what would I do without him this week, he has been my strength and support through all of this. He lets me cry when I want to and then makes me laugh and takes my mind off of it all when I need it. Thanks sweetie, I love you and am so grateful you are in my life right now and forever!

Good…My family. I have a very close family and I think they have taken this news as hard as I have. I have a niece that is just finishing up her Leukemia treatments so we thought for sure 2008 was going to be a great year. It still is but just a little harder. They have been there for me and have given me great encouragement.

Good…Brigitte for setting up this blog and passing out information to everyone. It has become easier for me to talk about this whole ordeal but wasn’t in the beginning. But this blog has been such a blessing to get the updates out to all of you that care.

If I don’t respond to every email and phone call please understand. It’s not that I don’t want to hear from you, because I do but this week in particular has been nothing but doctors, and recovering from my surgery. I appreciate and have read every single post on this blog and emails and phone calls to me and my family. They pass along every message.

Lastly I just want to say that yes I am going to beat this. All the doctors have been very encouraging and that makes me stronger and more determined to do this and move on with life. I am grateful for the friends and family in my life as I will need you over the next several months. Keep posting and know that I love to hear from you.

Sheri

PS Yes the wedding is still on for February 23…YEAH!!!