Sisters

Save The Date

The Susan G. Komen Race For A Cure is Sunday September 26th and we will be getting a group together to walk. Please join our team: "Bouncing Betty's Brigade" More details (including team t-shirts) to follow, but please let us know if you are interested in participating.



The Bouncing Betty team name was derived from one of Mom's favorite episodes of M*A*S*H.

You can register as an individual for the race at:
http://www.komenmilwaukee.org/




Jim, thanks for the A.V. help

"I Can Make That"

Photos of Mom trying on hats and getting ideas for making her own.

Tax Day

As expected the Taxol treatment from Wednesday is taking its toll on Mom this weekend. As anxious as she is to get out of the house she simply does not have the energy for it. Mom isn't one for sitting around so not being able to do the things she normally does is sometimes the hardest part of this treatment, at least mentally. Hopefully that will change in the coming days and she will get back to her normal routine or as mom would say, 'go out bumming'.

Some good news; on Tuesday her doctor gave her a routine breast exam and the lumps in her breast and lymph nodes are noticeably smaller, proving that the treatment is working. Another indicator that the chemo is working is her recent blood work results. Her cancer markers are down from 86.8 (July results) to 51.4 (August results).

Cancer markers, or 'tumor markers', can be found in the body when cancer is present. They are most often found in the blood or urine, but they can also be found in tumors and other tissue. They can be products of the cancer cells themselves, or made by the body in response to cancer. The fact that the level is going down is a good sign that the cancer is responding to treatment. A tumor marker that stayed at the same level as prior to chemotherapy would suggest that the therapy had no effect at all on the cancer.

Cancer markers are by no means fool proof but they are useful in determining the prognosis for the patient, to check how a patient is responding to treatment and to check to see if cancer has returned after remission. Mom's cancer marker is one number that we want to continue to see go down.

Christmas in July

Anyone who knows Mom also knows she loves Broadway musicals. Over the years she's been known to hop a plane to New York and spend the weekend attending plays. On Saturday July 31st the musical came to her. Mom cashed in her Christmas present from Caroline and attended the musical Wicked in Milwaukee. It was a great afternoon of friends, food and fun.

Special Delivery!

Thanks to the Kachkis family for the heart (and head) warming care package. Looking forward to your visit this summer!



The doll Mom is holding was made by Lilly in her summer sewing class. It's a BIRL, not a boy and not a girl, a BIRL.

The necklace that the BIRL is wearing was made by Michelle and Nico using the beads Kris picked up on his last trip to South Africa.

The 'fro' was generously borrowed to Mom from Kris's personal Halloween stash. It gets my vote for her new look :)

THANK YOU!

Herceptin Treatment July 28th

Many people who undergo chemotherapy become very sensitive to the cold. The hospital staff is quick to supply warm blankets, but this week Mom brought her own. The kind folks at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church gave this afghan to Mom with the following message:

"This afghan was knitted for you in hopes that it will bring you comfort and warmth. The color pink was chosen for friendship and its soothing color. White was added for peace in your heart and in the world."

Prayer for you.
Rita, Our Lady of Lourdes

THANK YOU!