Picture to make you laugh!!

I have been given--wigs-hats-scarfs anything to cover my head. Notice the eyelashes are gone and eyebrows as well. By the way they have grown and are growing back.
After my first surgery in May, Sherry came to see me and took these pictures. Not looking to bad a couple days after having your breasts removed huh!! These just make me laugh!! They make Sherry die laughing, she couldn't stop. So - Please ENJOY! Oh- FYI Halloween is only a few months away... Let me know how I can help :)

The importance of Vitamin D

Apparently, (my new favorite word) I have been ornery, snappy and not a very nice person. I haven't really seen it. But those around me tell me it is pretty bad. I have been having my radiation done every day. We are 11 down, 22 left to go. On day 10 I had a bit of a breakdown. I have been extremely dizzy and like I said earlier not a nice person. I went to my radiation appointment and then to get my blood drawn.
Apparently- a "normal" person should have a minimum Vitamin D level of 32. But, of course I am not normal--nor will I ever be-- my level is coming in at a whopping 12. YES, you read it right 12!! Unbelievable. So I have got these great Vitamin D pills I now take once a week. They are only 50,000 mg. Can we say side-effects anyone. That is a shock to the system. It was a shock to my system. I was so dizzy I could hardly walk. Good thing I have my Jenni and Terry to take care of me right now. Being low in Vitamin D- causes ornery-ness, depressions, dizziness, crankiness, basically not being a nice person. So Jared and Terry are making joked about how they need to by more milk- They think they are sooo funny.
Some of my blood levels are low as well. My White Blood Count should come in at about 6 or so. My went from 4.8 to 2.7 in a week. (Stay away from sick people) I am anemic as well. (iron levels low) I was walking around thinking I was doing just fine. (Well I am fine in attitude only) but my body is telling me something different. Dr. Clark say that he doesn't know whats wrong with me because I don't complain. I am keeping a optimistic attitude and he can't tell when I am feeling bad. So yesterday, he sent me to get fluids and anti nausea medicine. I am feeling like a new woman. More blood will be taken and analyzed today. Crazy what blood levels can do--- Crazy what Vitamins can do. So here is the question??
GOT MILK??

Sister to Sister/Mother to daughter

What a great weekend. It all started on Friday with a Bacholorette party for Erica Merritt (my niece who is getting married in a couple of weeks. ) Sherry (my sister) called on her way to Salt Lake. She asked if Jenni and I could come and meet them at a restaurant in Sandy. This was about 4:00 and we were to meet them at 6:30. Sherry knew I couldn't go to Star Valley for her last shower. I was thrilled that I could be included. This was given by Andrew's family who I knew none of them.
Jenni and I drove to Sandy (okay Jenni drove I am still on driving restrictions because of surgery). Andrew has a very nice family. Erica has a lot of friends in Utah. It was fun to see her with her pink boa and fuzzy headband on her head. We just laughed and had a fun time. We then went to Andrew parents house for the rest of the party. Whoa..... If you need ideas for games.... talk to the Erica hee hee. I think she was even shocked. It was fun to laugh. I mean really laugh for a while.
I then told my sister she was coming to stay with me. She said she invited herself -but I don't think so. I was so glad to have her for the weekend. We talked and laughed and then we cried. We were having a great time.... Then Terry came to the top of the stairs and said "Gloria you need to rest!!! It's 1:00" I had no idea it was so late. So we all went to bed.
The next morning, we just hung out. I slept in and stayed in my PJ's most of the day. Sherry painted our back door frame outside, did laundry all day and made strawberry jam (YUMM)
We had such a great time. It took my mind off all the pain I have and stress that comes with it. Even though we had some "cancer" talks. It was good that she was with me for a couple of days.
On Father's day we invited Jenni and Jared and my father-in-law Haskell. We ate yummy salad, fruit and even had a BBQ steak.
Sherry then left and went back to SV. I was fun to have her. I am so glad for my sweet sister Sherry. Love you sis
Jenni took over for Sherry on Monday. I jumped right back in to treatments. The radiation feels like a sunburn (pretty bad one). Jenni is a sweetheart and takes me to my appointments and for drives. I am glad she is so close.

Treatment Update
The Doctors say I am doing well. They are pleased with the radiation thus far. Everything is lining up the way it should. The treatment looks positive.

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Look-- look I'm getting hair. It so happens to be grey!! Oh no!!

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Sporting a pink cap. Whoa Hoo. Looking good!!

Sunburn vs Radiation

So- They started the radiation treatments. They last just less than an hour--the technicians said it should take less time each time they do it. I think it is remarkable that a ray can go through your body and kill the cells that are plaguing the body. CRAZY!
When starting the radiation they made an entire road map or a treasure map on my chest. I would love to show you but I think that would not be wise. I'll try to describe it instead. Try to imagine purple marker marks making squares on the right side. Tattoo marks on all the outside of my chest. Blue marks on the left side of the chest. Don't forget the entire scare that goes completely across my chest wall, and Oh, yes, the neon pink "x" marks the spot on the clavicles (breast bone) on each side of my chest. The markers are done completely with "Sharpies" very colorful and very interesting to see.
I told my son-in-law, Brandon about the process. Being the funny man he is said, "Wow, mom that gives a whole new meaning to "TREASURE CHEST""...hee hee hee. I guess "X" marks the spot!!
The radiation doesn't last a real long time. The last phase they put a squishy thing on my chest called a BOLUS or Cold thing! The Bolus brings the rays to the surface. This is what stings a bit and makes you feel like you have a sunburn. This is what will kill the cancer on the surface of the skin. When the tech's were working on me, setting things up... they said don't worry we won't hit you. It may come close but we have never hit anyone yet. WELL, I am here to tell you they were WRONG. They didn't know they had to deal with "The Schwab" nose. The machine bumped into my nose. I'm saying...."Mel, hey Mel it just got my nose" She felt so bad. At the end of the session they gave me some shower gel, lotion and soap. How nice.
I have some gel and lotion for radiation patients the helps with the burning sensation. It is quite expensive... But, what do you do??? Go through the pain or pay and go through less pain. (depending on how you look at it of course)
After coming home. The burn--was hanging in there- like I said it feels like a sunburn. I just took off my top and rubbed the radiation lotion and gel all over it. Hope nobody just walks in... of course there really isn't anything to see be a Treasure map and chest.....hee hee

Let the Radiation BEGIN

Let me start by saying I have an incredible family-friends and ward members. I have and have had people praying, fasting, helping me clean my house, bring meals, and basically taking care of me. Janell, Jenni, Brickman and Teagan were at my house all week last week. I love having my kids and grand kids around me. They make me so happy. It makes me laugh when my granddaughter Teagan (2) wants to see my owhee. Then wants to kiss it better. So she tries to kiss my chest. It is the cutiest thing you have ever seen. Brickman takes my temperature to make sure I'm doing okay.
I have my sweet Mary from work bring a meal to my family. I have a fleet of women come to my home to vacuum, dust and do my bathrooms. I have visits from family, friends and neighbors. I have been so blessed!!

Today starts a 6 1/2 week process of radiation and more chemo. The doctors have asked me to come to Provo daily instead of American Fork. They are trying some new procedures with me. Hopefully this will accomplish two things. #1 Have the process and procedure work on me to put the cancer in remission. #2 Help those in the future with this type of breast cancer put their cancer in remission.

Bluntly-this cancer attacks the lymphatic system throughout the breast. It is very aggressive and mean!! Because it is stage IV that means it has gone to other organs. aka (my liver). I have some HUGE challenges coming up the next several weeks. I will have raw sores on my chest wall. The doctors want the radiation to burn the surface of the skin to KILL the cancer cells in the skin. The chemo pills will enhance the radiation process. The chemo pills do have side effects. (sores on the palms of the hands and the bottom of the feet, fatigue, mouth sores). This will be an interesting process. I am very nervous, but incredibly hopeful. I know I am the hands of the LORD!!

People keep asking what they can do to help me. "Let me know if there is anything I can do" "Call me if I can help in anyway" Thank you so much for the offers. I am being well taken care of. So myself (along with my daughters) say-------- go to the temple. ..... go do a kind deed for some one else....pay it forward....... take in someones garbage cans........allow someone to merge --when driving......Smile at someone!! In other words be a better YOU!! It is very contagious and you will be helping me!! Thanks all!!

What happened to me?

I have no uterus!
I have no ovaries!
I have no boobs!
What happened to me? :)

Watch out Cancer! You're next!

Ok, the latest:
on Monday I had a hysterectomy. They couldn't use the port for the IV or the Anesthetic, so they had to find a vein in my foot. Now that was a joy...let me tell you! Being VERY ticklish was not helpful. They called in a doctor to put the IV in my foot. He was very nice and very laid back. (Polynesian dude). He couldn't find a good vein, so he went and got a really cool machine called: The Vein Viewer. COOL! It shinned a green light on my foot and anywhere that there was a vein it stayed black. CRAZY! So he found a vein and the nurse held down my leg so I didn't kick him when he touched my foot. (TICKLISH) Then he poked it. OUCH! it wouldn't thread. He tried and tried. Meanwhile Jenni is getting all pale watching him and has to look away so she doesn't pass out. He decides to try the other foot. I looked up and there are 8 medical personal all around me. WOW! How many medical personal does it take to put in and IV? apparently 8. :) He got it to work this time. It was on the inside of my foot/ankle. So after all that... they realized they forgot to have me pee in a cup to make sure I'm not pregnant. TRUST ME PEOPLE I'M NOT PREGNANT! So with this needle in my foot, I have to walk to the bathroom walking on the outside of my foot so I don't mess up the needle. I was right! I'm not Pregnant! and that's a good thing! (I understand they have to test everyone)

Surgery went well. I wasn't as funny coming out this time. In fact, I was kind of crabby. The surgery took about 3 hours. There was a lot of scar tissue because of my intopic surgery back in the 80's so they couldn't do it laperscopically. So they went to plan B and I had a vaginal hysterectomy. Which is good. No incisions.

I was very nauseous last night, but feeling much better today. Hopefully I'll be able to go home soon. I'm waiting for the doc to come check on me and I have to go to the bathroom before they'll let me leave. So Jenni and I are now watching Loony Toons and Janell's on her way. And Terry's at work.... but he was here at 6am this morning checking on me. :)

Talented Daughter--Jenni- Silverstrand Photography

I need to boast just a little. I have an extremely talented daughter who does photography. She has been staying/taking care of me the past few weeks. I have watched her in action and I am incredibly impressed with her work. She started her business a few years ago. She is getting better with her pictures each and every day. I just saying.... If you know of someone who needs a photographer..... she the one to have. Here are some of her pictures.
She is on my blog just go to Silverstand Photography BLOG and look at some of her most resent pictures or you can go to her website at www.silverstrandphotography.com.

Rest and Relaxation--- With a little exerise thrown in....

This week has been filled with rest and relaxation. I find myself not sleeping at night. All kinds of things are going through my head. Because of the lack of sleep, I find myself sleeping throughout the day. I am going for walks (at least two a day).

I went to get measured for the radiation today. I have to have my arms above my head for at least two hours....... I can't get me arms above my head yet. I have to do more exercises to make my incision more pliable. So they are going to do the measuring next Wednesday... and I will start radiation the next Monday. This will also give me a few more days after my surgery to heal.

I am so excited to see my mom and dad. I haven't seen them for about three months. They are coming on mom's birthday, which is this Saturday the 4th of June. They are not staying long ---just for a visit and possibly lunch.

I am feeling really good. I am a little tired but, all in all I feel really good. My incisions are healing really well. I will be ready for all the excitement next week.

Thank you all for the prayer, for the flowers, cards, dinners, lawn care etc. etc. etc. I can never repay the love you have show me the past 6 months. It was cute when the flower shop dude came to my house and said, "More flowers for Gloria Richardson" we just laughed! My sister, Sherry has sent me cards every day for the past three weeks. It is fun to go get mail and know you have more than just bills. Thanks sis!!