results

the tumors have remained the same size, would have loved some shrinking but happy with them maintaining for now. adding a second drug back in now and then come back in a month for check-in. scans again in two months assuming no problems. keep sending the love❤️

scan day, yep - it's that time again

first off, thanks again to everyone who contributed to kelli's fundraiser for the melanoma research foundation in john's name. the total was over $850, you all rock (i already knew that). the winner of the gorgeous cards from my friend jill was my mother-in-law jo who was super excited to get them! thank you all, mission accomplished and you made a difference for kelli and she was so excited to see that total climb.

friday is scan day for me.

i go in at 3:30 and have a ct scan first.

then bloodwork.

then a 45 minute mri. i can hear the jackhammer noise now.

we get the results on monday morning at 8:30.

so start sending all the mojo, prayers and love our way.

gloves up.

anywhere i fight, you fight.

here we go. xo

thank you

such a huge thank you to all who contributed to the text for fundraiser for kelli's birthday.

you all rock.

we did it! we got her to her $500 mark and beyond to $780!

thank you, thank you, thank you - i knew that we could do it, and of course, we did. 

i want to make sure that i have all the names for the card giveaway and for the total for kelli.

so if you donated and didn't let me know, please let me know on monday so that i can do the card giveaway and give kelli the final number if it changes.

and please send her your love for monday as she moves through the day that would have marked their one year wedding anniversary. i can only imagine she can use every good thing we can send her way to find her way through the day.

thank you. xoxo

kelli's birthday + fundraiser for her birthday (please donate!) + card giveaway

this is kelli and john.

kelli is the awesome person that we are currently doing the happy mail campaign for as she grieves the loss of john to melanoma.

today, saturday, is her birthday. and this coming monday would have marked their one year wedding anniversary.

kelli has a request for her birthday.

to raise $500 for the melanoma research foundation.

she is currently $345 of the way there.

let's get her to $500 and make her birthday request come true.

it will raise funds for an organization that is working to find a cure for melanoma. clearly, it is a birthday request i can support.

i will be making my donation now.

if you donate, please let me know so that i can let kelli know how her total is growing.

to donate, you can go here.

also, for an additional incentive, my super talented friend jill gifted me some of her handmade cards that she paints and they are gorgeous. she told me to give them away as a giveaway on the blog, and i know that she would think that this is probably the best reason of all. if you donate for kelli's birthday, i will enter you into a giveaway to win the cards from jill.

i think that a donation for a woman who loved her husband more than we all could ever know deserves some love in return. am i right? yes, i think so.

so, let's make her birthday goal happen.

are you with me? any amount will help.

let's do this, i know we can. 

thank you. xoxo

super important update:

+++ my friend mary in wisconsin had her pet scan today and there is no melanoma anywhere else in her body. yes! she will start treatment soon so keep your fingers crossed that her side effects are minimal. she will have a port installed soon and then she will start kicking melanoma's ass. of course, i will be providing updates as she moves through the upcoming months.

+++ oh, and one other thing, f*&k melanoma.

check in day at the oncologist + good thoughts for mary

today was check-in day for me at the oncologist.

bloodwork first.

appointment second.

my bloodwork looked good but my potassium continues to be low. even after we doubled it after the last visit. that might be adding to my fatigue. so now we are doubling it again to see if that helps.

next up is scans next friday.

then comes the results on the following monday the 15th. so start sending the good vibes my way please.

the side effects continue.

my joints hurt pretty bad. some days i need the cane to walk. some days i don't. just taking it day by day. but i am pretty much hurting 24/7 it is just a question of which joints hurt the worst on any particular day.

my hair continues to fall out in clumps. my scalp is so sore even to the touch. i don't have any bald spots quite yet but it will just be a matter of time. some days i wear hats to work just because i get mentally tired of seeing my hair fall out onto my clothes even when i am not touching it.

fatigue continues to be rough. so tired all the time. there are times when i just can't keep my eyes open any longer (not when i am driving - don't worry, but at home). i pretty much want to nap all the time but life doesn't work that way unfortunately.

i also want to ask that you start kicking up the vibes for my melahomey mary in wisconsin as she goes in for her pet scan on october 5th and we need to ensure that melanoma does not show up anywhere. then she will have discussions on treatment and how to keep the black beast from coming back. so get those vibes, prayers and mojo going for her please.

sorry that i have been so quiet here. 

i never mean to and then the days roll by.

hope that you all had a good monday and your weeks are off to a good start. xo