Home . . . sweeter when secure

I left Anchorage for home at 1:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. I must say the trip home was much more pleasant than the trip there. I am sure a combination of things contributed to that. I wasn't fighting such large crowds. I had a leisurely lay over in Seattle (had breakfast and got a 30 min massage while waiting for my next flight). The sights and smells were more pleasant. Most of all, my mind was at peace with the knowledge that Sasha is in good hands both with her doctors and with her friends.

When I got home today everything was in order and all was well. I had asked my friend, Carolyn to take care of my animals while I was gone. She and her family lovingly did so. But they went one step further. When I got home my grass was green and groomed, my kitchen had been cleaned and the laundry I had done prior to leaving had been folded. My house plants were no worse for the wear. Both dogs, all 8 cats, the chickens and livestock are happy and well cared for. The only thing I had to do when I got home was . . . well, NOTHING :) I reunited with my dogs - who, by the way, haven't left my side since I got home. I Cuddled with cats, goats and the horse. Then I sat on the back porch enjoying the soft melodic sound of the wind chime and listening to the chickens cluck as they scratched about the yard. Then I took a nice long nap.

I woke this evening when Sasha called. She shared with me the results from today's doctor appointment. It was really good news! Of the 11 nodes that were surgically removed only the first 3 were cancerous. It looks like they were able to remove all the cancer cells that were on the move as well as all the cancer cells peppered throughout her breast just waiting to spread out. Her mastectomy was the first major step to beating her cancer and we now know with a certainty that it was the right step to take. Other results are still pending but so far so good :)

Dillon and Cerra will be coming to see me this weekend. I am hoping that Nolan can come up too but he may not be able to get the time off work. Then I am going to take a short respite, do some things at home I have been putting off and take care of some personal stuff. Once I've got that handled I'll happily go back to work :)

I will rest easy tonight, my dogs at the bedside and the sound of silence around me, secure in the knowledge and ever so grateful that when we are faced will a challenge a way is made for us to overcome it. I will dream sweetly of all those who have been brought into my life at this time - family and friends new and old - who have blessed my life with acts of love and the gift of hope. I pray we can all find those precious moments of joy and peace of mind to help us carry on in good times and bad. TTFN:)

Joy in Sharing - a two way street

Sasha told me the other day that if someone wanted to get her something they could get her a pretty scarf. She is going to collect scarfs for when she starts chemotherapy and looses her hair. But before she starts chemotherapy she is going to donate her beautiful, thick, long hair to Locks of Love. It is just second nature for her. She quietly goes about the business of living without giving alot of thought to how the simplest things she might do can have a great impact on someone. But today, the notion of hair donation took on a whole new perspective.

A young girl Sasha knows has been growing her hair purposely to donate it to Locks of Love. When she found out that Sasha has cancer she asked if she could give her hair to Sasha! We were all very touched by this sweet child's heart felt gift of love. Even though Sasha won't be getting her little friend's hair, knowing how it feels to have the gift offered was good for all of us. May we never forget how our actions and our contributions impact those around us.

I would like to thank my brothers for their endless support and unconditional love ... Mark who spends countless hours as my sounding board, Alan who extends his love and helping hand without reservation, and Eric who helped me get to Alaska to be by my daughter's side.

I am going back to Idaho tomorrow. I am so grateful for all of you who care for my sweet daughter. What a comfort it is for a mother to know that her daughter has a good circle of friends and a great support system in place. God bless you all for your kindness, your positive energy and your prayers as day by day Sasha comes one step closer to winning her battle with cancer.

Leaving the Hospital

Sasha is getting ready to leave the hospital today, Wednesday, May 24. Her doctor came in and said she was healing nicely. She will go to Mike's home here in Anchorage so she can continue follow up with her doctor. She will be getting CT scans and bone scans of her chest and abdomen this week as an outpatient. She will meet again with her doctor next Tuesday to go over the findings of the scans and the pathology reports from the tumors removed. It seems like a long wait but time flys ... I will keep you posted. Also be sure to check sashaswindow.com for updates :)

Introductions In Order

Thank you Cerra for getting pictures of the newest addition to our family! Cerra has posted a couple of pictures of Anthony on her and Dillon's site and promises more. Can't wait AND lets see some of the rest of the fam too :) I bet the girls and Christopher are just beside themselves. Welcome to the family Anthony :)

Contact Info

A couple of corrections and additions since yesterday. Sasha is in room 401 (not 407) at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage. It is a nice, private room which has a peaceful atmosphere and is conducive to healing. She will be staying longer than first anticipated, (2 or 3 days instead of 1 day), because her surgery was more complex than anticipated.

Sasha came out of recovery with flying colors. Once she came to her room, at 5:00 p.m. she had started waking up but was still groggy. By 9:00 p.m. she woke up and had her first meal of clear liquids. She tolerated it very well and only experienced light nausea which soon resolved. Sasha went back to sleep and about 11:30 p.m. she woke and was feeling quite clear headed. I gave her a turkey sandwich, some chocolate pudding, a fresh strawberry fruit bar and some cottage cheese and pears. She ate most of that and tolerated it very well. The we talked from sunset until sun rise! Of course that was only about 3 hours :) Remember, this is Alaska and the sun sets very late and comes up very early this time of year :)

Sasha is weak and doesn't stay up very long at a time. When she is up she is able to walk around on her own and do a lot for herself. Her surgeon visited her today and encouraged her to take advantage of her hospital stay which she readily agreed to. She also got a visit this morning from the physical therapist in charge of women's' health. The physical therapist already has her beginning some very simple exercises which will build and become more strenuous as she gets further into recovery from surgery. Neat stuff! I have to say, Sasha is still herself. Her sweet, courageous spirit still shines through her sparkling eyes even when those eyes are sad. Her love for her family and friends and her joy of life still glows in her face and in her smile even when her face is stained with tears. She truly feels your love and concern and those of you who really know her know that, if she could right now, she would be calling you and telling you so. I hope, in her stead, that I can convey this message for her.

If anyone is interested in sending messages to Sasha you can comment through this post, use the contact me link from sashaswindow.com or the contact me link from this site.

If anyone wants to send flowers, there is a shop here in Anchorage that is an FTD florist.
Bagoys Florist & Home
907-278-1922
http://www.bagoys.com

Thank you again for your hope and prayers :)

The First Hurdle

This morning Sasha, Mike and I got up at about 7 a.m. and went to the radiologist. Sasha had to get some updated films. From there we went to Alaska Native Medical Center. It was there that Sasha went to surgery. Her pre-op work started at 9:30 a.m. Her surgery started at 10:15 a.m. and continued through 3:15 p.m., a full 5 hours. Following surgery the surgeon came out and spoke with Mike and me. Sasha had done well with surgery and was now in recovery. The surgeon did tell us that the cancer had reached her lymph nodes and he had removed as many as he could reach. He said he would know more when he got the biopsy results back - about what kind of cancer and what chemotherapy to use to treat it - but that she most likely was looking at radiation in addition to the chemotherapy.

It is likely to be a long, hard row to hoe but the first hurdle had been past. Sasha continues to face this head on. I haven't spoken to her yet because she is still in recovery. I will keep you posted on her progress until she is able to do that herself.

She is in room 407 (correction, 401) at Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage. Love and thanks to all.

Time Races On

Every year Cerra runs for a cause. The past few years it has been the Women's Health Celebration in Boise. This year, on May 13, Cerra ran Race for the Cure in Salt Lake City. Thank you Cerra for your kind heart, loving spirit and positive outlook! Thank you sponsors for your energy and support.

Oddly enough, there was another little soul running his own race that day! On May 13, 2006, Carol and Brad's baby boy was born somewhere around 10am. Anthony came racing into this world at the same time Cerra was running her race :) I am told mother and son are doing fine. Welcome little man!

The World Doesn't Stop...but I wish it would!

By now everyone has been made aware that Sasha has breast cancer. She posted a nice letter on her blog telling us what she knows so far about her diagnosis and what she can expect.

When I first heard the news I wished the world could stop and let me catch up on all the things I have wanted to share with my daughter. I wanted to curl up in a ball and just hope the whole thing would go away. I forced myself to call and give the news to our family. I am so glad I did. I have once again been uplifted and encouraged by my dear children, my brothers and sisters-in law, and my nieces and nephews who have talked with me and who have sent emails. And then there is Sasha. I have once again been strengthened by Sasha's determination and courage. She is facing this head on.

Sasha is in Nome right now. She goes back to Anchorage on May 18th. I will join her there on May 20th. Her surgery is scheduled in the morning on May 22. I will stay with her in Anchorage until May 31st when I will fly back to Boise. From that point there are tentative plans for her to come to Weiser for a couple of weeks but nothing definite has been decided.

I have to say I am so grateful for the love of Christ and I know he provides us with ways to cope and overcome the trials and obstacles we face in this life. I am also so grateful for family and good friends who without, this road we are on would be less bearable. My love to all. I will keep you posted. Kathleen