Sandy Beardsley
Living with a Brain Tumor
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10/31/05
Day Twelve
Filed under: General
Posted by: Dan @ 10:31 am

Monday, 7:30am…

by Sandy
Two weeks ago I did not even know what the word blog meant, now I am blogging! I am not taking over my husband’s job and my brain would not allow it even if it was running at full capacity (not sure it ever was). Dan has done a beautiful job of descriptive writing of this experience. Since I had a web journal the first time around with cancer, I feel like I’ve been there, done that… and there’s some wonderful symmetry to having Dan share his words because it shows how this journey is not mine alone, but loved ones are right there with you.
Happy Halloween! Especially to all the Orondo School students. Be kind to your teachers today and don’t eat all your candy at once.
I can’t tell you how much it has meant to Dan and I to hear from everyone - family, friends, coworkers and neighbors on Wilson Street with their great descriptions which help me visualize home and walking our dogs. And thanks for the candle lightings. And thanks to Dan’s Forest Service family, who is now my family as well. And thanks to our housesitter Amy. And I would be remiss if I didn’t say thank you to all my doctors, nurses, med students and staff for all their great care so far. Hug a medical professional today - they deserve it
Thank you to all the Orondo staff for all your kind notes, emails and cards (Pam, thanks for the angel medallion). Carol, your book Hope Happens couldn’t have arrived at a better time. I’ve been poked like a pin cushion, received some bad news in front of a whole roomful of medical people and couldn’t sleep. Some of the words from that book and kind words from a male nurse helped (students, a male hispanic nurse - he was great). Quote from the book: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are but small matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Whether you’ve contacted us or not, we know you’re out there and the prayers are helping. Getting through surgery was my first goal. Now I am working toward getting all the information and treatment I can. Wednesday I meet with my surgeon, and will have the staples removed (I’m regretting I didn’t bring my best staple remover from school). Yesterday I spent way too much time worrying about my hair (pay attention middle school girls). Finally ended up with a purple bandana on my head because I didn’t want people to think I had dressed up early for Halloween. I look great coming at you, but when I turn around is the problem. But hair grows back, and if people judge you by your looks, you don’t need them as a friend.
The schedule for the rest of the week after Wednesday is dependent on whether my oncologist has jury duty… life goes on I guess. So we’ll meet with him on Wednesday or Friday depending. So the earliest we’ll be home is Friday the 4th or on the weekend. When we meet with the oncologist, the plan is to go over the chemo treatments. When I get home, I’ll meet with local doctors to keep them in the loop on my treatments.
My brain continues to compliment itself, but is having some difficulty typing (Dan is typing as I dictate) and reading. I can read words and comprehend the meaning, but after a couple of minutes it feels like my brain is lifting weights. But I should cut myself some slack, its only been a week since brain surgery. And I’m currently on about six different medicines and walking pretty slow. So my next goal is to rest, gain energy and get stronger. I’m especially proud that my LiveStrong wristband made it through surgery.
Thanks again for all the love that you’ve sent to Dan and I. It’s times like this that you realize how connected we are, and how important that connection is to truly living. As my friend Thelma says… Here’s a HUG.
Love, Sandy (Ms. Beardsley)

8:30 pm…

Sandy and I decided it was high time we got out of Dodge (aka Palo Alto), so today we jumped in our red Dodge Neon rental car (getting out of Dodge in a Dodge, hmmm) and drove an unbelievably narrow, twisting, climbing, curvy, long backroad (I’d like to come back and bike it someday) over to the coast to see if we could find a little ocean therapy. We found it. After lunch outside at a pub with a view of Half Moon Bay, in perfect 75-degrees and blue skies, we drove north a short distance and found a beautiful place… a marine sanctuary park with beaches, tidepools in a huge rocky area, seals and an amazing number of sea birds. We walked a little ways and sat with our backs against a warm rock, gazing out at the ocean, soothed by the sound of the waves. It was so nice.
After awhile the bright sun and water reflection started to hurt Sandy’s eyes - she has had some vision problems and sensitivity since the surgery, so we headed back to Palo Alto (and found the quick highway / freeway to get to this part of the coast). When we got into town, Sandy wanted to look for a head scarf to hide her surgery incision and shaved head on those days when she wasn’t feeling like wearing her badge of honor for all to see. After discouraging trips through several stores at a mall, finding only high-priced and ugly scarves, Sandy started thinking outside the box.
"Pottery Barn" she said.
"Huh? I thought they just had furniture and dishes." I replied.
And large cloth napkins in cool earthy colors. They were perfect, just what she was looking for. Though the clerk was a bit perplexed at this woman putting napkins on her head. She got five "scarves" for the price of one at the other stores. Just don’t tell anyone where she got them.
After all that activity, Sandy’s pain meds were wearing off and she wasn’t feeling too good by the time we got back to the hotel. But a package of letters and drawings of colorful rainbows from her school’s 2nd-graders was waiting for her at the hotel desk, and those cheered her up tremendously. Thanks 2nd-graders!
Good night,
Dan

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