Sandy Beardsley
Living with a Brain Tumor
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10/28/05
Filed under: General
Posted by: Dan @ 5:06 pm
Posted by: Dan @ 5:06 pm
3:30pm…
A big day. A beautiful day…. blue sky, the sun was warming up the late morning to at least 70, and the fresh breeze met Sandy and I as we walked out of the hospital hand in hand. As nice as her stay in the hospital was, with the great staff taking care of her, it was "pure heaven" for her to walk out of there. And to walk out into an almost summer-like day was icing on the cake. It is so good to see her out of a hospital bed, wearing normal clothes, and walking (slowly) out in the sun instead of down hospital hallways. It’s overwhelming how beautiful such simple everyday things can be when they have been taken away… then given back. Even to have her sitting in the car next to me was pure joy, since I had been making so many solo trips lately.She and I had a nice little transition back to "reality" when we left the hospital. We walked over to the Cancer Center (the wonderful, spacious and warm space I described before - more like a modern museum or art gallery) to get her multitude of drug prescriptions filled… we walked in to the sound of a great jazz guitarist… and a breast cancer awareness party in the huge lobby. They invited us over ("we’re not picky, everybody’s welcome"), where we had some delicious food, talked to a couple of women about lotions that may help Sandy’s skin during chemo treatments, admired some cool hats they were selling… and marveled at the surrealness of this re-entry into the world. After awhile we picked up her prescriptions and left for the hotel.
So here we are… Sandy, tired from all the activity and walking, napping peacefully. And I’m typing away, looking out into our little green woodland creek area, roses blooming near the patio… and life is good… and peaceful.
Before we left the hospital I helped Sandy carefully shampoo her hair, since she can’t get the incision area and staples wet for another few days. She wanted to look good for her debut. But until we got back to the hotel, she had not been able to actually see the incision and staples herself. So with a couple of mirrors, she got her first look…
"Oh my god… oh my… I’ve been walking around like this? People must be horrified."
I said, "Looks like a badge of honor to me."
"You’re right," she replied, "I guess I’ve got bigger things to worry about than my hair."
I kissed the shaved area of her head for good luck.
And it’s so good to be back at our home away from home…
October 28th, 2005 at 6:10 pm hi sandy i talked to u over the summer about my friend laura in sidney ny. laura is doing great!!!! she ended up going to duke university for a second opinion in august.they realized the chemo n radiation she had been doing for 4 mo. hadnt worked n her tumor was growing. very scary!!!! they put her on an experimental chemo called avastin and campstar and in one month her tumor has shrunk 50%!!!!!!!!!!! it continues to die off, she had mri today and now her tumor is coming off in pieces!!! yea!!! she has got her memory back and looks great!!!! i was so touched when i heard about your tumor being active again… i got on your website and saw your new chapter. soooooo glad your doing well and i checked dans daily updates every day!!!! wow between you n laura{my friend who has astrocytoma level 3} i feel like i could be a neurosurgion! ha ha.. good luck to you and i look forward to more updates on your prognoses!!please email me at tmsimonds@mkl.com. i would love to hear from you!!!! mary simonds
October 28th, 2005 at 8:34 pm Dan - we haven’t been in touch very much over the years. Saw you at Heathers’ retirement party and wondered how you were doing…anyways, I have had cancer affect my family as well, so have an appreciation for some of what you are going thru. Stay strong, and I am wishing and praying for Sandy’s return to good health. Take care…Kevin
October 28th, 2005 at 9:03 pm Hi Dan and Sandy, so glad you are back at the hotel together again. It’s hard to believe you can be out of the hospital so soon after surgery, though to you I’m sure it seems like so much longer than 4 days ago. We are thinking of you all the time and look forward to hearing your voice again soon. Sis,I don’t know where you get your strength from.Lance can’t hold a candle to you in my book.And speaking of angels…have you looked in the mirror lately Dano!Thanks for taking such good care of my sister,I’m proud to be your brother-in-law.Talk to soon. Aunt Sanny,love my pink cowgirl hat got at fair,I did pee pee on big potty today!went to party gramma sue’s as skeleton.ate candy,yummy on my tummy and did’t get sick! Mommy says Hi,I take Bella and Tipper for walk with gramma so they go poopy! Bye Bye I wuv you,paris
October 28th, 2005 at 10:01 pm Hello sandy and dan - Glad you’re enjoying the california sunshine- I agree that the Hospitals are great but hotels are much better. Cheaper too if you don’t order too much room service. Just in case the pharmacy doesn’t explain how important it is to eat something like a little piece of toast (something solid and plain) just before you take any prednisone, then some water and then follow it again with another something solid and plain. Sandwiching the pill will avoid that burning and back up belching that happens when the pill hits your stomach acid. It just taste awful - even ruins the taste of the other foods that you’re enjoying. It’s a powerful medicine and scary at times - but it has its place helping people get well. God Bless and take care Love Mary Pat
October 28th, 2005 at 11:47 pm Hello Dan and Sandy, I’m really appreciative of your writings Dan. Your descriptions are amazing and I feel as though I’m right there with you. I love you both. Remember what you said Sandy, “When you’re going through hell, keep going”. You are my hero. Best wishes for more angels and rainbows. Love, Megan
October 29th, 2005 at 7:11 pm Hey! - I really have to keep up on this “blog” daily. Dan - your comments are wonderful; Sandy - your progress is awesome; and the comments from your friends and family are fun to read. What a great support team you have! We’re keeping the candles burning for you and, before you know it, you’ll be HOME!…………Love & Prayers, Paige & Chip
October 29th, 2005 at 7:52 pm Dear Sandy and Dan’O, A quiet day for us and hopefully you. We’ve checked the site several times and notice you must be taking a much needed break today 10/29/05. That sounds like good news, perhaps you’re taking care of yourselves? So, just perusing through your blog site, I noticed the Orondo school kids recently filled in a lot of comments down in your first entry. It was really neat to read, so many kids! And it is wonderful to see how Sandy has touched all of those kids throughout all the grades at her school. You two are an amazing couple, God Bless that you’re in our lives. Lovingly, Heather & Pat
November 9th, 2005 at 5:32 pm Hi Sandy, You probably don’t remember me but I’m your brain tumor buddy from Stanford. I’m still at my son’s house in San Bruno. I have to undergo some Chemo to make sure that the tumor doesn’t come back. It turns out that it is a genetic tumor (almost everything I have seems to be genetic) and they want to do Chemo to make sure that it doesn’t return. How are you doing???? I’m feeling pretty good but cannot go anywhere until my checkup on 11/16. Hope things are going well for you. I pray for you every day. I’ll call you in a day or so. Peace and love, Mary