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Posted by: Dan @ 11:49 pm
Updated Sunday, May 21 at noon.
And the word… fight.
Sandy and I have been enjoying the peace and quiet of the hotel. Trying to rest, recover, heal… Yesterday, we met with her neuro-oncologist at the Stanford Cancer Center, and saw her post-op MRI from Thursday. Monday we meet with her surgeon for a last evaluation before we get on the road driving home on Tuesday, May 23, and arriving home later in the week. She is slowly feeling stronger everyday. Her pain and other symptoms are being kept in check, more or less, with medicines. She has a very small loss of part of her peripheral vision on the left side, which may be permanent due to where the surgery was, or possibly a result of swelling in the brain (which is normal after surgery and she is on medication to reduce potential swelling). This small amount of vision loss is in the lower left quadrant of her vision. She is walking slowly and I have her hold my right arm when we walk around - especially in places like downtown Palo Alto today, where we bought a new cell phone, and a some walking shoes for Sandy. She’s a bit unsteady, but this afternoon she was able to walk around the gardens at the hotel by herself, and is improving all the time. It’s of course typical for the brain to go into shock from surgery, and we realize she’s experiencing some of those symptoms, but she isn’t experiencing any dizziness or balance problems.
With her strength and determination, we know she will be hiking Icicle Ridge in no time. And we can’t wait for that. She’s also very excited about the LiveStrong Bike Ride in late July (see link at left), and still plans on riding 10 miles. So don’t forget to donate to our team members who haven’t raised $500 yet toward the fight against cancer (to be in the ride, a minimum of $500 has to be raised by each person). Like her father says, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” So get training team, we need you. Let’s raise a huge amount of money. Use the photo of Sandy’s surgery site with it’s 22 staples if you have to - she’s proud of it.
On Monday we will post a final blog from Palo Alto. We encourage folks to spread the word to have all our friends and family read the blog on Monday. We will explain Sandy’s condition, prognosis and the next phase of her treatment in more detail. It is important that everyone understands that behind her glowing smile in those photos there is a fight for life going on… and we don’t want to waste energy repeating in person where she’s at and what’s to come. All of you have meant so much to us, and after we arrive home we will need your continued support. Please know that nothing you say (or haven’t said), nothing you ask (or haven’t asked), and nothing you do (or haven’t done) will offend us. We realize how difficult this journey is for all of you as well, but we hope that by continuing to share this it will help us all. We want your visits. And your emails and calls. And your prayers. If we’re not up to talking, we’ll let you know. This journey does not have a quick finish line. It has it’s ups and downs, just like the Tour de France. We believe that hope, faith, love, courage, and a dash of humor will keep us on this path. Please continue to join us - you mean everything to us. Live Strong.
And I’ll leave you tonight with a little story of hope… Yesterday morning, before the meeting with her doctor, Sandy was walking the gardens here at the hotel by herself for a few minutes - I was strongly resisting the urge to go out and make sure she was OK - when she came back to our room very happy and excited. “I need some pennies,” she said as she went through a cup full of coins. We grabbed all the pennies we had, and the Gnome, and we went out arm-in-arm back to one of the fountain areas on the other side of the creek. There was a group of about 12 pre-school and kindergarten kids - and their two teachers - playing around the circular fountain area. They had walked over from their school a couple blocks away, on their weekly trip to these beautiful gardens. Sandy, ever the teacher, was of course a magnet for these kids. They gathered around her as she placed the Gnome on the edge of the fountain and started explaining to the kids, now wide-eyed with curiosity, that it was good luck to rub the Gnome’s hat and throw a penny in the fountain as you wished for something. And lo and behold, Sandy pulled out the pennies from her pocket. She had each child introduce themselves to her as they received a penny. I was worried we didn’t have enough pennies to go around, but thanks to a bit of Gnome magic, she had just the exact number of pennies so every child got one. They all touched the Gnome and tossed their pennies in the fountain. We talked with the teachers awhile, watching all these cute kids play with that innocent energy that only young children have - running in circles around the fountain. Many of them stopped to talk to Sandy between their sprints. One boy stopped and said something rather profound to her, just out of the blue… “Once I wished for something for my birthday… and I didn’t get it. You know sometimes you just have to ask for what you want…”
Victoria, THANK YOU for the bag of lavender from your garden. It arrived at the perfect time. Sandy says the lavender is better than any of the multitude of drugs she is having to take - helping her relax and find some peace.
To see some photos of Sandy, the Gnome, her doctors, a letter from Lance to another cancer fighter, and Sandy’s warrior scar… CLICK HERE
Good Night,
Dan
May 21st, 2006 at 5:48 am Sandy, you know I’m with you babe. We’ve been with each other through 4 brain operations now, and we’ll stay with each other forever. You have my love, my support, and my understanding of what’s going on with you through each of your steps. We can make it through all this Sandy, I know we can! Love, Shirl
May 21st, 2006 at 7:25 am Sandy you are a fighter of all fighters.I truly Believe You are going to win this horrible fight.If Lance can do it so can you!!!!!Hey Lance rides a bike for a living.You work with a classroom full of kids.Now lets strap on those boxing gloves and get to the next round of this fight.We are all here for you.I am taking the advice of the littie kinder I asking GOD for help too.Have a great day love, Janet
May 21st, 2006 at 9:28 am Sandy, you are the strongest fighter I know and knowing that my brother is there helping you every step of the way brings me a lot of peace and positive thoughts…you two are the best team….and you WILL beat this. Please call me at work on Tuesday when you know where you want to stop for the night. We can find a nice place for you and then you won’t have to drive around looking for a place, ok? 1-800-764-4222 or 541-757-2535. If I happen to be out, just ask for Kelly. Love you guys!!
May 21st, 2006 at 10:07 am I forgot to mention….if you end up wanting to stay in Redding (or just want a break from driving) check out the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay. The designer of the bridge, world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, has said that, to him, the bridge resembles a bird in flight, and symbolizes the overcoming of adversity. More info at: http://www.visitredding.org/thingstosee.cfm It looks like a beautiful place! Love you!
May 21st, 2006 at 10:21 am Dear Sandy and Dan, we will pass along the word tomorrow, Monday, to listen to the blog that night. As one smiler to another, I know what’s behind that smile, it is courage. With Love and infinte blessings and prayers to our Lord to keep you safe and bring a path, Heather
May 21st, 2006 at 6:54 pm I’m thinking about you everyday, Sandy, and sending strong healing thoughts Southward. You are obviously a “trooper” among troopers and you and Dan are continuing inspirations! Love, Tina
May 21st, 2006 at 7:45 pm Hi Sandy and Dan. We’re back home in Portland after a weekend at the barn. The barn awaits your return for a special dinner and fun. We have caught up on the blog with the latest news. Sounds like fightin’ words to us. And if that is what the cancer cells want, then they have picked a fight with the wrong person, and her team called “Friends of Sandy” who are ready take on any challenge. Your attitude, strength, persistence, spirit, and soul are unparalleled and something that nothing, not even cancer, can overcome. Sorry, not this time, not you. Ain’t gonna happen. That said, we send our love, energy and prayers to you. So glad you will soon be on your way home. Stop by if you can. It would be great to hook up. Love, D2
May 21st, 2006 at 9:03 pm Well, I’ve definitely decided that your ability to amaze me is boundless, as is the scope and power of your love. As I stay tuned to your journey, which you so generously share with so many, I’m often at a loss for words to express some of what I’m feeling. So I turn to other writers who have moved me with their words. Following is a quote from Anna Quindlen. “… And what I learned from it is what, today, seems to be the hardest lesson of all. I learned to love the journey, not the destination. I learned that it is not a dress rehearsal, and that today is the only guarantee you get. I learned to look at all the good in the world and to try to give some of it back because I believed in it completely and utterly. And I tried to do that, in part, by telling others what I had learned. By telling them this: Consider the lilies of the field. Look at the fuzz on a baby’s ear. Read in the backyard with the sun on your face. Learn to be happy. And think of life as a terminal illness because if you do you will live it with joy and passion, as it ought to be lived.” When I read these words and reflect on the message, I think of you, and I believe in the communion of souls. Reaching out with love and friendship, pk
May 22nd, 2006 at 8:21 am Sandy and Dan, I keep trying to find inspirational words to send, but it is you who give those words to all of us. Thank you! We are praying for you both every day. The candle stays lit. We continue to spread the Livestrong Bike Ride information to family and friends. Love and prayers. Susie