5.30.11

AYNSLEY:

Last night was wonderful. Mom and I went to sleep around 9:15, woke up at 10:30 to use the bathroom, then slept through until 6:45am. Mom then went back to sleep until about 8:30. Needless to say, we both slept well, then had the entire morning to ourselves. We had lots of visitors again today, but no one came until after noon. So, I had Mom to myself for breakfast (she feeds herself an entire bowl of Cheerios and bananas), then we did about an hour of yoga stretches. Mom has lost a lot of flexibility, but is determined not to lose any more. We did a lot of hip opening, twists, hamstring lengthening, heart opening, throat lengthening and shoulder relaxation. Then Mom flipped over onto her hands and knees and did some cat/cows and child's pose.

We had lots of time for girl talk before lunch-we split Mom's hamburger and baked beans.

Mom spent most of the afternoon outside on the front lawn. We had tons of fun guests, including a dear one of mine and her two adorable boys. The boys ran and played; the sound of kids having fun is is such a healing sound and we all benefited from just being around that very different energy. Another childhood friend of Mom's who's been with us all weekend added a lot of fun stories about the shenanigans that they used to get into: jumping off her two story house with umbrellas playing "Mary Poppins," climbing trees to the highest bough and then crawling out to the very end of the branch and swinging in the trees, sliding down the stairs in cardboard boxes. Mom has clearly always been one brave broad.

I apologize, but there probably won't be a post tomorrow. Gary and I are flying back home and won't arrive until late at night and we both have to work on Wednesday. We'll be back with the Wednesday update, including Mom's radiation appointment. She begins treatment on Thursday, but is going on Wednesday for preliminary work.

5.29.11

AYNSLEY:

We were completely inundated with visitors today, it was glorious. And overall, Mom had a great day. When Gary and I arrived this morning, she and Dad were listening to NPR, laughing and having a great morning. We chatted a bit, I helped Mom with some hamstring and ankle stretching and then Mom decided she wanted to go for a walk. So, we got the walker out and walked at a brisk pace up and down the hallways. Almost as soon as we got back, though, she got super nauseous and needed a bit of a rest. It passed within the hour and she went back to entertaining all of her guests.

There were a couple of napping opportunities during the day, between visitors, that Mom took advantage of. Tonight is girl's slumber party, and we'll be hitting the hay by 9:30pm (I'm still on EST). Fingers crossed that tomorrow is nice enough to play outside a bit.

5.28.11

ROSS:
Well Aynsley and Gary made their standby flight, and on memorial day weekend! We are so happy to see them! Mom had a pretty strong day yesterday. We got to sit in the sun for a while, she ate well and took a long nap in the middle of the day. Another dear friend from childhood has come in to say hello, and everyone is having a great time together.

Just so you all know, there are now three teams for the Seattle Race for the Cure. All three teams are walking and raising money for the millions of women and family members fighting breast cancer. If you live far away or you cannot join us for the walk on June 5th, please consider donating to one of our teams in honor of my mom. Any amount, small or large, makes a huge difference for all those impacted by this disease. I can tell you, if it were not for the advancements in breast cancer treatment, understanding and technology made possible by events like this, my mom would not be alive today. Help us and the millions of others fighting breast cancer continue the fight! If you're able, please consider donating to one of the following teams by clicking the team name below:

Team Flynne-a team started by my mom's Random Acts of Kindness group.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Wool-a team started by the makers of mom's healing quilt.

Flynny-Flynne-Flynne-a team started by "the kids"

Thank you so much for all your love and support!

5.27.11

AYNSLEY:
Today Mom and Dad met with the radiation oncologist to discuss possible treatment for the cancer metastasis/rash. Mom had a CT scan of the area, and after examining it, the doctor thought that radiation could really help. It will most likely stop it from spreading and may even make it go away, or reduce it. The course of treatment is 5 days a week for three weeks; she'll start radiation on Thursday, but go in on Wednesday to get the positioning set up. Radiation is all vectors, coordinates and math. Fascinating.

We all adore this radiation oncology team. It's the same team that did the initial radiation on Mom's spine and skull and they are such compassionate, kind and brilliant people. Of course I wish we didn't have to work with any doctors again, but if she needs treatment, I'm so glad it's what they offer.

The best thing about the treatment is that Dad is driving there: no ambulance. Mom just wheels out to the car and sits in the front seat. I find this so cute and a measure of how much stronger she's gotten. It's such a slice of normal life, driving together, and it's something they haven't been able to do in so long.

Gary and I are flying standby on a full flight tomorrow morning and I am so hopeful that we get on that plane. Gary hasn't been back since our wedding and it's always so nice for all of the Kirshenbaums to have him there. (Not that I'd go without him if there's only one spot, I just hope we both get on the early flight). So, even though I'm well aware that I've pushed my luck and had more wishes granted in the past 5 months than I deserve, I'm hoping for another one.

5.26.11

AYNSLEY:
I feel, at times, that my words are inadequate. Or repetitive, dull and boring. And it dawns on me that so many have written things that speak to my heart and can convey, much more eloquently, what I feel.

So, here's Emily Dickinson. I so apologize that I haven't thought to post her (and so many others') words until now.
Hope is the Thing with Feathers

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

5.25.11

AYNSLEY:
Mom sounded so good on the phone tonight. She was eating dinner and entertaining a small crowd of family visitors. I didn't get much of a report, but I took that as a good sign: she was having too good a time to relate the mundane details of the day.

She has an appointment with the radiation oncologist on Friday morning. We don't really know the details of the skin metastasis; if it will grow, if it means other metastases may happen faster, if radiation will stop the spread or get rid of it completely...we're hopeful that the radiation oncologist will be able to answer all of those questions and help us understand if Mom is a good candidate for more radiation. In the meantime, Mom continues to push herself to eat and exercise and takes delight in all her visitors.

5.24.11

AYNSLEY:
This morning did not begin well. Mom threw up her pills, couldn't eat breakfast and could barely get lunch down. But by the afternoon, she was feeling much less nauseous and her stomach wasn't so gassy. So she pushed herself to go for a long walk and ride the bike for 12 minutes. When I asked her if she exercised because she was feeling better or if she had to push herself, she admitted that she really had to push. "But I knew I needed to walk today, and once I started, I kept going, and then rode the bike."

For any of you out there who struggle with motivation to go to the gym, personal trainers will tell you to commit to 10 minutes. Even if you really don't feel like exercising, promise yourself that you will do whatever it is you need to do for 10 minutes. If, after 10 minutes, you are miserable and want to quit, fine. Go home knowing you did 10 minutes more than you would have. The trick is that 99% of the time, once you're there and in the thick of it, you're not going to quit after 10 minutes. You're going to finish your work out. Mom proved this today. She just needed to get herself out of bed and walking, and then she was ready to go. She walked, rode the bike for a long time (and, I should mention, the therapists keep increasing the resistance level on the bikes) and then did a bunch of floor exercises.

Also, today we found out that The Sisterhood of the Traveling Wool is in the top 10 Fund Raising teams in Seattle's Race for the Cure. You are all so amazing! We are all overwhelmed everyday with gratitude