Number 6 done!

Hi!

Chemo number six went well.  In fact right after I got home I went on a 3 mile walk with Linda and our dogs.  It's the best I've felt right after chemo.

After I had my blood drawn I met with Ideen who whisped me away into a quiet dark room to perform an EKG on me.  I lay there for about 15 minutes, while I was being monitored.  It was very relaxing.  I had my clinging cross with me and Ideen saw it and told me she has one also.  That was a comfort to know.

I then turned my lovely $2000 study watch back in and off I went to fill out a 20 page questionnaire for the Yoga study.  I still don't know which group I'm in -- I should know by Monday -- so please continue to pray for either of the 2 Yoga groups.  I told Kayla and Ideen about y'all praying and they felt the pressure being on.  I let them know about how I had y'all pray that I get the RAD001 -- the study drug.  See my Army we have been specific with our requests.  We have seen so many prayers answered already.

I went upstairs to the eighth floor to check in for my treatment.  Just a little after I got up there my friend Mondie came up to see me -- she had an appointment with her surgeon for post op.  She's healing well.  And looks great!

Then Jim came up there and got to meet Mondie too.  Julia's back too - she's the research nurse on the study (she just came back to work, she had surgery about 6 weeks ago).  Julia said my blood counts all look wonderful.   It was great to see Julia again.  I did miss seeing Debbie.

It wasn't much longer and I was called back for my chemo treatment.  I had the sweetest nurse.  Mou (pronounced moo) was her name.  She was the cutest -- she spent a lot of time talking with Jim and I.

 

The whole chemo process takes about 2 hours from start to finish.  I felt really, really great afterwards.

I've started to do some Yoga on my own in the morning.  I like it!  I'm also trying to go on a walk every day.  Please pray that I continue to feel well that I can walk every day.

A big decision has been made by Jakob.  He has decided to go back to school.  Please pray for him and me as we make this transition.  If all goes well he should be back at school by Wednesday.  I have a few things I need to get together for him.  Jakob is very excited and we are excited for him!

I'm enjoying this beautiful sunshine we are having here in Texas.  I hope y'all are making the best of your weekend too!

Love you all!

Love and Blessings from the top of my heart,

Moni

www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk

Thank you!!

I didn't sleep well last night.  I thought I may be coming down with a sinus infection so I made an appointment with my family doctor this morning.  Just allergies.  No sinus infection.  It's irony that I have cancer but my allergies are what are making me feel bad.  


I got to catch up with some great friends over lunch today.  Plus I got to have some yummy Chinese food.  


Just got a call from MDA about the Yoga/sleep study I'm participating in.  Idene will be collecting the study watch from me tomorrow after my bloodwork.  She also informed me that I am required to have an EKG to participate in the study so I'll be doing that tomorrow as well.  After my EKG all my info goes into a computer, I once again will be randomized by the computer. Please pray that I get selected to be in the Tibetan Yoga group or the stretching Yoga group.  I should find out which group by Monday.  I'll let y'all know.


So tomorrow I have a blood draw at 8:30, meeting with Idene and an EKG at 9:30 and chemo at 11. Jim will be by my side for my treatment tomorrow.  I love the support he continues to give me.  Please continue to pray that my blood count is good and that my chemo goes smoothly.  


I am humbled by all your messages.  It is such a joy for me to report all my happenings to you.  Y'all are truly a blessing!!


Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!


Love and Blessings from the top of my heart,
Moni


www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk

A note

Dear Cancer,

I wanted to thank you for entering my life.  Without you I wouldn't know how many people really love me and my family.  You have empowered me to do things I could never imagine.  I know that you actually probably entered my life to try to break me down, not a chance!  Through the many prayers of my Army of Prayer Warriors and my own we will continue to conquer you.  One thing I know for sure is that God has the most power of all and He will not let you win.  Cancer, you are a disease, God is Life!

My children too have learned what cancer cannot do...it cannot destroy this family.  Jakob, Kelli and Joey see their parents sticking to the vows they promised almost 16 years ago "in sickness and in health". Yup "in sickness and in health" - that's a vow my Jimmy and I take very seriously.  This is just a temporary roadblock -- but doesn't even feel like a roadblock.

You may think you won because you kinda came at an inconvenient time in our lives.  Moving to Australia was a dream that we had but that doesn't mean we stopped dreaming.  Our dreams do change after all.  Now we just know that Kingwood, Texas is exactly where God needs for us to be.

Through this journey, Cancer, I have met so many wonderful doctors, nurses & new friends.  Oh and by the way, I'm also being cared for at one of the number one Cancer facilities in the world, MD Anderson.

Cancer, thank you for giving me a new found respect for my faith in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I know that I will live eternally with Him.  He is the Great Physician.  He has won, you haven't!!

After only 3 treatments, you had already shrunk by 50%.  So Cancer I want to tell you -- no matter how big you think you are -- you are not big, God is bigger!!

Not only do we have our boxing gloves on but we have our hands lifted in prayer.

Sincerely,

Moni Monk, survivor

Hats & Numero Cinco!!

Howdy Army!

Thank you once again for all your heartfelt messages whether it be through the Caringbridge guestbook, blog guestbook, comments, emails, texts, facebook, voicemails, all of them are so greatly appreciated!!!  I have been blessed by such a strong army.  Your prayers are overflowing and for that I thank you too!!

My hat party was so much fun!  The company was great and the food was wonderful!  I got so many cute hats and scarves, I'll be having fun wearing everything.  My room is filled with giftbags of hats and scarves.  Thank you!!

I like how one of my friends gave today's chemo number 5 the term "Numero Cinco" and another friend called it "Mambo Number 5".  Either one of those is a fun name and I'm happy to say that we have completed "Mambo Number 5".

Linda and I headed out to MDA this morning and got there about 8:30 and went straight to the lab for my bloodsucking.  Lina drew my blood once again.  She's so good.  Linda and I also met a very sweet couple Carolann and her husband -- they too are on a journey with breast cancer -- they have 4 young children, please pray for that family.  Today was Carolann's last chemo -- she was glowing with excitement!

I chose to be bold and wear a hat today and not one of my wigs.  I figured my wig would get all matted while I was laying down getting my chemo.  While I met with my nurse Debbie I took off my hat to show her my shaven head -- I never put my hat back on.  I felt good!  I had nothing to hide behind and it was okay.

I got all settled in my room and the needle was put in my port by my nurse Liselle -- she was awesome I didn't even feel the needle go in.  Praise God for that!!  Once I was settled, Linda and Jim went and grabbed some lunch at the cafeteria.  I get lunch served to me in my room.  All my blood counts & numbers look great (the liver function test will be rerun in 2 weeks).

I had a great day today -- the day seemed to go quickly we got home earlier than normal so I was able to take a nice nap.

The kids are still getting used to my shaven head -- we talk about how me not having hair means the chemo is working and they say "exactly".

I am struggling with tiredness this week.  I ask that you please pray about that. While Jim & Linda were at lunch a lady named Kayla came into to talk to me about participating in another study.  This study is "Effects of Tibetan Yoga on Fatigue and Sleep in Cancer".  I will find out which group I will participate in -- either the breathing yoga, stretch yoga or in the control group (no yoga).  It is a computer randomized selection -- please pray for either the breathing yoga group or stretch yoga group.
I also still have the "RAD" rash - your prayers are working because it's not as itchy as it was.

Please pray for our family to stay healthy-- there seems to be a lot of bacterial & viral infections going around and so far we have been clear of those and I pray that we stay that way.

I love you all and ask that God continue to bless all of you!!

Love & Blessings from the top of my heart,

Moni

Boldness

We had a great weekend.  Mom & Dad (Jim's parents) came to visit us from Kansas.  It was so nice to have time with them.  I love my Mom & Dad!!

Well we did it!  Jim shaved my head tonight.  My hair was falling out in droves.  Kelli cut some first, then Jakob and then Jim shaved my hair down to a number 3.  Joey only came and watched.  It was a little scary because I really had no idea what I'd look like.  I like it!  No more hiding behind my hair.  I feel bold!  Ephesians 3:12 says, "Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence."

God still knows the number of hairs on my head.  He knows everything about me and still loves me so.

Now that I have a little extra time on my hands (because I won't be blow drying my hair for 30 minutes everyday), I've decided I'm going to use that time to pray and mediate on the blessed life I live.

Thank you all for being so supportive and for continuing to pray for us on this journey.

I love you!!!

Love from the top of my heart,

Moni

Shrinkable

I have some amazingly, incredible news to share with you!


Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. Romans 1:8 (NLT).


We're home from my 4th chemo treatment -- all went really well today.  


I met a new friend today while waiting in the lab to have my blood drawn.  A beautiful woman who also has breast cancer -- Mondie is her name, please pray for her.   


My appointment with my nurse Debbie was great and my appointment with Dr. Green was also remarkable!!  Dr. Green couldn't feel my tumor at first until I lay down -- then she felt it, it has shrunk by 50% -- it is now less than a centimeter.  AN ABSOLUTE MIRACLE!!!  I had told her I had trouble finding it when I was feeling for it last Saturday.  


So you see how amazing prayer is right?  The Bible says in Philippians 4:6, Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 


Your faithfulness in your prayers has brought us here.  I cannot THANK YOU enough!!  


My chemo dose did have to be lowered by 25% because my liver function is 400% above normal.  The liver function test is not normally run for my chemo (Taxol) regimen but because I'm in the RAD001 study it is a requirement to check it.  And Dr. Green told me not to worry about it. Please pray that my numbers come back down in the normal range.  The test will be run again in 3 weeks.  


Jim and I are so filled with joy -- it may be hard to fall asleep tonight.  


My treatment was so much more peaceful this week than last.  I had a really cute and sweet nurse by the name of Ashleigh.  No loud and obnoxious neighbors today.  


Oh yeah I went and picked up a wig today.  Monica at the wig shop is so helpful.  My hair is still slowly falling out.  It's gonna be okay -- I'll have great hair for the next few months.  There are some gorgeous wigs out there.  


I love you all so much!  I am so thankful for this Army of Prayer Warriors I have.


God Bless you all!!


Love & Blessing from the top of my heart,


Moni

P.S.  The "TODAY SHOW" ran a story this morning about a reporter who has the same type of breast cancer I have.  Triple Negative Breast Cancer.  Check it out, read her story and watch the video http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/35347062/ns/today-today_health/

Busy day

Hey!  I wanted to write a little this evening.

Tomorrow is another busy day for me at MDA.  I have the regular blood draw, an appointment with Dr. Green and then chemotherapy at 4 pm.  Please pray for another successful treatment.

Pray for safe travels too as we are supposed to have some more wet & cold weather here in Houston.  Jim is going to meet me at MDA after his morning meetings.  What a blessing it is for him to have people so supportive at work.  We really can't complain at all.

I've been drinking lots of water -- that seems to help with the bloodsucking.  It's so nice to not have to wear my brace anymore -- I went on a brisk walk this morning.

Thanks for all the compliments on the short hairdo.  It was easy to fix this morning and it didn't even get messed up when I took my afternoon rest.

I'll be reporting back to you on Friday about tomorrow's treatment.

Oh yeah -- I'm excited!  We have special visitors coming from Kansas this weekend -- Mom and Dad!!

Love you bunches!!

Love & Blessings from the top of my heart,
Moni