Hi All!
I wanted to let you know that the past 2 days have been better for me. I've gotten more sleep and I don't feel as "down" as I have in the past few weeks. I actually got out of the house today!
I thank you for your messages but most of all for your prayers. Please keep them coming.
I hope y'all have a great weekend!!
Love and blessings from the top of my heart,
Moni
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Specific...
Hi Army!
I need your prayers. I'm doing fine physically. Emotionally is another story. I'm asking you to please, please pray for me to be lifted out of this state of depression. I also need prayers for sleep. I'm having a really hard time sleeping, I think that may be part of why I feel the way I do.
I'm sorry that I'm complaining.
I love you all.
Love and blessings from the top of my heart,
Moni
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
I need your prayers. I'm doing fine physically. Emotionally is another story. I'm asking you to please, please pray for me to be lifted out of this state of depression. I also need prayers for sleep. I'm having a really hard time sleeping, I think that may be part of why I feel the way I do.
I'm sorry that I'm complaining.
I love you all.
Love and blessings from the top of my heart,
Moni
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
Sunday, April 18, 2010
FEC treatment #1
All went well on Thursday. I have received my first FEC chemotherapy treatment. I'll go back for my 2nd treatment on May 6th.
I met with Dr. Green and she was very pleased with how my tumor is melting away. The original measurement of the tumor was 1.9 cm and it has shrunk over 50%. What a miracle! The chemo is doing it's job.
I also met with Julia -- we discussed side effects of this current treatment and what to look for and how to take my home meds.
I then went to Lina to have my blood drawn. That was easy breezy. I also met with my nutritionist, she gave me some good nutrition tips to help me through the rest of the treatments.
Off to the 8th floor to wait for my treatment where Jim met me. We ran into Kim and Danny. Kim was there for her treatment -- we both got called back to our treatment rooms at the same time. I actually started treatment about an hour early. The total drip time of the IV's was about 3.5 hours. It went smoothly. There's a picture of all my meds that I received on Thursday.
I've been feeling pretty well. I've felt a little nauseous and tired. But I have been taking my anti-nausea meds so I haven't felt as bad as I would without them.
Papa made it here Thursday afternoon. Thanks for the prayers for his safe travel. The next few days is when my white count will be the highest (usually day 4 through day 14). I will be taking it easy and keeping away from big crowds of people. I'm pretty bored with all this "taking it easy" -- so if you have any suggestions as to what I can do to keep busy please let me know.
That's what's going on with me -- I apologize for not writing in here sooner.
Thanks for praying for me and my family -- we really appreciate those prayers!!
Take care!!
Love and Blessings from the top of my heart,
Moni
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
I met with Dr. Green and she was very pleased with how my tumor is melting away. The original measurement of the tumor was 1.9 cm and it has shrunk over 50%. What a miracle! The chemo is doing it's job.
I also met with Julia -- we discussed side effects of this current treatment and what to look for and how to take my home meds.
I then went to Lina to have my blood drawn. That was easy breezy. I also met with my nutritionist, she gave me some good nutrition tips to help me through the rest of the treatments.
I've been feeling pretty well. I've felt a little nauseous and tired. But I have been taking my anti-nausea meds so I haven't felt as bad as I would without them.
Papa made it here Thursday afternoon. Thanks for the prayers for his safe travel. The next few days is when my white count will be the highest (usually day 4 through day 14). I will be taking it easy and keeping away from big crowds of people. I'm pretty bored with all this "taking it easy" -- so if you have any suggestions as to what I can do to keep busy please let me know.
That's what's going on with me -- I apologize for not writing in here sooner.
Thanks for praying for me and my family -- we really appreciate those prayers!!
Take care!!
Love and Blessings from the top of my heart,
Moni
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tomorrow is a new thing...
Howdy Y'all!
I was just reading a chapter in Romans in my Bible. Something that was reiterated to me was that nothing can separate me from the love of God. The last few days have been sort of difficult for me. I've been feeling distant from God, lost, lonely, depressed. Then today I read Romans 8. Read this, Romans 8:38-39 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I'm not alone, never alone.
Tomorrow is a big day. I meet with Dr. Green first, then the nutritionist and then I start my new chemotherapy regimen in the afternoon. It will take 3-3 1/2 hours for the IV's. Please pray that all goes smoothly and that I don't have any side effects.
Papa is on his way here from Canada. I think he started driving this morning. Please pray for his safe travel. I can't wait to see him -- I need a hug from my Papa.
Thanks for your time!
I love you!
Love and Blessings from the top of my heart,
Moni
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
I was just reading a chapter in Romans in my Bible. Something that was reiterated to me was that nothing can separate me from the love of God. The last few days have been sort of difficult for me. I've been feeling distant from God, lost, lonely, depressed. Then today I read Romans 8. Read this, Romans 8:38-39 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I'm not alone, never alone.
Tomorrow is a big day. I meet with Dr. Green first, then the nutritionist and then I start my new chemotherapy regimen in the afternoon. It will take 3-3 1/2 hours for the IV's. Please pray that all goes smoothly and that I don't have any side effects.
Papa is on his way here from Canada. I think he started driving this morning. Please pray for his safe travel. I can't wait to see him -- I need a hug from my Papa.
Thanks for your time!
I love you!
Love and Blessings from the top of my heart,
Moni
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Great news!!!!
Okay I'm starting with the amazing news I received today....my tumor has shrunk to about .8 cm (or 8mm). That's about half the size of what the original tumor was.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you for everything that y'all are praying for. For my family, my health, for my wellness, for my emotions, everything! I am so happy today. The lymph nodes are also shrinking.
So today I went for an ultrasound to check the progress on the Taxol and RAD. And also for a fine needle biopsy, which I ended up having 2 of. But that's okay --- I've now had 10 needle biopsies.
My ultrasound tech was great! The interesting thing about her was her name -- her first name started with an "M",her middle name started with a "D" and her last name was Anderson. Get it M.D. Anderson! She told me when she was in her early 20's she drove by MD Anderson and she decided to go into the medical field and now she works at MDA. I thought that was cool!
Dr. Deana Lane was my Radiologist -- she was awesome!! Thank you Dr. Lane for doing such a great job on my biopsies!!
Let's see in the room with me during the biopsy were the Doctor, the ultrasound tech, the research nurse and her assistant, and the person from cytology. It was like being in a pit stop at a car race. There wasn't even enough room for Jim in there today.
After my ultrasound and biopsy I went to have my blood drawn. While waiting all of the sudden I heard, "Moni Monk" -- it was my friend Tammy. She was there taking her Mom for a bunch of tests. Here's a picture of the 3 of us.
My blood draw was uneventful. The only thing was that Lina was upset with me that I've missed going to her the last 2 weeks. I had to promise her that I would go to her next week. People at MDA are so genuinely nice!!
Off to wait for chemo to start. We actually started on time today. My 12th Taxol treatment. My last Taxol & RAD treatment. I requested to be put back on the steroid for my premed. The last few weeks I had been given Pepcid and Benadryl -- it made me so antsy I just couldn't sit still. Today with the steroid I actually was able to relax. Here's a picture of my last Taxol.
Next Thursday, I start the FEC (which stands for Fluorouracil; Epirubicin; Cytoxen) chemotherapy regimen. I've heard it can be pretty tough. Please pray that all goes smoothly like the Taxol treatments went.
I am so happy about the news of my tumor shrinking. I'm fighting and I know y'all are fighting for me with your hands lifted up. Thank you!!
I love you!!
Love and Blessings from the top of my heart,
Moni
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you for everything that y'all are praying for. For my family, my health, for my wellness, for my emotions, everything! I am so happy today. The lymph nodes are also shrinking.
So today I went for an ultrasound to check the progress on the Taxol and RAD. And also for a fine needle biopsy, which I ended up having 2 of. But that's okay --- I've now had 10 needle biopsies.
My ultrasound tech was great! The interesting thing about her was her name -- her first name started with an "M",her middle name started with a "D" and her last name was Anderson. Get it M.D. Anderson! She told me when she was in her early 20's she drove by MD Anderson and she decided to go into the medical field and now she works at MDA. I thought that was cool!
Dr. Deana Lane was my Radiologist -- she was awesome!! Thank you Dr. Lane for doing such a great job on my biopsies!!
Let's see in the room with me during the biopsy were the Doctor, the ultrasound tech, the research nurse and her assistant, and the person from cytology. It was like being in a pit stop at a car race. There wasn't even enough room for Jim in there today.
After my ultrasound and biopsy I went to have my blood drawn. While waiting all of the sudden I heard, "Moni Monk" -- it was my friend Tammy. She was there taking her Mom for a bunch of tests. Here's a picture of the 3 of us.
Off to wait for chemo to start. We actually started on time today. My 12th Taxol treatment. My last Taxol & RAD treatment. I requested to be put back on the steroid for my premed. The last few weeks I had been given Pepcid and Benadryl -- it made me so antsy I just couldn't sit still. Today with the steroid I actually was able to relax. Here's a picture of my last Taxol.
Next Thursday, I start the FEC (which stands for Fluorouracil; Epirubicin; Cytoxen) chemotherapy regimen. I've heard it can be pretty tough. Please pray that all goes smoothly like the Taxol treatments went.
I am so happy about the news of my tumor shrinking. I'm fighting and I know y'all are fighting for me with your hands lifted up. Thank you!!
I love you!!
Love and Blessings from the top of my heart,
Moni
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Honesty...
I usually feel really well. Physically and emotionally. Now I don't want anyone feeling sorry for me but I'm struggling emotionally right now. I know I'm going to make it through this. I know Jesus has His arms wrapped around me. I know that you all love me. I think I need extra prayers right now about my mental wellness. See I feel incredibly selfish right now -- I'm feeling sorry for myself, I think. Look at how many times I've used the word "I" so far in this post. Wow, Moni -- STOP!!
Why does this have to be so hard? It's pretty sad, I'm avoiding phone calls from my family and friends. It's gonna wear off on our kiddos. I don't want those precious souls to have to worry about Mommy when they see her crying. What's the purpose in the tears? Do you think the devil is trying to bring me down?
Please, please pray for this emotionalness to cease. I want to shine. Not be a dim light.
Don't worry about me -- we are warriors!!
Love and Blessings from the top of my heart,
Moni
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
Why does this have to be so hard? It's pretty sad, I'm avoiding phone calls from my family and friends. It's gonna wear off on our kiddos. I don't want those precious souls to have to worry about Mommy when they see her crying. What's the purpose in the tears? Do you think the devil is trying to bring me down?
Please, please pray for this emotionalness to cease. I want to shine. Not be a dim light.
Don't worry about me -- we are warriors!!
Love and Blessings from the top of my heart,
Moni
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
Sunday, April 4, 2010
He Is Risen!
He Is Risen Indeed! Happy Easter to y'all! Enjoy this meaningful day with your family and friends.
God's Blessings to you!
Love and Blessings from the top of my heart,
Moni
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
Love and Blessings from the top of my heart,
Moni
www.caringbridge.org/visit/monimonk
www.monkmoni.blogspot.com
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