Now that I have completed my qualification heart transplant
testing, I am in the wait “until I get sicker” mode. Its odd that I know I’ll “get sicker” with my
heart damage. So,I will focus on
other important things. Like laundry,
bathroom remodel, my inside plants, loving on my 4-legged kids, watching the
news all day, cleaning up dog poop in the yard.
And most importantly keeping in touch with friends and family.
I took a two week trip home that was perfect. Stayed with my sister (the central gathering
place), visited with good friends and east coast family! Weather was kind enough to take road trips
from Fairfax, VA to Reading, PA to Lock Haven, PA where I got to see and hug my
best friend from jr high thru high school and beyond, who I haven’t seen in
years. The trees were not as colorful as I have seen years before. But to me they were beautiful. Now I will plan a trip to south TX to visit
with my niece and family.
This is just some of my wonderful, fun, and loving family…… I
love this picture!
I’m very fortunate in the way that I can still travel. I need help getting from place to place
though. I take my travel wheel chair to
get through the airports, and to use if we go anyplace that includes a lot of
walking. I can walk, just not at a pace
most walk at, and only about 30 yards, at which time I must stop and rest. Additionally, if I sit more than 20-30
minutes, I will have ‘a moment’ as I call it.
When I have ‘a moment’ I need to be within 2 steps of a chair, or I will
fall down to the floor. When I stand, my
blood pressure drops to a level that is too low. This truly bites. When this happens at home, I’m usually
ok. When it happens elsewhere, like in a
parking lot at the grocery store, it’s not as convenient. Therefore, I stand with the car door open (so
I can sit down) and pretend I’m looking at my phone messages, until it passes
and I can walk across the lot. Once I’m
inside the store, I have to get a cart to push and lean on until I get back to
the car. Woo-hoo!
Now I am back to advocating for all cancer survivors. I am a small voice in the big sea of cancer
issues. But, I am a voice joining many
survivors and, together, we ROAR! I am
currently researching my other late-effect side-effect of cancer therapies,
radiation toxicity. So stay tuned for
another blog full of my take on it. It’s
time to float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
Much love to my family, and friends, as always…..
