"one hot Mamma".

I am radio active now..... I had residual thyroid tissue so that required the radio active iodine therapy. I swallow a ed a pill then sent home to be in isolation for three dayes. Joe is staying as far away from me as possible. He did take me, but I sat in the back seat on the opposite side of the car. I am glad he drove Because I didn't feel well. There was some nausea so I took Compozine which made me very sleepy. By Saturday afternoon I will be out of isolation. This is not easy for an extrovert. I like being with people. If I felt better I would be busy cleaning out closets, painting, playing my cello, guitar,sewing,etc. All those activities I like to do..... Maybe tomorrow. Joe can't eat food I prepare so cooking is not an option either. My birthday is tomorrow, alway good to celebrate birthdays, and Mother's Day is Sunday. Happy Mother's Day to all you mom's. Give your children. Spouse , grand children a big hug. Celebrate each other! Live Strong ( Lance Armstrong got it said just right). Love, Martha

Next step

I am waiting for the next step in the thyroid treatment. On May 8 and 9th I will receive radio active iodine treatment. This week is the 6th week since surgery. I have been without thyroxin or medication since then. The thyroid glad regulates body temperature, weight, hair nails, energy levels. consequently, I am very cold, low on energy,etc. I will start back on the medication next week so I should feel a lot better once I resume the medication. once I get the radiation, I will be in isolation, can't been near anyone for 3 to 4 days. Joe and I will be in the house together but not near one another ........ That will be difficult and interesting. I am on a no salt, no iodine diet and can't eat in restaurants during this time....cooking again. My voice is slowly coming back. It is higher pitched, soft and fuzzy. When I sing I have about a 5 note range, very weak sound. I saw the surgeon last week. She admitted that she was worried about my voice because she had to work around a nerve, which has affected my voice. I hope it returns back to full sound. It has been very frustrating being heard, especially in a group setting. people look at me and just say, "what did you say?" Thanks again for all the support. I hope that this Spring and Summer we will be at the lake, golf course, and enjoying family and friends, not in doctors offices and hospitals. Love, Martha

Easter Weekend

Happy Easter to everyone. Spring is in the air. After a nice warm beginning to Spring, we are having beautiful cooler weather. The trees and flowers are a bit confused I imagine. We had a light frost last night. The tulips by our back door have survived as we all hope the fruit trees and other plants will make it thru the cooler nights.

It is been about two weeks since my thyroid surgery. I saw the surgeon last Friday. My voice is horse, but getting better. If I use it a lot it goes. I can understand and empathize with people with hearing loss or the inablility to get words understood. It is very difficult to speak in a crowd.... just impossible. Joe can't hear me if his back is turned to me. I have to get in his face for him to know I want to say something.

The explaination for this is: There was scar tissue from a previous thyroid surgery, 28 years ago. The surgeon said that there was thyroid tissue on that side that she had to work it out.... so she was working around a nerve. She feels it was damaged during surgery. I know she was concerned because she called me a couple of times to see how I was doing. She said she thought about me over the weekend, called me on Monday and consulted an ENT doctor before I came in for my appointment. I see her in a couple of weeks to determine if I need to see the throat specialist. I am hoping that because I have impovement every day that it will heal on its own.

I am off my thryoid medication so I am feeling sluggish. After the radioactive iodine treatment, I will resume the medication and should get energy back.
I am looking forward to becoming a golfer again this summer.

Our internet service has been down, that is why it has taken me a couple of weeks to write in the blog. Happy Spring, and a blessed Easter. Martha

Hurray!

Tonight I am recovering from thyroid surgery at St. Joe's Hospital. All went well. The pea sized tumor was incapsulated so no cancer spread...... Good news. I will go home tomorrow, Wednesday morning. In six weeks I'll take a radioactive iodine pill. The scanners at the airport will probably light up when I go through security. Thanks again for prayers and healing thoughts. Unfortunately, Joe missed playing golf with his friends on a beautiful first day of Spring day being the great support to me today. MarthA

Spring is here

As I write this update I am hearing a very happy bird singing a song thru the open door. We have one daffodil and about 20 blooms of Spring flower in the garden. We are all enjoying an early Spring. Last Thursday a tornado destroyed many homes in Dexter, Michigan several miles from here. I was with my daughter in law and grand children in Saline. We went to the basement as there was a tornado warning for their area. My family lost our home to a tornado on Palm Sunday, April 11, 1965 so I do go to the basement or safe location when told to. The people of Dexter were all safe because of a 20 minute warning to take cover.

I will post the results of my thyroid surgery as soon as possible. I saw the surgeon last week, and also an ENT doctor who checked vocal chords. I check in at 10a.m. for 12 o'clock surgery this Tuesday, March 20th. I will spend the night and come home on Wednesday. I pray that the surgeon and staff attending the surgery are guided by Gods healing touch.

Martha

All done

My last chemo treatment was today, I even got a certificate of completion. When given the diagnosis of cancer 15 months ago, I knew I would have much to endure. Fortunately, I have had the love and support of family, friends, brilliant doctors, nurses, medical staff, pastor and church family, strangers, and new acquaintances throughout treatment.

I have one more surgery coming up this month. I will breath a sigh of relief once that is complete. There will always be the hope that cancer cells will not multiply in my body ever again. Research will one day find a cure. I am grateful for the patients that have been the pioneers in the treatment of breast cancer and other cancers. I had a pill to take for nausea, women before me had a difficult time with nausea from chemotherapy. Herceptin, which blocks estrogen was developed in the 1990's. The cancer I had was fueled by estrogen. Giving 2or3 drugs at a time instead of one drug have increased survival rates. Research will one day find a cure. I hope we are getting closer to that day.

Martha

Basking in the Sunshine

Joe and I are in Florida feeling the healing rays of the sun and blue skies. Last year I was receiving chemotherapy in February. This year we are relaxing. I will come home and face another surgery, March 20. I am feeling stronger and ready for the next step. Spring will soon follow. I am amazed at how I am affected by the weather. The chemo made me so cold all the time. Being in the sun sure helps me feel better physically and mentally.

The weekend of Feb 9-12th we flew to Phoenix to surprise Andy. He received the Champion of Excellence award from Jones Lang and Laselle. The company invited Joe and I, Kevin and Andy's families to celebrate his accomplishment. We had a wonderful trip and family time. We are all very proud of him. He is Managing Director of the Palo Alto Commercial Real Estate office. My father, Richard Morlock, had a real estate and insurance business in Hillsdale Michigan. There is a Hillsdale, California very near Andy. My dad would just love to see what Andy is doing. Andy was 3 months old when my dad died at age 70.

While in Florida, I had the pleasure of going to a Harp concert. There were 25 harps playing, a violinist was accompanied by the harp orchestra, an eleven year old vocalist sang. The concert ended with a number with a choir. Quite an experience.

We have had fun getting together with friends that are here getting away from the northern winter. More later. Martha
choir. A great experience.