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.

Catching up

It has been almost a month since my last entry. We enjoyed having our family all home during the Holidays. Our grand children range in age from 12 to 2 and a half. They all played so well together. No snow........ No sledding. They did play outdoors.

We really enjoyed the picture Christmas cards. It is great to see how all the families have changed from year to year.

We are praying for a Happy and Healthy New Year. My mother would always say that all she ever wanted was good health, it is so true. My mother died on Jan. 9th 26 years ago today. It was a full moon then and there is a full moon tonight. I usually call or get a call from my grandchildren when there is a beautiful full moon so we can share the same beauty. I made the call tonight.

My thyroid surgery is scheduled for March 20. I will be ready. Joe and I will go to Florida in February. We are looking forward to the warm tropical breezes and sunshine. Probably some golf too.

I just finished The Paris Wife, a story about Earnest Hemingway and his wife Hadley. He had 3 marriages. Pauline, and Mary followed Hadley. I just started The Movable Feast by Hemingway. Both books are our book club books for Feb and March.

Back to the book, Martha

What's next?

After visiting the surgeon about my thyroid cancer, it was decided to schedule surgery in the early Spring. I will have time to complete the chemo that ends early March, spend a month in Florida and a trip to California to see Andy and family, play Pebble Beach.......then surgery.

For now, it is time to prepare for the Christmas Holidays. Our children will be home in a couple of weeks so it is time to be rested, a refrigerator full of vegetables and tasty food, with snow on the country club hills for sledding. We wish everyone safe travels and Holiday cheer! Martha