I'm glad that I got sick..

I've been home for a few days now from a business trip and got pretty sick yesterday. I felt like I was going to die. I'm sure it was minor case of food poisoning that got me. It made me think. Christina has been going through something like this FOR MONTHS! I rolled up into the fetal position and was trying to get in touch with Dr. Jack Kevorkian after just one day. Her? She's working, running and leading a very normal life. Except she has cancer. Fever, chills, stomach issues, nausea, body aches are an every day ordeal for her. The chemo drugs are leaving her system-it's been almost three weeks since her 16th and final treatment. Her eye brows are already growing back a little although the doctors have said that they are likely to fall out again. She's on the mend...

She is meeting with the head of oncology and her surgeon in a few hours to lay out the plan going forward. It won't be easy I am sure, but the little gal will be just fine. Me? I am glad that I got sick. I needed a little perspective going into the next phase of our journey together... 

Surprise!

We enjoyed a birthday celebration last weekend with Christina's family for her grandmother. Jennie turned 90 and it was nice to see her relatives and to celebrate a great woman's life. There were a few people who were not aware that she has been kicking cancer's butt for five months. Surprise! I cannot tell you how many people have commented on how great she looks. I agree 100%:) Yes, she has lost all of her hair but her "costume" is so natural looking that it even has fooled her nurses and her oncologist. "Is that a wig? Oh my God, that's the best wig I have ever seen!"  The wig store in SF should be giving her a commission as she has referred several people to their store.

There were a few people in the group on Capri that had no idea. We weren't there to talk about breast cancer or dwell on it. Christina has never felt like, acted or wanted to be a victim in all of this. She has said countless times that she is blessed and lucky. And she is. She has an MRI next week and then meets with a team of doctors at UCSF to discuss the surgery that will likely happen in September.

Every day, the chemo drugs leave her body and she gets stronger. Runs are more frequent and faster and by the time the surgery occurs, she will in great shape. Hey cancer: kiss my butt! Your days are numbered...

P.S.-I just signed up for a contest on Virgin Air to win a trip to Hawaii. I fully expect to win, of course. Aloha!:)

The "Blitz" is over

Some of you reading the blog know that I am a history buff. I really enjoy World War II in particular. With Christina finishing up her 16th and final chemotherapy treatment on Wed., I keep thinking back to June of 1940. Winston Churchill has just taken over as the Primer Minister of Britain a month before. On June 18, 1940, he appeared before Parliament and gave the world his "This was their finest hour " speech. It was a rallying call as things looked very grim indeed. Germany had overrun Western Europe in a matter of weeks. England was alone. Many people inside the Government wanted Churchill to capitulate and sign a surrender treaty. Of course, you know the rest of the story here. Churchill stood strong and eventually, with the help of the allies, defeated the Nazis.

Christina faced a similar challenge in February. No, she wasn't alone on the home front. I tried my best to support her and help her through the battle.So have family and friends through their texts, emails and visits. But in the end, no one else other than Christina was injected with needles. She alone had to get multiple MRI's, blood tests and EKG readings. It was her body that has been ravaged with side effects that include losing all of her hair. Have there been moments of fear and weakness? Sure. But that's human. And she NEVER has forgotten the fact that she, and only she, has to take on cancer and destroy it.

A few months after the speech, The Battle of Britain ended. Germany attempted an air blitzkrieg on England and London in particular. Because of the incredible strength, gritty determination and courage of the RAF, England survived to fight another day. Christina survived chemo and is now onto surgery and whatever that entails. We will know within a couple weeks the details. For now, I will  steal  from Churchill once more: "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

Stay strong and carry on, Chrissy. Love ya:)

We're home!

After an incredible eleven days in Rome and Capri, Christina and I are safe and sound and exhausted in Pleasant Hill. We received so much love, compassion and generosity during the trip, it brings tears to my eyes. It is clear that the world is in shambles when you watch the news. But for ten plus days, the world was paradise: in the food, the views, the people, the experiences and the love we felt. I will post a few pictures of the trip this week.

Christina's last A/C treatment is tomorrow (Wed) and she is done getting poisoned. After that, MRI's and consults with the surgery team. It's the next path in her and our journey. Thanks for being a part of it with us!

P.S.-I hope they serve Negronis with the nice antipasto tray from the "Qusi"  in heaven:)

While in Rome, Christina's life will come full circle

We are sitting in our hotel room in Rome enjoying a brownie and some great red wine. The past two days or so have been wonderful-not only because we were able to make it here, but because we have done so much in so little time. A recap:

-Flight was good-I slept for first time EVER on a plane.
-Don't ever check baggage into Rome's airport. Biggest nightmare to collect your bag(s)
-Tour of Vatican City, museums and St. Peter's was incredible! Our tour guide, Marta, was fabulous.b
-Tour of Coliseum sucked but the place is historic and magical. You must see it once in your life
-We took the long route (we were so damn lost it was crazy) to find the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the  Trevi fountain. To think that the Romans built and rebuilt the Pantheon before the 2nd century was over is crazy. Not to get too political, but we being told by our fearless ass hat politicians that we cannot build a fence on our Southern border. It's insulting and sad.
-We ran into a doctor that specializes in a new type of high resolution imaging for breast cancer detection. C did not tell him that she was battling the disease but it was strange.
-We just had a few slices of pizza at a great little spot sitting next to a cute little toddler who looked very similar to Christina at the same age. And she acted like C as well. She was curious and on the move while her parents tried to down a few slices of pizza. Her name? Christina! We looked at each other in amazement.

Although she now wears wigs, fake eyelashes and paints her eyebrows in each morning, we both caught a glimpse of Christina the way she is. Beautiful and bratty. And I love her for it:). More to come from Capri!