The Cardinal Red Road Turned back to Pink this AM-

All My Supporters after a Healthy 5K Walk

What a wonderful way to start a weekend...on a beautiful and a little chilly morning in Forest Park.   Everyone made the 5K trek without any injuries - John S. always needs a little TLC after these big events.  After the walk, we checked out all the "freebies" - cookies, apples, granola bars, water, discounted t-shirts.  My Family is in love with "Clarence" aka Clearance Merchandise.  Let's not stop the party, on to First Watch Clayton - where we enjoyed more together time - It seemed like noone wanted the morning to end.  Thanks for being there in good times and rough times (maybe there won't be any of those)!!!  Mary

TODAY - is all about the St. Louis CARDINALS

All RED no PINK today!  Game 7 of the World Series is tonight, but it will be hard to top last night's FREEZE-ing victory!   Even my car odometer is ready.....it is on 77775 at this minute - but it will be all 7's by game time.

I am feeling great today after my chemo yesterday - which I guess is a surprise to me.....I will definitely take a nap sometime today, but probably I feel like all the Cardinal fans that celebrated in the midnight hour.

Enjoy the game and the weekend!

I took this picture in February - in the Phillipeans. Happy Friday!

Mary

Chemo One of Four - Check!

The Ultimate Supporter!

Hat is a Gift from Anonymous!

25% of my chemo is over….hip hip hooray!  It was not at all bad….and I feel fine so far.  They expect my hair will fall out around day 10-14- so I have already ordered “Meredith” (WIG) to arrive next week.  I hope you can meet her over the holidays!  PS She will be a little shy – so go easy on her!   Love to all and Thank God for all my supporters –I pray that YOU keep them well also.  

I am well - sorry I dropped the blog ball!

I have been in La La Land for 5 of the last few days - and it was a great break from my reality!  My nephews wedding was a very beautiful ceremony at the LA Garden Center - Our last day in LA,  was fun as a TV show was being filmed in front of our hotel.  They actually changed our hotel name and chances are some of us will  be seen if they don't cut us.  It was a long trip back, but we all arrived back in St. Louis with enough time to catch most of the Cardinals loss (UGH!)

I had a few hours off until I was scheduled to get a port placed around my collar bone - where I will be getting 4 chemo treatments (every 3 weeks), or any blood draws.  This went well - and I spent most of the day resting afterwards.  John and I went to purchase my new "wig" friend - Meredith - she will be arriving next week - I don't have to keep her if I don't like her.

I'm at work today and will hopefully see the Cardinals win tonight.- My list of prayer warriors keeps growing and I am very grateful for this!  Love to you all, Mary

Hump Day - Getting Ready for a Cardinal Win tonight!

On my personal home front - I had to reschedule my oncology appointment for tomorrow morning before our 11:40 flight to LA.  The results of my drug are not shrinking my tumor - so we will be discussing chemotherapy as the next step or going directly to surgery -  Lots of questions to be answered in the next 24 hours or so.....

All my prayer warriors are called to action~  Bless all of you!

All will be Well!

Mary

Tuesday with Mary....

I feel very confident that yesterday's CT Scan will show I've lived a very healthy and happy life - will find out tomorrow for sure - All will be Well!

Rainy Tuesday in STL, but I will get packing tonight for our very fun weekend in LALA Land for Mike and Lisa's wedding.  No surprises today, just an afternoon appointment with Michael my acupuncturist (the happy healer, but he can't legally say he heals cancer). He'll do his magic.

I am looking forward to seeing all my family from far away in Los Angeles- Matt and Christina and their boys from Germany and Dave and Songzi from Beijing.

 Songzi told me to bring an extra suitcase, because her mom and dad are giving me all kinds of very special Chinese medicine.  It is so wonderful to have support from around the globe.   Thank God for Tuesdays!

All will be Well! Mary

Another test - nothing to worry about!

I had a CT Scan today – and I had worked myself into a panic attack last night – so I called Jill (all 3 of her numbers) – she explained what it would be like – and that I would do fine – she’d been thru It and it TRULY  was nothing – About 300 pictures of my cross sectioned body were taken in the span of me holding my breath.  They shot some dye in me and told me it would feel like I’m wetting my pants – (nothing new there) (just kidding Jeff).  Great to have a Jill in my corner – and all my family as well!

I'll save my complimentary Xanax for another day!  (Thanks, Debbie)

While I was in this panic attack the Cardinal's clinched the National League Pennant!!!!!!

It's a great week ahead - will take one day at a time and enjoy the journey!

Mary

Hello Wellness Center - so glad I met you!

I wish Manchester Road was just like it was 20 years ago.  Once I get to 270 - I have no idea where to go- and I wanted to get the Wellness Center by Casa Gallardo (now closed BYW).. I went thru Trader Joe's parking lot, The Lodge Parking lot and I don't remember the rest of my detours....
  Anyway, what I finally found was an amazing place for people like me, for people like you if I am in your life, for people that are my sisters and brothers - I hope all of you can join me there for one of their exercise classes or art classes or to get a good book out on any wellness topic you may want to read up on.
  Everything offered at this center is absolutely FREE - and they are there to support me and my caregivers through my journey.  I set up an appointment with "Charlie" (a girl) and she will find a support group for me that best suits my needs.  I also set up an appointment with a nutritionist - one on one - to guide me in the area that I always like to read about- healthy eating.  I'm so excited to find this resource.....

Great Girls' Weekend  in DQ -(DuQuoin, IL)
Hugs,

Mary

Consult with the Radiologist today....

Pretty routine consultation- I was seen by the Nurse, Mellisa, then the nurse practioner, Laura (reminded John and I of the giggly nun from Sister Act), and then finally the Dr.Inman Zobari .  English seemed to be his first language - I was hoping I didn't have to listen and translate at the same. time. He even had a sense of humor which always is a great thing!  He really won't see me until 4-5 weeks after surgery - but he explained the whole procedure.  I was surprised by 5X/week for 5-6 weeks for the radiology appointments.

Later tonight John and I head to St. Luke's to learn how to be Grandparents with Joe and Barb Wolf - I know that they've probably updated the Grandparenting for Dummies Book over the past 6 years.  We didn't know that the Cardinals would be in the 4th game of the playoffs when we signed up for this in August.  That's OK - we'll Tivo the game.  Question- what snacks do you eat when you watch the game at home?  Go Cards go get your 3rd Win!

Thought for the day....."Hope Chest" - a gift from Ellie Hock.

"Someday all you'll have to light the way will be a single ray of HOPE- and that will be enough." 

- Kobi Yamada


Tonight is my Yoga Class at St. Luke's - John is joining me at the class.  After class - we're heading home to watch the Cardinals -HOPEfully - beat the Milwaukee Brewers - and HOPEfully the rain will hold off.  HOPEfully my brother John will join us for the celebration.  Go Cards!!!!!!!(TWO OUT OF THREE is Great- Brother John stayed home )

Pink Road words and people of Hope....

"Surround yourself with people who believe you can."- Dan Zadra

Today will be an awesome day on my Pink Brick Road....

This afternoon, I will see my favorite accupuncturist  - Michael Max

Yong Kang Chinese Medicine Clinic, Kirkwood, MO 63122

On Tuesday afternoons - he sees cancer patients for FREE...how cool is that!  My sister Debbie and I are both being treated by Michael.  He is truly a blessing to both of us!  He is getting my Qi going in the right direction (very lame explanation, sorry Michael). Following that I have another great Freebie - Fr. Gary Braun at Wash U CSC will give me the Sacrament of the Sick before the Tuesday night Mass and Soup event.  He told me "Get all the Grace you can" for your healing.  I agree with his thinking.  Thank you, Fr. Gary!

All WILL be well......PS. Congratulations, Cards on the win!

Fr. Gary Braun

Prayer request for Andrew Hale

Maggie Noelke Hale

At the trauma intermediate care unit at St. Johns with Andrew Hale. He is stable and recovering from a surgery that was a result of an ATV accident. He was taken by helicopter last night to the ER.  We will be here for a few days. Thanking God for him every minute.


NOTE: This is my friend ReRe's son-in-law.  We were just leaving their house playing a fun card game called "GOLF" when this accident must have occurred. ReRe and Mike got a call after midnight - and headed to the hospital.   Once again I am reminded that every minute of every day is a gift!  Andrew will need several more surgeries on his left arm.


Prayers for your complete recovery, Andrew!  (1st wedding anniversary will be on October 30th)

Here is an oldie but goodie picture from my 8th grade parade.....

The Mod Squad in the Second Row - I have a green tie on,  Jill Marica is cute as can be, and Mary Niebling pushing a baby?  We all look like mothers, but we are 14 years old.  Jill is now my special angel at Siteman Breast Center!

Hair of Hope 

Javier Mendoza and Me at Joe's Cafe - (picture take by Kay MCCarthy)  Javier played at Sarah Hock's 50th surprise party, and I am sporting the Hock-N-Roll Marathon shirts worn in honor of Sarah Hock and my sister Debbie Gray.  Javier signed the back of the shirt for me which says....When the going gets tough, the Hocks get going  (with two boxing gloves - the art concept is that of my niece Michaela Rodriquez).  I wish the picture was brighter, but I'll just tell you I look amazing and Javier was very sweet.)

"Unofficial" Result of Biopsy Day

The day went just as planned, and Dr. Girl 1 brought me in to a room to discuss what was going to happen and asked me if I had any questions.  But I couldn't think of any - I was trying to think of a specially good lunch place - so I was few steps beyond the procedure.  OK lets do it!  I moved rooms and all the room filled with Long Blonde haired Dr. Girls.   So the lead Dr. Appleton was in charge and was guiding the other Dr. Girl - after they gave me lots of lidocane (don't hold back) They kept checking my comfort level...I was fine.  Yhey mad a little slice  and I felt that like a sharp slice......"That hurt" I said...Pressure?  No Pain,  So they stopped and tried to get my bleeding to stop - and then gave me more lidocaine w/epinephrine.   OK , forge on......probably took 20 minutes to get 4 samples to send away.  They are seeing more of the tissue. Done....followed by a mammogram- an easy and home care instruction. Let's head to the Boathouse - one of my favorite places.

My friend ReRE was able to get her flu shot while we paced though they lobby- and plans to her Tristan in for  his...  Free shots are good!

Once we got to the Boathouse in Forest Park for lunch on a beautiful sunny October day- my brain went on vacation mode!  We stayed as long as possible....and decide we would top the day off with a Little pink hair extension so we headed to SoCounty (I have to pick up my car at RR's).  ReRe and I are now sporting the Hair of Hope - and we are feeling proud!  It was a long day, but it was mostly play and less time under the brite lites.

The results for the day are mix 2o  minute procedure with a beautiful sunny day and Thanks BE to God for this moment!

                                                                                                                      

Biopsy Day

I've been on Femara for two weeks now, and so they want a biopsy today to see that my tumor is responding to this medication.  I won't have the results for two weeks...the day before we all head to LA for Mike and Lisa's wedding.   I had a biopsy on September 14th - so I know what to expect.  I love "numbing" juice - don't hold back Doc....My dear friend ReRe is taking me to Siteman, as John does his duty and gets a colonoscopy this
morning - we are not letting anything sneak up on us now. I am proud of him for taking charge of his health.

All will be well...

Mary