Monday, November 3, 2008

Gretchen's Terrific Halloween Weekend

Well!

Our patient acted almost like a non-patient these past few days.

She partied two days in a row!

We paid a surprise visit (to all but Anja, who knew beforehand) to Gretchen's LDS Conference Center buddies at a potluck dinner on Thursday. They were so happy and amazed to see her up and about! Such lovely, caring people -- I was thrilled to finally meet them all.

On Friday, it was off to the annual Navitaire costume chili cook-off. Gretchen wore her "Super Gretch" cape her friend made, and was hugely welcomed and hugged (carefully) by the large crowd. And not only were the 20 pots of chili fabulous -- we tested them ALL -- but the rock band, made up of Navitaire employees, was just awesome! Sid-Mary-Tom and others -- you guys ROCK! The costumes -- with super-friendly folks under them -- were so fun! (Sterling, YOU are one of a kind!)

Friday night, Gretchen even sat on the porch for awhile and helped hand out treats to nearly 200 spooky visitors.

So Saturday -- did Gretchie-Girl pay a price for prancing around the countryside for two days? Of course . . . but it wasn't too bad. Another jammies-only day and we three lounged around with hot chocolate and popcorn watching BYU take Colorado State in a close and exciting game. Cozy homestead days are good too.

Yesterday morning Gretchen took over the kitchen and made two pumpkin-chocolate-chip-cream-cheese pies and some yummy stew for dinner. And then she drove herself to church 20 minutes away in Draper. She didn't last the whole time there but she did really well. She's off the "big gun" drugs now and can lift her right arm to shoulder level, so Alan let her drive. (I'm sure this grown-up woman just loves to be told by her step-dad when she can drive and when she can't!)

Of course, tommorow it starts all over again.

We don't know the surgery time yet, but I know I won't be dragging our laptop to the hospital. We'll arrange for someone who's blog-savvy to post the results of the surgery immediately. The surgeon doesn't know beforehand if he'll have to remove the tissue-expander on the right side in order to get all the tissue he needs -- or not. Stay tuned . . .

Speaking of this blog . . .

In our travels about the countryside and from many emails, we're learning just how many scores of folks are following this blog. Omigoodness! It's just amazing to us how many caring people are out there. Gretchen has talked to a couple of private-personality women recently who've experienced breast cancer in the past and chose to do it without the knowledge of others -- chemo, radiotherapy and all. While we understand and respect their desire for privacy, we just don't know how they did it! The love and support of family and friends is the Number Two thing that keeps this gal going. Every get-well card brings tears of gratitude. YOU, dear ones, are precious to both of her caregivers.

I love and cherish you,
Lindy-Lou the Mom

PS -- My good buddy, Eileen Roberts in San Diego, tells us we need to change the phrase "breast cancer survivor" to "breast cancer REvivor" -- we LOVE that!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

It was so good to see you, Gretchen, and to meet your mom at the Halloween party on Friday! You looked great! Good luck on the surgery tomorrow! I'm sure you'll pull through just fine. My prayers are with you! :)

Anonymous said...

Good luck tomorrow - I know that you'll come thru this just like you did with the first one. As always, thoughts and prayers are with you!

Barb said...

Gretch - thinking of you and praying for a successful surgery tomorrow! If there is anything you guys need, please call upon me. Love you! Barb