Hello Friends, Family and Pipeliners!

Today Bob and I drove down to Springfield in heavy, blowing snow. I guess you would call that a medium blizzard. This was for one of the "little treatments" where I get one drug. It takes about 4 hours and I get it every two weeks.

As some of you know, my sister, Gayle, traveled to be with me for all chemo treatments, tests, and my surgery in 2019 from January through December. She lives 3 and 1/2 hours away and my brother-in-law, Steve, drives her up. Usually she stayed with us for several days or more to help me through the initial side effects. After my treatment schedule changed, we agreed (or I decreed) that Gayle did not need to come for these "little chemos" which are tolerated well. After all, she does have a life beyond me, although we would be perfectly happy for her to move in.

About 8:30 AM Bob and I settled ourselves into the 4th floor waiting area, directly across from the elevator. Just a few minutes later, the elevator doors opened and out walked Gayle and Steve! I burst into tears, of course, and hugged her fiercely for a long time. It was one of the best moments of my cancer sojourn and I will never forget the joy and happiness of that moment. I am tearing up now as I write. (Check out photos below.) When I have moments of sadness this is one memory that will lift me up.

On a humorous note: Bob and I pack a lot of activities to keep us busy during those hours at the clinic. I had the following: 

• Bible and journal
• phone for scrolling through Instagram and just in case I needed to order on Amazon
• Kindle with current book and dozens more at my fingertips,
• audio book on my phone.

All that should keep me busy for 4 hours. (For my knitting friends I do not knit in the clinic.)
I don't know all that Bob had but let's just say all his stuff was in the same bag he uses for overnight or weekend trips.

As we were leaving, I realized the only item I had taken out of my bag was my phone. Gayle and I always have so much to talk about...even though she was there with me two weeks ago for the big chemo.

To top it all off the four of us went out to lunch at Incredibly Delicious, which really is incredibly delicious. Bob and I got home before it started snowing here. 

Random notes:

• Happy Birthday to our wonderful brother, Matt, who we love and know we can count on. We only we wish he didn't live so far away in CA.
• All the mouth sores are gone. Kudos to 16 oz of water with 1 tsp each baking soda and salt. I'm still using it as a preventative.
• Our son, Peter, gave me a gift certificate for a massage with a therapist who specializes in massage for cancer patients. It was heavenly!  If you live in the Peoria area and have a friend with cancer, this is a wonderful gift. I am booked again just before my next treatment.
• I did get that audio podcast out as well as the video with my sister on YouTube  Knitting Pipeline on YouTube
• I didn't update after the last treatment two weeks ago because quite honestly, there wasn't much to say. It's a matter of walking a tightrope to figure out what is top priority and what can wait until later.
• The next treatment will be on Tuesday March 10. That's the "Big One". It's really not that bad. We just have to take plenty of activities. ;)

Thank you for your many well wishes, expressions of love, notes of encouragement and prayers. I appreciate each one of you. God is good!

Rejoicing with a Quiet Heart,
Paula
Ovarian Cancer Survivor for One Year and going strong! (Gayle says longer than one year because I had it for a while before it was diagnosed.)