Thank You Friends

This is the weekend that many cities had held their Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure Race/walks.  There was one walk here in Oklahoma City yesterday and one in Jamestown NY.  Two of my dear friends here, Jo Jo Lipinski and Flora Daniels, walked on my behalf in OKC.  My dear friend, Chic Ciccarella Bazydlo in Cattaraugus walked, albeit very slowly, to the finish line in Jamestown, NY.  Poor Chic and Jo Jo were really hurting but by golly they did it!  I can not thank you all enough for making the walk.  You guys all rock!  

Thanks to all my Frates Friends

Last night I had dinner at the Elephant Bar with 9 of my former co-workers from C. L. Frates.  They presented me with this amazing basket of pink stuff.  Regina Marshall and Deborah Jordan put it all together...the dinner and the gift.  It was so wonderful to see everyone and so surprising to get this awesome basket. It had all kinds of pink stuff in it, even a squeaking toy for Becca. There was a pink bag, pink pen, pink notepad, this nice Friendship plaque...some books, a stuffed rabbit, a B&N gift card, some cold hard cash and more.  Regina and Deborah took up a collection at Frates and with many who, like me, no longer work there.  It is awesome.  

I'd also like to thank April Bloodsworth for her card and B&N gift card.  I have never even met April but she and I had talked on the phone and emailed each other when I worked at HPI.  She is working in the job I held when I worked at Frates.  I'm so blown away by her generosity and concern for me.  Thank you so much April. 

I am so dang blessed to have so many caring people in my life.  I'm blown away.  

The Friendship plaque says:

When all seems hopeless

Trust in God and seek His favor

Find the courage to fight

Ignite the enthusiasm deep within you

Give 100% every day

Hold on to those who love you

Think positive

Endure the fear & doubt

Remember you are not alone...

We are in your corner

Together We Will Win,

Together We Will Fight!

I'm just blown away!

 

Hoodie Weather....not soon enough...thanks Chris

I got mail yesterday and it was another package from another amazing caring supporter.  I'm so blessed.  This wonderful hoodie came to me from Chris Ralph...another rockin' sweet former classmate. Hence the logo - Lake Shore (yay Eagles!). Thank you so much Chris!  I can't wait until hoodie weather, which should come around Oklahoma some time in October.  The hoodie fits me just right.  (I'm glad it's too small for Phil, cause he might try to steal it.)  

Cookies and other good things

OMG, I'm eating the best cookies ever! And my taster is really liking them. That's the amazing part. Yeah, it's not love yet but it's getting there. These great cookies came in the mail today from Carolina Cookies and were sent to me by Jan Moore and Chris Yawney, two co-workers from my days at Jaeckle Fleischmann. Here's a picture of the cute box they came in and also that of Becca who is waiting patiently for me to give her one. (I didn't) But isn't she adorable?

Okay, now for the report from Dr Hemric....I have to keep the drains in. This sucks but I can take a shower. He wants me to keep the bandage off so air can get into it. It feels very naked without the bandage. I have removed the compression bandage which he said I don't need since the drains are in still. He gave me the physical prescription for Percoset but I wasn't able to get in filled since Phil had to get back to work but he'll pick it up on his way home. Also, regarding the lymph nodes he removed, he took out 8 of them, one had cancer cells. It would be better if none did, but one out of 8 is still good.

I still can't drive. I can start to exercise my arms but I think just using them is exercise. I had to make Phil carry my bag because it was just too heavy. He was really good about that even though it didn't match his shoes. But I can carry some things. Yesterday I folded clothes out of the dryer. That was kind of an exercise. I didn't lift the basket when I was done though, I know my limits.

Dr Hemric promised the drains will come out next week. Yeah! So we're on the right track! Stay tuned.

Best card

I got a card from Mary Jo that has such a wonderful verse on it I want to share it here. It is written by Catherine Slater.

We want to believe
the world is understandable.
That life is fair,
That things make sense.
We want to believe
that if we're careful enough,
work hard enough,
try hard enough,
we and those we love
will be safe from anything bad.

It's one of the biggest questions
human wrestle with -
why things sometimes aren't fair.
But even though we don't always have
a neat answer to why things happen,
we do have each other...
and we have our faith.

Just a simple kind of faith
that somehow, someday,
suffering will end,
good will be rewarded,
love will endure,
pain will be forgotten,
light will scatter darkness,
and our spirits will go on.

Surgery is over!

So my boobs are gone. They are bandaged plus they are bound up pretty tight. I have four drains. They dump into these four little Christmas tree ornament shaped receptacles. Really look like ornaments and mostly what is collected is blood, they really look Christmas-like. Sorry to be so graphic.

Wednesday morning our power went out when a storm came through. We had to get ready by flashlight/cell phone light/candlelight. We got to the hospital at 5:20am.

I posted on Facebook:

Eva Dinkuhn Mahoney
Is at Integris to be de-boobed and de-ported. :)

• Gail Tedder Good luck sweetie will be praying for you.
• Arlene Yeates Cooper You're a trooper - best wishes for speedy recovery - Make sure hubby or bro let us know how you are doing!
• Jessica Pearson Anderson Prayers for you. Kick that cancer to the curb! Speedy recovery, please
• Chic Ciccarella Bazydlo ‎*++**+*++*+*+*+**+*+*+*+*​*++**+*+ I'm there with you my friend
• Nita Hedrick Benefield Eva ~ It's been 3 years since I had mine, I know what you're feeling and this too will pass. You have a lot of love and support from family and friends who will keep you strong. Sending you prayers. ♥
• Timothy Corcoran Thinking about you...
• Sarah Shanaway Lane Prayers
• Kimberly Abram Thoughts and prayers with you today!!!!! : )
• Peter Marion thoughts!!!
• Renee Pinto Stonitsch prayers for you, Eva.
• Bill Giroux Hope everything goes according to plan.
• Gemma Zotara Love and Prayers♥♥♥\
• Carla Ellison Steffan Thinking of you
• Susan Keffer Praying for you :)
• Holly Hecker Sending you strength, luck and love!
• Lynn Patterson Keeping you in my prayers Eva......much love to you
• Mary Jo Borzelleri Miller Hugs, Eva.
• Kim Dahlberg I'm praying for you!!
• Jean Marchant Berry ♥ ♥
• Tim J Doyle In our prayers,love !!
• Romy Romano Wishing you well, in every sense of the word, Eva.
• Belinda Davis Eva, whatever the term you are in my prayers and I wish a quick and full recovery for you. I also like your new hair cut.
• Phyllis Grogan Thinking only good thoughts for you!
• Christine M. Ralph Stay Strong, Eva, you are on the way to a speedy recovery. You take care and rest up to getcha back to HEALTH.That is all that matters. You have a great attitude to continue to draw your strength from.
• Daryl Moore My prayers are with you Eva.
• Carole Lopez Angels are on the doctors shoulders ensuring all goes well. With them are prayers on each wing feather!
• Linda Just Sending healing light through prayer for across the miles.
• Joann Ellis Eva, you are in the hands of an amazing God. My prayers are with you.
• Kitty Keohane Scott Stay strong. I know you can get through this ordeal Eva.

By 6:30 I was in my room prepping for surgery. I talked with the anesthesiologist and then Dr Hemric at 8am. I was wheeled down to the OR and the next thing I knew I was in recovery. The surgery took two hours but it felt like 2 minutes. I really don't remember how I got to my in-patient room. It's all a blur. I was pretty much in and out until later in the afternoon. My friend Jo Jo came in after she was done with work shortly after 4pm. Glen, her husband came by for a while too. They went to dinner but came back. My other friend, Mary came over too. I was pretty high on morphine by then. I posted on FB to let everyone know I was fine:

Eva Dinkuhn Mahoney

Hey all! I'm doing pretty good (high as a kite) but not bad. I'll be blogging soon...stay tuned.

• Kitty Keohane Scott good, good, good!
• Christine Ferguson Yawney the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter all the time, Eva! soon this will all be behind you!
• Randy Snyder Good for you!!!!
• Crystal Crawford Cox Glad it went well!
• Renee Pinto Stonitsch More prayers for you!
• Arlene Yeates Cooper Awesome!
• Mary Ann Phillips great Eva enjoy the buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
• Jamie McGugan Keller I am so glad your doing better!! Prayers are sending your way and thinking of you all!
• Mary Jo Borzelleri Miller glad to hear it, take all the good drugs you can.
• Linda Just So glad to hear it!
• Jeff Morris I am HAPPY your doing well Eva!!!GOD BLESS YOU,my friend.
• Nita Hedrick Benefield So happy you've got it behind you. The few weeks just take care of Eva!!! Stay Strong... :-)
• Margaret Dick High as a kite is good!
• JoAnn DeFilippo Zoda Eva...glad to hear you are doing good! High as a kite isn't a bad thing! Get some rest...keep us posted. Prayers are with you
• Holly Hecker That is great, Eva! Enjoy the high (because goodness knows, they will wean you off it soon enough). Hope you have a good night tonight - and tomorrow, when they want you up and moving around, do it even though if is hard, because it will speed your healing. I promise!
• Gemma Zotara So glad you are doing well and high as a kite...enjoy the buzz while you can...hope you continue to feel well every moment of every day. I will keep praying for you and sending you healing thoughts and prayers!♥
• Maureen Harrison so glad to know youre doing okay....continued prayers your way! cant wait for the blog..
• Melanie Willoughby hope everything went well, get well soo
• Suzanne Leone Hummel Great news Eva...your positive attitude is amazing!!
• Janice Moore Glad to hear you're doing well - I'll bet you're glad it's over! Better days are coming!!
• Joann Ellis STAY STRONG.......
• Patty Puckett So glad to hear you are doing pretty good. Will watch for more news.
• Melanie Willoughby if you would like, i can come and visit sometime in the near future, now that my daughter is done with her divorce and almost settled. we have to help her move some more stuff in the next couple of weeks that she has at my house back to Kansas City

Wednesday night was a different story. The morphine gave me a headache. Wednesday night/Thursday morning became the longest night of my life. I'd dosed off but when i woke up I thought a couple hours had passed when only 15 minutes had gone by. It was like the opposite of what had happened when I was in surgery but it went on all night. My headache finally went away this morning. Dr Hemric came to see me and let me go home. So now I'm home figuring out what I can do and can't do. Well, no lifting much of anything. No showers. I see Dr Hemric next Thursday. Hopefully I will be able to get rid of the Christmas Ornaments.

As part of this permanent record I need to include these Facebook well wishers:

Deb Rauch

Good luck to you, my friend! I'm so sorry to hear what you've been going through.

Lee Harmon Eva, You are always in my thoughts!
Good luck today, Eva.

Brian Anderson Good luck today, Eva.

Tammie Schmitz-Anderson Thinking of you today and so sorry that you have to go through everything you have been going through.

I still haven't got the idea that I'm really boob-less. I think it will take a while before that really sinks in. All in good time. :)

Blessings from my friends

Aw man....I can't say enough about my friends; my wonderful support system. Yesterday, my husband almost tripped over a box on the front porch that the mail man delivered without us realizing it. It was from my friend Mary Jo who lives in Kansas. MJ and I went to school together since first grade and re-connected on Facebook. She's three hours away from me and we keep threatening to meet up some day. It's certainly on my list. Anyway...in the box was this lovely little angel. I have added it to my angel shelf; next to my mother's ashes (or my quarter of her ashes. Mom had requested that she be divided between my two brothers, my dad and me.) Thank you so much MJ. That was so sweet of you.

On Friday, my friend Linda come to visit with me and she brought me these amazingly colorful posies. I know they were dyed but the color is so vibrant. Thank you so much Linda and for visiting with me. It's always good to catch up. I know Linda because Philip used to work with her at Hertz. But now she's friends with us both.

Thanks again MJ and Linda!

Facebook Support

I often link my blog posts on my Facebook page and my wonderful FB friends usually end up commenting on the post there on Facebook rather than here on my blog. Because this blog is a more permanent record of my journey to recovering, I have decided to copy and paste some of the wonderful comments I have received on FB along with a commentary on my wonderful friends.

In response to my post on going without boobs....

• Holly Hecker The older I get, the more I realize the power of gravity. It seems to me that becoming an old lady with firm and perky breasts (which, trust me, is not even close to what happens in nature) may not only NOT be worth the cost in surgeries, pain and $$$, but is a look far more strange than a flat chest on a woman. Remember, there are plenty of women around who were born that way and who still seem to get their fair share of love and happiness in life. Eva, your terrific personality, your humor, your brain, your kindness, your imagination and creativity - they ALL trump a couple of pounds of fatty tissue (or silicone packs). Everything that makes you YOU is still going to be there after surgery!! (I have known Holly for over 20 years. We met when she was an associate at Jaeckle Fleischmann. She was really in my corner back then, always encouraging my writing. I still have the book she gave me: If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland. I always remember her birthday because all great people were born on the 5th of the month. 20 some years later, she's still in my corner. She doesn't know this but she inspired me to go back to school, to continue in my pursuit to get my BA no matter how long it took. It took me 29 years. I wasn't quite as ambitious as she was though, since she got her JD before turning 50 but still.)

In response to my post on June 29th:

• Sheri Graves God Bless you my dear, sweet friend. (Sheri and I met a few years ago at C L Frates. We become instant friends for some reason; it was just effortless. She took my place when I left there to work at HPI.)

• Eva Mahoney E-hugs Eva! xoxox (Eva Mahoney and I become friends on Facebook. Duh...yeah, we started our own club...guess what we call it.)

• Maggie McGill Wallum It's not easy killing cancer. But, you are strong; stronger than you ever thought you could be. Yes? (Maggie and I went to high school together and also to the same college for a while. She's been one of my biggest supporters and I thank her very much.)

In response to my post on Karma:

• Lori Nelson Quinn Your a dear sweet thoughtful person and I also DON'T believe in so called Karma cause some of the worse ppl in the world have horseshoes up their arses!! (I've known Lori since we were 3 years old. We were in the same class all though school. We had some fun times over the years.)

In response to my post on freaking out over my surgery:

• Arlene Yeates Cooper Just remember - it's just one more step back to normalcy- your humorous old self! (Arlene and I went to school together. We got to know each other better though via FB. She's also one of my biggest supporters! She gets my humor....always a plus.)

• Chic Ciccarella Bazydlo You'll be cool, we'll all be here with positive thoughts and your nightmare will be closer to an end. (I kind of knew Chic when we were young. She was this hippie free spirit back then and I found out via FB she still is!)

• Rosalie Atti-Holguin You will be ok, look how far you have gone so far. This is just a final step in your recovery. Praying for you everyday! Keep us all posted. (Rosalie and I have known each other since grammar school. We have reconnected, too, via FB. She is always checking on me which I really appreciate.)

• Linda Just Prayers are being said for you. (Linda is my cousin-in-law but I have heard more from her now that we are FB friends. She's been very supportive.)
  

• Margaret Dick While I agree that "freaking out" is a very natural response, please take comfort in knowing that -- even without having registered at a church -- you are much loved by our creator and have the prayers and support of countless loving friends. I feel quite confident that your surgery will be successful so -- say a prayer of thanksgiving, take a few deep breaths, a few bites of your favorite comfort food, and RELAX. (I have known Mickie for over 20 years. She was a legal assistant while I was librarian at Jaeckle. She's a super lady who always appreciated my humor. She's my voice of reason, for sure. She came and paid her respects for both my mom and dad when they passed away despite the long drive from Buffalo to Angola.)

• Arthur R Millace Jr - Eva, Best of luck to you, You have to do it, So be strong and no everything is going to be alright. God Bless !! I have a couple upcoming surgerys myself, So I feel you..I Pray yours is a success, Remember there is people out here that need you . (Art sat next to me in Mr Rose's 9th grade art class. I think he was cheating off me the entire year, but I'm not sure. The simple act of him sitting next to me spoke volumes to this geeky teenager.)

• Christine Ferguson Yawney - Eva, while I am not a member of a particular church, I do believe and I know the big guy will look out for you...you are approaching the finish line in this race! keep smiling, tell a joke when you can, and remember even though we are not there WITH you, we are here FOR you! BTW, if you weren't freaking out a little bit, you wouldn't be normal... yes, Eva, you too are normal!!! one of the most down-to-earth, normal people I know!!! (I worked with Chris at Jaeckle as well. She kept my secrets secret. She's been very supportive.)

• Jeff Morris -Eva,you are in my thoughts and prayers,and when this is all over,you will be of great help to others who will be going through this also.Your friendship has been a wonderful blessing to me. Thank YOU!!! (Jeff is my brother's ex-brother-in-law...but most importantly he's been a friend for a long time. He's been challenged by life's curves but he's figuring it out. God bless ya, Jeff.)

• Gemma Zotara - Freaking out is normal, but you will be fine. You are always in my thoughts and prayers and from all your Friends posts, you are also in theirs. You have a great support system so you can't lose. Love you! (Aw...Gemma. She was the beautiful receptionist at Jaeckle. Her beauty shines in the inside too. I once wrote a poem for her called the Gemma Dilemma. But there's no dilemma when it comes to calling her my friend.) :)

I have so many more supporters; I have really been blessed. More will be included as I make my way through this disease.

I've got the sweetest friends...thanks Suzanne

Yesterday I got a BIG box at my door. It's this amazing basket of ...well, things I'd never think of. There's a CD of relaxing music to get you though chemo (I'm going to figure out how to get that downloaded and synced to my Ipod) I'm sure it will be just as effective though surgery and radiation. There's a ton of organic stuff; tea and soup and chocolate coconut butter; (who knew?) Organic dried banana...the kind mother nature would eat (that's what it says); organic sour cherry nectar; panda all natural soft licorice; and ginger chews (sweet-hot soft ginger candy, natural, stimulating and delicious....yeah stimulating!) This is from my dear sweet friend Suzanne Hummel who lives in Florida but used to live in little old Angola NY and went to school with me.... a long time ago. Thank you so much Suz for thinking of me and thank you Facebook (can't believe I'm saying this) for bringing so many friends from the past back into my life. Especially now. You guys are all awesome!

Thank you Joan

Recently I received in the mail this wonderful pennant that was created and made by my friend Joan McDonald from Starry Night Designs (starrynightdesignboutique.com) Joan told me that she put all her positive healing energies into the making of my pennant. It is so beautiful. I believe her. Thank you so much for thinking of me.

No Bra Eating Necessary!

Aw...I got the nicest, most caring friends! I swear I am so blessed. I guess threatening to eat your bra is a call for action for my dear friend Maggie in Western NY. Here's the Edible Arrangement she send me yesterday. Aw man....such great fruit. I tell you, I have lots of it too. There's watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, chocolate covered bananas, grapes....it's a fruit orgy. Thank you so much Maggie. Yes, it does help. I can eat this!!!!!

I also got an Easy Button from Arlene from Sweetwater, TX. It's so funny. After I eat something I'm not so crazy about I hit it and it says, "Now that was easy." I'm talking myself into it. I ask Phil do do something and he gets all aspirated because he wants to do something else but he does it and then I hit the button. He loves that. hehe. Thank you so much Arlene for thinking of me! (Phil thanks you too!)

An addition to the I've been Blessed Department

I failed to mention in yesterday's post about a gift I got in the mail last week. Nancy from ALLUNY crochet or knitted me three head huggers to cover my bald head. There's the website where you can see them: http://www.headhuggers.org/patterns/patterns.htm. She made me the Amelia Earhart Aviator Cap in red; the Knit 'Shortie' (I think) in Burgundy and my favorite one is the The 'No-Hair-Day' Hairy Chemo Cap purple. (This woman actually looks like me...well, if you'd thicken her eyebrows a bit in some spots, push her eyes in a little deeper, make her eyelids a little heavier and gave her ears...we'd be twins. :))

Now, I know in the spirit of openness and honesty and bearing my sole...well I have limits. There are some ladies who look good without hair...I mean really good. I'm not being critical when I say, I'm not one of them. That's just honesty. So I'll stick to my wig for the outside world but thank you Nancy for your crafty handiwork. That was so sweet of you! And I have been wearing them around the house. Becca has to take a second look. Bahaha!

Okay, I'm interrupting my moment of self loathing for some gratitude

My 10 year old tantrum is over for the most part. I've found some food that I didn't love but at least I liked it. I got a few things done.
I have to write about Phil's cousins. Phil has an aunt, Aunt Evie, Mama Mahoney's sister. She had a bunch of kids....like the Waltons only they are The Bergers. They all live back in Western NY. Well, all of them sent me a card or two, shared with me stories of their scrap with cancer and faith and our need to stand together. So on Thursday, I wrote them all a letter, thanking them for their cards, prayers and also giving them a status. I sent out 9 letters on Friday to the Berger girls. On Saturday, I got this beautiful boutique of flowers! I hope they see this blog entry to know how much I loved the flowers too.

Phil has some friends at Hertz too. They have been supportive too. I need to thank Linda DeSpiau, Richard Stockwell and Tim Molnar for their wonderful card. I understand that, although her name wasn't on the card, Stephanie Dolison had contributed to my gift card. That is, they gave me a $100 gift card at Walmart. Not only does this mean I have $100 to spend at Walmart, it means I have something to focus on; gawd...what should I buy? It's endless. It gives me something to dream about. Who knew $100 at Wally World could do that? There are books. There's a DVR player. Aw....as soon as I'm up to it: it's Walmart bound I go. Thank you so much Linda, Richard, Tim and Stephanie!