Sunday, October 16 - morning

Last Chemo is Over! Well friends, I can at least say now that I won't be doing any more chemo treatments. I had my last one this week! I am as usual still feeling some of the side effects from it: severe headaches which make me a little nauseous, some intestinal problems, sensitivity to cold, and getting tired easily. BUT...it is SO good to know that this was my last treatment.

A Nice Surprise: This past Wednesday, when I was finishing my last chemo treatment, I was given a wonderful gift in the form of a surprise lunch. All of my co-workers at InSite, plus some clients and friends, were waiting for me at a restaurant. This was their way of congratulating me for making it through the last chemo treatment. Needless to say, I was touched by the gesture and somewhat speechless. The support from my co-workers and friends has been one of the constants throughout all of this that has helped me cope and make it through the tough times. I am forever grateful for that.

What's Next: I have a couple of blood tests in the next few weeks. Then, on November 3rd, I will have a full-body CT Scan done to verify they there is no cancer left. I know that will be the result of the test. After that, we'll schedule the day surgery to remove the port from my chest. Once that is all done, I will consider myself beyond all this. It should all be done by mid-late November. Almost there!

My best wishes and thoughts go out to all of you...John

A Day at the Airport - Angels and Inspiration at Every Corner (From Cindy):

John and I went to Denver this last weekend to visit one of our best friends, Carmie. The trip was just what the doctor ordered. The weather (initially) was great! So we spent a day in Boulder which is a very earthly and spiritual community…which you know we loved.

On the morning of our departure (Monday the 10th), we awoke to 6 inches of snow and rain!!! What a surprise…it was a beautiful sight…but the hitch was getting home. At 10:00am we left for the airport and waited for our 1:00pm flight, which was finally cancelled at 4:00pm.
A United attendant told me there was no way to get back to Dallas that day.
I was concerned because we had scheduled John’s last chemo treatment for the next morning.
We even discussed getting a car and driving. A nice man in line next to us from Denver informed us that they had closed the two highways that would lead to Dallas.
He was so nice and he wasn’t like a lot of the other people in line who were angry and fuming.
Then we took a chance and went to another counter where this girl got us on a 9:30pm flight to Dallas that night. I told her she was our Angel. I was so grateful for her assistance and kindness.

We then had 5 hours to keep busy so we went to a restaurant and ordered a bunch of
food and of course some drinks. When we walked in I noticed a flight attendant sitting in the corner alone. John and I talked about how we thought it must be tougher for them in situations like this. A lot of people were so angry about their flights…and all the airlines were trying to do is keep people safe in bad weather conditions. Well… later on this woman approached our table and asked if we were newlyweds. John and I surprisingly asked why? She said we seemed so in love and that he was holding my hand. We thought how cool that our love seemed to make her day. John said it made his month.

Then we went to the gate to hang out and wait. I pulled out some illustrations I had been working on and proceeded to finish them up.Soon thereafter, a little girl and her dad walked by me…she was excited at the fact that I was drawing. She was all of 4 years old. She tugged on her dad’s leg to get her lil pink backpack and pulled out a pad and pen and started drawing. I told John …how cute… I inspired someone. It made my night. When I saw her boarding the plane she still had her pad of paper and pen in her lil hands. Maybe someday when she becomes a famous artist she’ll think back to the day when she sat at the Denver airport drawing on a cold winter day.

Finally we boarded the plane to head home. We just had to go and get d-iced…then all to power on the plane just turned OFF…oh my gosh I got scared. Supposedly someone prematurely unplugged the plane from the external source before the internal power took over.
That was the creepiest feeling...its like when you lose power during a storm in your house.

Anyhoot we got home at 1:00AM WHOOOHOOO. We were so happy. The greatest thing is that we had each other all day. Even though a lot of people where angry and negative in the airport we found happiness and hope in the spaces between them.

Love and light
Thanks to all our friends that sent us light and energy for our safe return.

Cindy