November 28, 2010
Cyber Monday Donates to Ovarian Cancer
For more information go to this website: http://shop.ovariancancer.org/shop/apps
How does this work?
For Shop.ovariancancer.org is a unique online shopping mall where you can shop for the things you would normally buy, from the brands you would normally choose, and at the prices you would normally pay. Here’s the best part – when you shop through this site, you’re also helping OCNA benefit from all your purchases. OCNA has licensed its name to nonprofitshoppingmall, LLC (NPSM), the developer of this unique website, which uses this online shopping site to drive a new revenue stream of unrestricted funds into OCNA’s annual budget — and here’s how that works
- The 500+ retailers listed on the nonprofitshoppingmall (NPSM) website pay a sales percentage or set fees to NPSM. NPSM, in turn, pays sixty percent (60%) of those Retailer Payments to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance on a quarterly basis. The percentages or fees are fully disclosed by each retailer and appear underneath each retailer’s logo.
Does it cost more to shop through this site? Do I have to pay membership fees or anything extra?
No. Prices and services are the exact same you’ve come to expect from your favorite retail stores. No extra fees or memberships are required.
If you want to contribute to Ovarian Cancer Education Awareness and Research, this is your chance to do so! Please at least check it out to see if it is something you might do in the future.
November 25, 2010
Thanksgiving 2010
Today is the day that we give Thanks for all the bountiful blessings that we have been granted. Portland Firefly is very grateful and thankful for so many things….
I love cooking Thanksgiving Dinner but today I will not be spending the day cooking for my family. Today I will be working at a homeless shelter. My duties today will include passing out blankets, hats, coats, gloves and toiletries. As a Flight Attendant, I would often deposit my hotel toiletries in a box designated for the homeless. I never saw ‘the rest of the story’; today I shall.
I wish all of my readers a very Happy Thanksgiving…..
November 22, 2010
Still Chemo-sick
Portland Firefly is still too ill from my wonderful Chemotherapy to write anything of substance yet….
But don’ t worry; that means that the chemo is working!!!!
Even with a forced 30 minute walk (in the cold Portland rain) , I am still in a deep brain fog that I cannot seem to shake off. Quite frankly, I don’t feel too well. And I am grateful that I had the forsight to ask the ladies from church to bring me in a couple of meals, because I can hardly find them in the refrigerator and heat them up; much less try to prepare something! I am not kidding; it’s that debilitating!
Two days ago I burned my oatmeal. Burned Oatmeal! Not only did I have to eat burned-tasting oatmeal, but the crusty pan has been sitting in the sink waiting for me to feel well enough to scrub it out! Ugh! One thing on top of another!!! Maybe a shower and a nap will help….. I really have Chemo-brain this time and nausea !!!
November 21, 2010
Pumpkin Pie Cake Cobbler
Here is a wonderful recipe for a reputation – making Thanksgiving dessert! Enjoy from Portland Firefly!!!
Pumpkin Pie Cobbler:
Mix the following 6 ingredients together and put into a 9X13 pan sprayed with pam.
1 20 oz can of pumpkin
1 C. of sugar
1 13oz can of evaporated milk
3 eggs
1/2 t. salt
2 t. pumpkin pie spice
Put this into the pan and sprinkle 1 box of dry yellow cake mix over the top. Pat this into the batter a little. Sprinkle 1 cup of nuts over the top. Pour 1 and a 1/2 sticks of melted butter over the entire mixture. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes. Serve with whip cream.
Portland Firefly uses brown sugar and adds additional cinnamom and spices because she likes her dessert tasty!
Enjoy!!!! From Portland Firefly…..
Happy Thaksgiving!!
November 19, 2010
Third Chemo
I had chemo yesterday and I’ll be writing a little update for you in the next several days. I’m pretty tired right now and there is a lot to tell…. all good! How’s that for a teaser???!!!
Thank you for your continued prayers.
November 17, 2010
A Chemo Prayer
Tonight I received an email from some friends. This is the prayer that they included in the email. It really lifted me up. I know that many people are praying for me, but I don’t usually get to see their actual prayer. It humbles me and makes me feel honored that you are praying for me. Thank you from the bottom of my Chemo heart!
Jesus, we lift up Pam’s chemo tomorrow and ask that you’d be so close to
her that she would shine your light to all involved. Thank you for your
promises that you never leave us and you give us grace to go through
all things. We love you and give you all praise. Lord we thank you that
you are a caring, gracious, loving, faithful and all-wise friend. Touch
our sister with your healing power we pray. Amen
November 16, 2010
$.99 Taco Tuesdays
On The Border is starting it’s 99 cent tacos every Tuesday. There are a few ‘rules’ but they are easy to follow!!!
Cheap Tuesday eats!!!!
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November 15, 2010
Amazing 22
Portland Firefly has been feeling like something is going on in my abdomen for several weeks now. It is a sensation that I have never felt before and I was understandably slightly concerned. I wanted to ignore it, but then I also had that low-grade nausea that I sometimes get and it wouldn’t go away.
So…. I called the ‘triage nurse’, Robert, at the Cancer center and told him how I was feeling. He said that he would check with the doctor. When he called me back he told me that my doctor said that since I was having such a remarkable response to the chemotherapy (my CA 125 went down from 444 to 96 in 3 weeks) that it could just be the chemo drugs working on my abdominal tumors (which are small). He also gave me the opportunity to have another CA 125 a week earlier than I would normally have one done. I jumped at the chance to do so and my blood was drawn last Thursday afternoon.
Friday afternoon, after 4:00pm I was on my home from watching my Grandson and I had two messages from Robert awaiting my return. In the second message, he said that he had really hoped to speak to me personally but since he wanted me to have the results before the weekend that he would go ahead and give me my test results.
Then he said “Your Ca 125 is 22. Whoo Hoo!, Now you can go and party this weekend!” I have never heard him so excited and happy.
It was then that I realized that he is also invested in my care and survival. He is the one I talk to on the phone whenever I have a question or side-effect or concern of any sort. He is the one who often gives my test results to me. And so he knows as much about my medical condition as anyone… It has to be difficult for the nurses as well as the doctors… This oncology is a nasty business….. patients die….. and it takes special people to work in this field.
And all of the nurses and doctors at Northwest Cancer Specialists are VERY Special People.
Anyway my CA 125 is down to 22 from a very high 444 just 5 weeks ago so I am once again having a remarkable response to the chemo drugs. I am so happy that this chemo is working and it looks like I will not lose my cute curls for a long while.
November 12, 2010
Brazilian Blowout Hair Products
The State of California has started a recall of all Brazilian Blowout Products. They are listed as being formaldehyde free but evidently contain very high levels of formaldehyde. You will want to avoid using these products….
November 11, 2010
Veterans Day
Today is Veteran’s Day. This is the day we should thank those who have served our country and made it possible for us to enjoy all of the freedoms that we have. Be sure to thank at least one vet today!!!
November 10, 2010
Brief Update
Ok, I am finally getting around to giving you all the complete update on my first reoccurrence of Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma.
Back in early August, I started feeling symptomatic but only made a note to myself of the symptoms that I was feeling. My CA 125 was normal that month with a reading of 14. (Normal is 35 or below). The next month, my CA 125 was 18.
Just before I was to travel to California for my girlfriend Chris’ funeral, I insisted that I have another blood test drawn. While I was at her Rosary I was given the news that my level was now 265. An appointment for a CT Scan was made with the doctors meeting to follow a few days later.
My CA 125 skyrocketed to 444 before I could be given my first dose of life-saving poison. But three weeks later, my CA 125 had dropped as dramatically as it had risen — now it was at 96 after just one chmotherapy dose.
I had my second dose of Chemo two weeks ago. I’ll have my blood levels checked tomorrow and I’m scheduled for Chemo again next Thursday.
November 6, 2010
Saturday Reminders
Shop for a Cure at Chico’s – today Saturday, November 6th !!
Tonight we go off of daylight savings time and return to standard time. Remember it is fall, so “FALL BACK” . Be sure to turn your clocks back one hour before you go to bed tonight!!! This means that at 2:00 am your clock should read 1:00 am. It will get dark really early here in the Pacific Northwest!!!!
November 5, 2010
Dr. Heidi
A few days ago, my Primary Care Physician (PCP), Dr. Heidi, had her nurse, Sheena give me a call to see how I was doing. Several weeks ago, their office had received the results of my soaring CA -125 blood tests and Dr. Heidi wanted to know how I was feeling now. It made me feel very good when I realized who was on the phone and the reason for the call.
You may wonder why I consider this unusual. It is because even though she is my PCP, Dr. Heidi is not the doctor that is in charge of my cancer treatments. She takes care of everything else for me, and my cancer specialists keep her informed of my visits and progress and my test results.
I have been struggling under the weight of this new burden that I am carrying in my cancer odyssey and her concern touched me and really gave me a much-needed emotional boost. Medicine is after all, taking care of the entire patient… not just the symptoms or the disease. And her obvious concern in having her nurse call me personally made a big impact on me.
This is the same Doctor that had the duty of giving me my diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer. The fact that she had to be the bearer of such terrible news was made more difficult because it was the first time that we had ever met. I do not envy her duty of being the messenger of terrible tidings. Yet, she handled this burdensome duty with composure, professionalism, and immense sensitivity.
Unbeknownst to me, before she came into the examining room to speak to my Son and I, she had placed a call to the only doctor that I had seen in Portland. It is perhaps the best thing that she could have done, because the next sentence out of her mouth as soon as she told us that I had Ovarian Cancer was ” I have spoken to Dr. Kehoe and she agrees with me on the choice of the cancer specialist that I want you to see.” I had a wonderful doctor/patient relationship with Dr. Kehoe and I respected her judgment, so her agreement on the choice of a cancer specialist was paramount in relieving anxiety.
And so, Dr. Heidi’s compassionate bedside manner has shown through once again. And her nurse, Sheena, was so sweet during the call and she told me to “call if there is anything that I need and she will take care of it.”
And you know what….. I know that she will….
I am so blessed to have wonderful doctors and nurses.
Thank you, God. Please continue to bless them as they care for the sick…..
November 4, 2010
Chico’s Supports Ovarian Cancer
One of my favorite stores is Chico’s. They supply (sell) quality fashionable women’s clothing and I always find something I like when I go in their store!
Well, this Saturday, November 6th, 2010, Chico’s Oregon stores will be donating 10% of all purchases to the SHOC Foundation. The SHOC Foundation is the Sherie Hildreth Ovarian Cancer Foundation and their monies go to OHSU (Oregon Health Sciences University) to support Ovarian Cancer research.
Shop for a Cure at Chico’s – Saturday, November 6th SAVE THE DATE!
4:44 am
Back in January, 1981, Portland Firefly was awakened three consecutive nights at the exact same time. I know the exact time because we had a new digital alarm clock and I would open my eyes, being wide awake, staring at the time on the clock ~~ 4:44 am.
Since my children were small, I was immediately concerned for their safety since I could not make any sense of why I should suddenly be awakened, fully alert, at such a strange hour of the morning. I did what any conscientious Mother would do. I got up and dutifully checked each precious child to make sure they were alright, still breathing and covered up from the chilly night’s air in our remodeled civil war constructed home.
The first night, they were fine. The second night, they were fine. The third night, they were fine.
On the fourth night, as we were readying to go to bed after an evening of TV watching, I made the comment to my husband that I sure hoped that I would not be awakened again at 4:44 in the morning like I had been for the last three mornings. He asked me “What time did you say you woke up?” I replied “4:44 am. It is really strange that it is at the exact same time every night for the last three nights. Not 4:43, not 4:45, but 4:44 am. It is kind of eerie.”
I could tell that I had his complete undivided attention and I could see his mind turning as he experienced an ‘ah-ha moment’. He gave me the strangest look as he intently asked, ”What were we doing tonight?” I said (with the tiredness of an exhausted working mother), “Watching TV.”
He countered with, “ But WHAT were we watching on TV?” I replied, “We’ve been watching the news all night.”
Again, he said, “ WHAT on the news were we watching?” Getting tired of this not fun game, I replied, “The American hostages coming home.”
From his reaction, I could tell that this was the correct answer to his line of questioning, but even thought the ‘light-bulb’ went on for him, I was still in the dark. Not willing to give up so easily, he pursued with ” Yes, we watched the hostages come home. How long were they held?”
I wearily replied, ”Four Hundred Fourty-Four …. oh… days….. Oh! 444!”
He smiled at me as he realized that I had discovered the significance of my awakening for the last three nights at 4:44 am. I had been waking up at exactly 4:44 am for the three nights prior to the Iran hostages being released from captivity after their 444 days of ordeal.
This is a true story. This conversation was held on the evening of January 20, 1981, just hours after President Ronald Regan had taken the oath of office of President of the United States and the Iran hostages were released shortly thereafter.
This crisis has been described as the “pivotal episode” in the history of Iran-US relations. In the U.S., some political analysts believe the crisis was a major reason for President Jimmy Carter’s defeat in the November 1980 presidential election. In Iran, the crisis strengthened the prestige of the Ayatollah Khomeini and the political power of those who supported theocracy and opposed any normalization of relations with the West. The crisis also marked the beginning of U.S. legal action, or economic sanctions against Iran that further weakened economic ties between Iran and the United States.
For more information on the Iran Hostage Crisis go to : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis
November 3, 2010
Sedona Sky
Sedona Sky 1 by Pdxfirefly
Portland Firefly took a trip to Sedona, Arizona several weeks ago. Here are two of my favorite pictures that I took….. I hope you enjoy them.
Sedona Sky 2 by Pdxfirefly
November 2, 2010
Halloween Candy Buyback
Several local dentists are actually buying back wrapped Halloween candy. Dentists are repurchasing the candy for $1.00 per pound and sending the candy to soldiers in Iraq & Afghanistan so they can give it to those war country children.
For more information and to locate a participating dentist, go to this website:
November 1, 2010
Vote Oregon!
Oregonians, be sure to deposit your ballots into a registered drop site box. It is too late to mail your Oregon ballot as postmarkes do not count. In order to be counted your ballot must be received by 8:00 pm Tuesday, November 2, 2010 in an authorized ballot drop box site. You can find one at most local libraries.
Go to www.oregonvotes.org for more information.
