Friday

This photo of Mario and 3 of his brothers was taken at the airport in Guadalajara, Mexico.
L-R Mario, Edmundo, Frank, and Andy
Edmundo lives in Mexico City, Frank in Houston, and Andy in Guadalajara

Had my 1-yr. check with the surgeon yesterday. Everything looks good with the two incisions, but the area where the port rested in my chest is inflamed and the scar has a keloid. What that means according to the dr. is the incision didn't heal like most, and there is scar tissue rolled up there. He gave me an appointment with the dermatologist who would shoot it with steroid meds to quiet it down, or whatever.

Well, hold on. The acupunturist took a look at it this morning and called it "an angry scar." She put three needles in it during my treatment, then shot it with lidocaine. In a couple of days, it should calm down. She says in acupuncture terms, there is a blockage there that is keeping it inflamed.

I am having some good results from the acupuncture treaments. They are costly, as my insurance does not pay for acupuncture, but I have decided after studying it and talking it over with Dr. Espejo, who has been behind me all through the PT that has been so helpful, that I have everything to gain and nothing to lose by taking these treatments. She is young and well-trained, and a healer just as the PT Natalie is.

I told my surgeon yesterday I feel like I am a lucky girl. He shook my hand and looked me right in the eye and said, "You ARE a lucky girl." Then he said he'd see me in a year. So I guess once you've had this, your doctoring days don't end just because the tests are normal.

Lucky, grateful, thankful. If I can just get this flare-up where the port was cleared up, it'll be back to LBC for me. (life before cancer!)

We are heading out to dinner now with the Stevens for Mexican food. Then Cora, Hannah, and Nolan are spending the night so Carrie and Tony can go early in the morning to Belleville to see Blake play soccer. The kids will be here all day. So far, I have plans for 2 parks, feeding the ducks and fish at the cemetery pond, feeding the deer at the Veteran's home, and letting Cora cook macaroni and cheese and Hannah make brownies. Hopefully, Mario will entertain Nolan with some boy things while we are doing the cooking. Nolan has been asking me to play my guitar for him, so maybe I will teach him a song. It'll be a busy day.