Christmas Picture

When they said they were going to do pictures here at Francis Heights, for a very nominal fee, I decided to do it so I could use it in my Christmas letter. As I thought about it I decided that I did not want to be in the picture alone. I knew that I could never get a picture with my little cat, Ember, so I chose my neighbors dog. Klondike is a Great Pyrenees. Normally you cannot have a dog that large where I live, however she is a full certified service dog, and yes, I do give her hugs whenever I can - she is so gentle.

My friend that takes care of Ember, when I am out of town, called me as soon as she got my letter. I had signed hers Katherine and Ember - my mistake. She wanted to let me know that something was wrong with Ember - she looked like a big white fluffy dog. We had a good laugh.

I did not send out my letter until the middle of January because I did not get my pictures until I got back from Omaha. I did not send a letter to everyone, just the people that I received a card, letter, or Christmas picture from. I do love to hear about what has gone on in your life for the past year.

For those that did not receive my New Years letter.
January 2012

Okay! I know that I am late getting out a Christmas Greeting. But I still have    time for a New Year’s greeting. I have always heard that it is better to be late than never at all. So here I am.

The Christmas Cards are fewer each year and I so understand the reasoning behind that. I have become guilty of not sending a blessing to each of you annually. I have no excuse since I am retired and have a lot of time to myself. I do want to thank each one of you that sent a card, a letter, or a picture of your family. I absolutely love to read about what has happened in your family the past year. I have decided to take the pictures from over the years and put them in an album so that I can see the difference from year to year.

I don’t really have much to say about myself since I write on my blog every month or so. http://katherinescancerjourney.blogspot.com/

I spend most of my time trying to stay healthy and keeping the cancer out of my life. I do not want it back and with God’s love it will stay away.

I am sure God has many blessings in store for you this New Year…And I hope they last for a lifetime! Happy New Year

Christmas Letter 2011

"The greatest gift you will ever receive will never be found under a Christmas tree.

It is far too valuable to be stored in any other place but in the depths of your heart." ~Anonymous

Don’t you just love the daily excitement of never knowing for sure what will happen during the day? I am always amazed at the crazy things that actually do happen.

My Christmas vacation started off with just such an event and my trip to Omaha was not without incident. The plane was an hour and a half late taking off and I had nothing to eat and my stomach was turning. When I am on a plane I always order water, but this time because I was hungry I ordered tomato juice to see if it would curb by appetite. The plane was not full and there was no one in the seat beside me and no one across the isle from me. The attendant pulled down the tray next too me and I just left my tomato juice there. I had my hand around the glass so it wouldn't slide off. I had been awake since 4:00 a.m. - I fell asleep. The pilot came over the intercom with a booming voice - I jumped - tomato juice flew all over the place, in my lap, down my pant legs, even down the side of the plane. I tried to clean up as well as I could but can’t do with a little handy-wipe. I walked off the plane looking like a street person. The tomato juice dried in an ugly dark red color. When Johanna picked me up she wanted to go to lunch, I said "no way" I have to get these clothes off. We put my coat and jeans in the washing machine and my coat turned out very well (thank goodness).

I was very anxious to see Johanna since I had not seen her since her back operation two months before. She was doing surprisingly well. Through this last series of events that took place for her she wound up with drop foot on the left. She now wears a brace and special shoes. She does well when she wears the brace. The thing that is most disturbing to her is her lack of energy. I tried to tell her that it was not going to come back over night. Her body has been through major surgery and it will take at least a year. She does want to keep her part-time/full-time job that requires much traveling. She is no longer in a position to lift anything, let alone a suitcase. We will just have to wait and see what takes place in the near future.

We did go out to lunch a couple of times. There were guest for dinner several evenings and someone was dropping by all of the time. They both keep a very hectic schedule. We of course were able to do lots of shopping. All in all I had a wonderful time. Johanna and I were able to have a fast lunch with a couple of my cousins, so good to see people from home.

Update on my special prayer requests:

On Friday morning, December 30th, Jeanne’s great-great niece, Chloe, passed away. She was only 4 years old…now she is in the loving arms of Jesus and she is out of pain.

Katy just had a birthday and she is 4 years old now. She was back in the hospital in December and this will probably continue monthly until she gets a new heart.

Continue to pray for Chloe’s family and continue praying for Katy to get a new heart. We are not ready to lose another precious child.

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can.

Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."                                          

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Bulging disc

As life goes on, the daily blessings go on and on. I cannot believe that this year is almost over. Goodness, time goes so fast. My biggest accomplishment this year was to get a part-time job as a dietary aid at Little Sisters of the Poor, which is located right behind where I live…so convenient. It has not been without complications on my health…but I love the extra money and I love the people I work with. It is such a wonderful place.
 

I have osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and have constant pain. I usually can tolerate low-grade pain and have learned to live with it. This past week the pain increased to my right hip and down the leg. Right – sciatic nerve. I am sure you all have had this pain at one time or another…not pleasant. I had to take some days off at work and I finally decided I needed to see the doctor to get some pain pills…I cannot take Advil per doctor’s orders and he was very upset because I was taking them for the pain.

I saw the doctor on Thursday afternoon and the news was not good. As I described my pain and how it is different this time, he said, “You have a bulging disk.”  Oh great, what am I supposed to do now. I am giving up my job, temporarily, but I am in hopes that they will find something for me that is not manual labor…like part-time receptionist. I will wait until the first of the year to pursue this further. I really do like the extra money but cannot justify giving up my health for it. The doctor said it would take about six weeks to start feeling better. I am just hoping that it does not interfere with flying to Omaha for Christmas and I certainly do not want it to rupture.

Little Sister’s knew that I had back problems when I went to work for them and they were very willing to work with me on my schedule and the hours I worked. I am not blaming any of this on the job even though I don’t think it helped any. I am just a little depressed over this.

Causes of Sciatica

A primary cause of sciatica is a herniated or bulging intervertebral disc that compresses the nerve root before it joins the sciatic nerve.

Several nerve roots leave the spinal cord and exit through holes in the sacrum to combine and form the sciatic nerve, which then passes between layers of the buttock muscles into the deep muscles of the back of the thigh.

Causes of Sciatic Pain

Sciatic pain results from the inflammation of the sciatic nerve and is usually marked by pain and tenderness along the course of the nerve running across the upper buttocks and the rear of the thighs.

Sciatica Symptoms

Sciatica is usually a symptom caused by a herniated or bulging intervertebral lumbar disc. Its distinguishing feature is pain in the buttocks and behind the thighs.

Usually, extreme trauma is not the cause of sciatic pain. An action as simple as bending over may bring on sciatic pain.

                                 Standing, lifting, sitting, or straining may aggravate it.

 

 

When someone says, "Life is hard," ask him, "Compared to what?"

Jesus delivers me from my fears.
Jesus comforts me in my loneliness.
Jesus forgives me when I have sinned.
Jesus died for me so that I could live forever.

Jesus, I owe you everything. From the bottom of my heart, I thank You.

"Your cancer is treatable is not the same as your cancer is curable."

It seems that almost weekly I hear of someone I know or the loved one of someone I know who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. We have fundraisers for every kind of known cancer. I believe that Susan G Komen as been going on for over 40 year now, (I think) collecting millions and millions of dollars each year. Are we winning this battle against breast cancer? Are we winning the battle against any of the cancers?

First I would like to say that I give all the glory to God. There are still miracles happening in today’s world…I am one of them. If we just open our eyes and listen we can see them and feel them and experience them for ourselves.  We have to be willing to listen and research. I agree that there are a lot of waco treatments out there and that is the reason that you have to research for yourself. You have to really want this miracle and you have to depend on God to give it to you. It can be done…it is very real. A negative attitude does not help because we all know that God works in His own time – not ours.

Cancer has no age limit, babies, toddlers, children of all ages, adults of all ages…it is always a shock when someone is diagnosed. Cancer ran swift in my mother’s side of the family and after watching my younger brother go through his cancer and treatments, which did nothing for him; I made the decision that I would never do Chemo or radiation therapy. I learned, “Never say Never.”

I found out that they did not know how to treat my cancer because of the lack of studies on this rare endometrial cancer…they did not know for sure what would work or what would not work…so 12 days after surgery they rushed me right into Chemo…. I thought I must be dying and wished I could. When I refused the last Chemo treatment they wanted me to start on radiation right away…NO way! They finally admitted that they could not reach the Para-aortic lymph node with radiation or additional surgery. That is when I told them I was finished…I wanted “quality” of life over “quantity” of life. I was not going to lie in that bed and die until it was time for God to take me.

Had I done nothing I would not be here today writing this. Instead I took the advice of my best friend, Rebecca, who was with me every step of the way on this journey. She suggested the Acid/Alkaline diet. I researched and researched and it made since to me. What I found out by checking my pH level every day is that my body was the perfect breeding ground for cancer cells – extremely acid. My cancer was spreading to another lymph node and to my liver. (I had breast cancer from the very beginning but they put that off until the endometrial cancer was in control.)

In February of 2010 my PET scan showed that my cancer was not “active”…six months later it was still not active. Today it is not active. I am faithful at keeping my body at an Alkaline level. I am still not an angel about the foods that go in my mouth but I make sure that I get my body and keep my body Alkaline. Cancer cannot live in an Alkaline body. I have posted several things on my blog about the Acid/Alkaline diet so please, please pass on my blog address to anyone you know that has been diagnosed with cancer. They don’t have to bore themselves with the whole blog just the last several months when I am trying to reach everyone I can.

Remember that God sends us angels, like Rebecca, to help us get through these rough times. She was God’s messenger to me and I will be forever grateful. All of us, with God’s help, can make it through this battle. (There were many, many angels in my life through this journey, too many to name them all.) My other loyal angel/friend Laurie made sure she made me laugh everyday - laughter is the best medicine.

Thank you Father God for giving me life and the fight to want to help others. I know that not everyone will listen and it will be too late for others. But Father I do know that there is a way besides Chemo and radiation therapy. If we will just look at this realistically we know that you will not steer us in the wrong direction. If we think about it and we are dying with cancer – what have we got to lose by trying the Acid/Alkaline diet?

Thank you for Your miracle in my life.

I don't have it so tough after all.

It is very difficult for me to dwell on my own health issues when I hear about children and families suffering more than what I can comprehend. Adults being ill, that is one thing, but to have these little children going through cancer and heart failure like adults is just foreign to me. My heart breaks for them just at the thought of what they are going through. Maybe I feel this way because I know what I went through as an adult; how do these little children tolerate the pain? I know that these are only questions that our God can answer…and Jesus holds them very tightly in his arms…our job is to intercede for these children.

Not really
but that is the way I felt last Sunday

I thought I had it so tough for the last several weeks. I wound up with a large bill on my car repairs. Well, I work two evenings a week so I asked for more hours to help pay this bill. All I can say is - be careful what you ask for. Yes they gave me more hours and I wound up working some hours everyday for ten days straight. I was so exhausted that my body rebelled. I have not worked that hard since before I got sick. You think you are ready but your body knows better. Last Sunday I slept right through the alarm while my body was rebelling. I suddenly woke up at 7:45 and was startled at what time it was. I have never, ever slept through the alarm. (Guess I can’t say that anymore.) The problem…I pick up another lady and 7:45 on Sunday morning so we can get there early enough for her to prepare communion.

When I went to work on Monday morning I made it clear that I did want more hours but not quite that many…I just couldn’t handle it. It took me all week to get my energy level back. Starting to feel “fine” again

"But one thing I do: 

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 

I press on toward the goal."   

~Philippians 3:13-14


Please pray for Chloe-3 and Katy-4

Have a safe Halloween!

Special Prayer Needs

Today I am asking for prayers for two very special and brave little girls whose lives are in jeopardy

This request is from my aunt Sister Johanna –

Sister Jeanne’s great-great niece, Chloe, who is 4 years old with a brain tumor, has been through lots of chemo and radiation. They thought she was doing much better but the scan showed that the tumor is back and larger than before. Chloe has been put on hospice care.

This request is from my cousin Kendra:

Dear Facebook Family - I need prayer warriors RIGHT NOW. Amiee Sullivan Murphy's three year old daughter, Katy, has been admitted to Children's Hospital with complications from what appears to be congestive heart failure. This baby NEEDS your prayers on her behalf... please stop whatever you're doing and pray for courage, strength, and a miracle for this family... Please. Pray for hosts of angels to surround this family and bring them peace that passes all understanding. Fellow Mommies and Daddies out there... show this family love and support from complete strangers!!

Their story is posted on the family blog at - http://murphy216.blogspot.com

Katy is 3 years old and has just been admitted back to the hospital in congestive heart failure. She has been on the heart transplant waiting list for a year now.

“Come to me, all you who are worry and burdened, 

and I will give you rest.”

~Matthew 11:28

Lemon Water – Alkalizing Superstar

So What Are the Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water?

Almost as cunningly simple in its title as ‘green drink’ – lemon water is quite blindingly straightforward in its makeup: it is water with lemon squeezed in. Could it be any easier?

The beauty of lemon water is that it is tasty, refreshing and best of all, alkalizing. The lemon juice raises the alkalizing effect of the water so even with standard tap water you can make your drink nice and alkalizing.

Apart from being an amazing body alkalizer, lemon water also gives the following health benefits:

Lemons are antiseptic

             Lemon water has excellent digestive properties and can ease

                          heartburn, bloating and other digestion problems

             Lemon water cleanses and stimulates the liver and kidneys

             Lemon juice contains calcium, magnesium and potassium

             Lemon juice has been known to relieve asthma

             Lemon water (hot) offers relief from cold and flu symptoms while

                          providing some much needed Vitamin C

             Lemon juice is a great skin cleanser

So if you do not do anything else – start every single day with a glass of lovely lemon water!

It is not the relative acidity/alkalinity of the food but rather the effect it has on the body that is important. Seemingly acidic foods such as lemons, limes and tomato are acidic in their basic state, but once metabolized by the body have an alkalizing effect. The high alkaline mineral content of these foods means that once consumed and metabolized they increase the alkalinity of the cells of the body.

Extra Update:  If you are concerned about tooth enamel and lemon water,here are a few suggestions  :
Clean your teeth after your lemon water. Toothpaste is highly alkaline so neutralizes any acids in the mouth – remember the lemon is still acidic until you metabolize it, and at this point it has an alkaline effect on the body

          Drink a glass of (pre alkaline) water – or just rinse your mouth out

          Drink the lemon water through a straw

"When we have the opportunity to help someone, we should do it."  

~Galatians 6:10 (NCV)

Gloria in the white jacket and me in the black jacket,
Ross driving the train.

My friend Gloria and I have coffee once a month just to catch up on each other’s lives. Tuesday was our day to meet so Gloria asked if I would like to take a day trip with her and her husband, Art.  A trip to Coal Creek Canyon proved to be a very memorable day. A friend of theirs had built a miniature railroad and had invited his friends to take a ride. I must admit that I did not know what to expect and neither did Art and Gloria. What fun we had as we took turns riding the rail. Their friend Ross is retired and built the whole thing in his spare time. It is really quite a setup as you can see from the pictures.

Ross has five acres in Coal Creek and a deep slope on his land. He built not only the train but all of the tussles and tracks. He has a huge workshop full of engines that he is working on. An actual turntable where he can turn the train around. All of it was unbelievable that one man could do all of this. It is right out behind his house. What a back yard.

What a house! Ross also built his house over 35 years. It is round with an enclosed walking porch all the way around it. It is in the background of the 2nd picture.

The group of friends that were there all graduated together from Arvada High School. How much fun it was listening to their stories, especially since I just missed my High School Reunion while I was on vacation the week before.

I was thinking of my little cousins Jack and Wyatt, and how they would have loved to be with me riding the rails.

This is the picture on our shirts with all of standing in front of the sign.

I finally got to take a vacation this year - one that had been in the planning since March. On Sunday, 9-11, I flew to Portland Oregon with some friends, then on to Seaside Oregon for the week. The weather turned out to be very cool even on the days it was predicted to be a little warmer. The sun did peak between the clouds a couple of times and we were able to shed our jackets. The water was extremely cold and I only walked into it one time. Little James on the other hand loved it and the cold water did not stop him. Nancy and I did lots and lots of walking while Randy, Sherry, James and Katie went on a tour of the waterfalls and then to the sand dunes one day. They saw magnificent scenery. Little Katie was getting over a broken arm and just had her cast off the day before they left for Seaside. I think she was possibly still favoring it a little bit - only noticeable in the picture.

Randy and Sherry Whitehill, Nancy Johnston,
me on the bike, James and Katie Whitehill

Two years ago I went to Seaside Oregon with the same friends. We had our picture taken together under the sign.Well, Nancy took that picture and T-shirts made for all of us in different colors. Well yes, we had our picture taken together again this year with our T-shirts on. It was a lot of fun. Thank you Nancy. 

Ember stayed with Laurie while I was gone. Laurie picked her up after I left on Sunday and she brought her back home Saturday, the 17^th, before I got home. She was so happy to seem me and became glued to me the first couple of days back. What a sweet heart she is – I missed her just as much.

To my wonderful friends and a wonderful vacation:
Thank You

“A kindness done is never lost. 
It may take awhile, 
but like a suitcase on a luggage carousel, 
it will return again.”
~H. Jackson Brown