Katie's BMT Updates

Dear Katie,
Don't know exactly what to say at this point except that I totally get your frustration. This just proves to me what I already know is that medicine is not an exact science. Let's try a little of this and if that doesn't work try a little of that and then there is always plan D, E, F etc. Meanwhile the patient is totally miserable and mad and on and on. I've been there with legions of patients of all kinds and that leaves me in the middle, usually. But I've become a good sounding board of sorts. anyway, gald that you can vent and let us out here hold the faith out here when you can't. Just float along with your emotions to the best of your ability and the other shoe won't drop.
Well, talk with you soon.
Love,
Mom

I had a drea the other night and where My fam met up with your fam and you had hair! Was it really a dream? I was really wondering when i woke up. You looked really great, Katie. I haven't seen you in s while(outside of my dreams) but I know you look awesome. Bitch all you want, I think you have earned the right. It will all be over soon hopefully, knowing "soon" is a relative term. Know this though, you are an inspiration to all of us and I fell like a real wimp about not wanting to go to the dentist tomorrow.

I'm guessing I won't see you at Brendan's Saturday, but it will be great to see you when I do.

Curtis

Enjoy your cow! Too much soy isn't good for you anyway.

Keep hanging in there, girlfriend. We're all still rooting for you!

I love it when things are so upside down that you're actually rooting for the nervous breakdown because that's preferable to all the physical manifestations, such as the "dreaded digestive GVHD." Who could blame ya, though. Yay, dairy! I have so much respect for other people's political food choices (not for other people's infantile resolve to eat only chicken nuggets and pizza and fast food burgers and things with corn syrup and refusals to eat fresh fruit and vegetables, but I digress onto my own soapbox) but if that grilled cheese followed by a scoop of Bi Rite salted caramel ice cream are getting you through right now, then I want your poor bruised body and psyche to have them. As you are well aware, I think food is one of the pleasures of life, and one of the few things that we are fortunate enough to have in our control. This process doesn't allow you much control, cruelly, even over your food sometimes, so carpe diem, girl. You know, soymilk and almond milk are quite yummy in chai, though. Time and place.
Love and creaminess, always.
Shona

pps- the bee costume is the very cutest, yes Vinnie and I love the tail, and that photo of big bee Zach among plants is great.

We got shoes dropping all over the place, but let me say how cool it is that you just keep givin' em all a boot to the ass! (Pun intended). I can only imagine how frustrating and at times disheartening it is with all these battles up and down on the road to recovery, but do remember that you are every day further along that road! Certain parts of the road are easier and sunnier, and some of them are through sucky, swampy areas... But I for one (well, for the many who post here) have been super impressed at how well you keep on truckin' regardless. And sidenote: Id recommend the Grateful Dead song of the same name (Truckin' that is) to help too... that and "Two Little Birds" by Bob Marley... and "Someday" by Cracker. Three of my all time favorite feel good songs. And since you can have it again, cheese, an all time favorite feel good food. Mmmmm.... cheese.

-Aaron

What a trooper you are, Katie. Eat that ice cream like nobody's business! Sending strength and good wishes your way...

Love the bee costume, especially the bee butt!

I'm glad you've been sprung from the big house and sorry to hear you've been feeling crappy. I can certainly understand why you're feeling frustrated! I know it feels like your body is falling apart sometimes, but from here, it looks like your body is actually doing a good job of holding up in spite of chemo, a bone marrow transplant, and a bonus gallbladder surgery. Not to mention the wear and tear that comes with being a mother, a wife, and a human! Try not to be so hard on yourself, my dear.

Hooray for the return of dairy! I understand that humans drinking cow's milk doesn't actually make sense, but... but... why then is cheese so tasty? Here, in Västerbotten County, they're known for a particularly sharp and slightly bitter cheese. I haven't tasted it yet, but I do hope to visit the cheese museum at some point. I did visit the moose museum last weekend, where I saw but did not sample moose cheese. Which I shall henceforth refer to as meese.

I'm hoping for smoother, hospital-free times ahead. Thinking of you always!

so much love,
Charlene

Hey, I was so glad to hear that you are out of the hospital. Hopefully we can talk sometime this week about the serious stuff, but for now some advise...
Pick up the peas with your fingers! At some point you have to let some of the frustration go and realize you need nourishment!! Zach will think it's funny and while yes at some point you will both have to go back to eating peas with a fork, for now he will laugh and tell people how he and his mom ate peas with their fingers! It will also give you a little laugh therapy, which IS the best medecine. I am off to the doctor so I will write more later, but I am thinking about you and hopefully we can talk soon.

Brandy

Katie, Ditto everyone else's comments re: your right to bitch, eat dairy to your heart's content, feel 10x more than frustrated, and adore Zach's bee tail (and the rest of the costume). Think of you every day, may times a day. Kim may be living with me for several months. She's applied to Columbia's (Teachers College) doc program in Comparative Ed and is waiting to hear if she's accepted. Meantime, she's interviewing for a job in Philly dealing with refugee services. Grandma is fine and sends her love. Take care and enjoy the ice cream and cheese (well, maybe not together!). Love, Aunt Kathy

Sigh...I am frustrated on your behalf. I can't imagine all of the variations in your senses of hope and loss and then hope again. I did chuckle, however, when I imagined the impact of Zach's comment, "Mommy's in the hospital", on an otherwise benign conversation.

Sending you LOTS of LOVE!
Adrienne

Katie-la,
No new blog post from you, so I'll just comment again, I mean why stop now?! Just wanted to say for the 400th time that I'm so sorry it's like this, and I know you can make it if you try, and keep on keepin' on and Sisters are doin' it for themselves (and gettin' by with a little help from their friends (and a lotta help from their loved ones), a few of whom seem to be of the aged cheese variety) and some more cheesy favorite songs. Here's more cheese, thank you for being a friend.
I better go before I launch into songs from Beaches.

Shona

Hmmmm--no, that's not a bee sound. The Hmmmmm is me concerned that your last post was almost a week ago and the day before you were off to the medicine wo/men. I do hope all of the news was good.

Zach's been costume is adorable. If I had one, I would not want to take it off either. Give the lad a big hug from me. Then, put your own hands on opposite shoulders and squeeze--a hug from me to you. I do wish I lived close enough to pop in on "down" days with balloons and entertaining tales of your grandmother and father.

E.g.--Aunt Sylvia was driving the car with all of us kids in it down hilly deserted back roads in Wisconsin. We were late to wherever it was we were going, so she had us roll down the windows and stick our arms out. "We need to fly." I suppose you couldn't do such a thing today without being cited had a policeman seen us; but with our arms out the window, we flew--and made a memory that makes me smile all these years later.

Love, Cousin Eva

Hi Katie,
I am hoping no news is good news and you're resting and recovering by a cozy fire on this gloomy gray day, curling up with a great book perhaps.

I, like everyone else on the blog, am frustrated over all you've had to deal with lately!

Just wanted you to know I'm thinking of you. And thanks for posting the adorable pics of the Cutest Bumblebee.

In case you need reminding, feel free to call me whenever you need a listening ear.

Big love,
Meredith

Dear Everyone,
This is Katie's mom-I jumped on a plane to visit Katie and family last week-end. I had to see her, just couldn't wait around here in OKlanhoma. I'm was so gald to see and visit with her. She is OK, weak and frustrated, but keeping up really good considering all the obstacles lately. I am so proud of her and her family for how well they have all done. Ian has done so well with all this and is so supportive with Katie and Zach, he's a great dad. Zach is such a little man, can't say enough about him, absolutely delightful and wonderful kid. I also got to see Peter and family and meet Maizie. Zoe showed me the whole house and Maizie let me hold her. What beautiful girls!!! I am so gald that Katie and peter are so close.
I am ever so grtaeful for the visit and glad that I JUST DID IT!!!
Peace and joy to all of you out there whom I've gotten to know over the internet. I thank everyone of you for being there and all your words of support.
Love to you all,
Barbara