Wow time is really flying fast - especially in retrospect. We had a wonderful, relaxing and fulfilling Holiday break with family and friends (which the bathroom scale sadly attests). Faye has been going in for radiation daily, on week days, and up until this past week it's been the 'walk in the park' that experienced patients have described. It's still very much a 'walk in the park' compared to chemo but the cumulative side effects are beginning to manifest; aches and dry skin in chest and back, sore throat, fatigue... So far Faye has completed 11 of the initial 14 doses which she will finish up on Wednesday, then she will start the additional higher dose or 'boosted' radiation on Thursday.

Faye has surgery scheduled this morning to remove her port followed by radiation this afternoon. Maybe by tonight the day will seem to have flown by!? The surgery should take only about 20 minutes; it's the check-in, pre and post surgery stuff that drags on. The port happens to be in the main 'area of concern' and apparently it has the potential to mess with the next PET scan results. Faye hates IV's and would much prefer to keep the port for the radioactive glucose they will infuse for the next PET (which won't be until the end of April, after the radiation flushes out of her system).

Faye has been working, working, working, on school work but is still not quite caught up and she may end up finishing up one or two of her classes during next semester. She is still planning to go back to school when second semester starts on January 17. Faye is looking forward to getting back in shape for soccer and Heidi Onda, who has already done so much for us - especially in these last five months, and who is a fantastic personal fitness trainer, started working out with Faye last week (what a reality check that is!). And more good news: Faye is showing signs of hair coming in, and in the sunlight it surely looks like it will be red!  Well I really need to scoot out of here and take Faye in for her surgery.  Healthy -and Happy- New Year to every one! ~Lolly