Recent happenings

Meine Damen und Herren, Mesdames et Messieurs, Ladies and Gentlemen...

I HAVE TEETH!!

Do you know how exciting this is? As my sister said, this year I could sing "All I Want for Christmas are my Two Front Teeth" (or six) and actually mean it. But Xmas came early this year and guess what? Surprise! SANTA IS REAL. Her name is Dr. Evtimovska and she is a miracle worker. Truly. She made a mold of my mouth before they removed 1/4 of it (that still hasn't sunk in) and the prosthesis with teeth looks EXACTLY like my real teeth and gums. It's crazy! Now that most of the swelling has gone down and I have this new prosthesis, you literally would not have any idea that I just went through the ringer with that awful surgery. They are strictly cosmetic so I am still on a pretty limited diet, although I am able to eat some more soft foods than I could before. My diction needs work and the lower right part of my face is still pretty numb, but hopefully those things will get better with time. Mornings are rough and I seem to be in the most pain then, but once I am up and at 'em the pain feels very manageable. The skin graft donor site on my right thigh is healing like a champ and I am finally not experiencing too much pain around that area. Also, I have been singing a bit around the house and THANK THE LORD my chords are still fully intact and sound normal, but my diction isn't great so I will really have to work to retrain all of that. Overall, this is great news!

But, alas, there is also some lousy news as well.  I met with my oncologist and he has decided that I need to do chemo for a few months before they do the second surgery. I need to do six 21-day cycles, so that will take me into April and then the surgery will likely be in May.  I am having a double port put in this coming Tuesday 12/23 and then I will have my first treatment on 12/29.  I could have started earlier but given that Thanksgiving was a total bust I would really like to enjoy Christmas with my family and take the focus off of this damn cancer.  

My doctor has been really adamant about me trying to go about my normal life as much as possible and I am so grateful for that. Granted, "normal life" is nothing like it was a month ago so all of that will take some getting used to and so much has changed already or will be changing over the next few months. So the plan is that I will stay in Philly for the first few days after the chemo treatment and then spend the remaining 2 1/2 weeks in NYC before returning to PA for the next cycle. That way I can get back into the swing of things and start to feel alive again instead of like a tired, beat up old lady. Time for Old Bitty Agnes to jump ship for a while. She'll be back soon enough so I might as well enjoy my time without my alter ego!  

So that's the plan, friends. Keep saying those prayers and sending good juju as I go through this truly insane experience. I wish you and your families a wonderful, happy and HEALTHY New Year and my cup continues to runneth over with gratitude for you and your kindness and love. 

xoxo,

kaytie