Sunday, May 14, 2006
Happy Mother's Day
Last year I wrote this poem for my Mom. (Click Image to Enlarge and text below) After her trip out here and her care this past month, I can only once again affirm how true ever word and thought expressed here is. Her presence and love lifted me and gave me the strength to recover after surgery and is continuing to give me strenght as I go through C&R.
Please take a few moments today and honor the healing and nurturing love that your mother or any woman has brought into your life. I am so fortunate to have a wonderful mother that is still alive and caring for me. I am also fortunate to have Stef, her mother(Lynne), and sister (Kris), Susan (Zach's Mom), Jocelyn, Sandy Moore, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Kathy Saylor, LIz Smith, Anne MIller, Marianne WIlliamson, Jenny LeBel, Sheila Oilar, Patricia Crane, Leigh Abrahms, Shevam Kohls, Apara Kohls, Patty Sovella, Leslie Whiting, Lori Silverman, Diane Fwygza, Nikola Clay, Karen Dietz, Stephanie Bukelmyer, Marge Rivingston, Vicki Morrison and Aunt Nadine and so many others that have stepped in to nurture me and inspire me. Thank you each for all your love and care and the abundance that you bring to your tables. Have a wonderful day honoring the Divine within you.
Much Love & Life,
North
Mother’s Table
These little singing birds within your arms
They come here for the same reason I do
To receive your living poetry
Extending nurture all around you
With your wide embrace of total acceptance and sacrifice
Within that warm circle, throughout the years,
Are all my fears and tears, soothed into Peace
And rocked away, dissolved into a gentle song
Leaving only the certainty of my life’s existence
Serene in knowing the eternalness of safe haven
From the Holy moment, when you first reached for me
I have had a place in the world
You fed me with creativity, hope, and affection
Memories you pressed into the wax of my heart
Being forever loved, cherished and wanted
Now I am your seed,
Lifted by the wind of your devotion
Seated at Life’s table, surrendered and patient
Extending my embrace in praise
Of all Mothers everywhere for being
God/dess’ opening of itself into the world
(North McKinnon, Mother’s Day 2005)
Status & Treatment Effects
Greetings
This past 10 days or so have been rather challenging. The radiation and chemo have taken their course. So far its not as bad as I was told, yet they keep saying it will get worse. Of course I correct them with "it MAY get worse". Their response... "keep praying". So I am asking for your prayers. There is pain- primarily because the cheek and neck flaps have swollen and press hard inward and outward. And my tongue is dry from the radiation.
I am on Chemotherapy with Cisplatin and Irbutux one time per week for the next 5 weeks (2 down), along with daily radiation. They both cause nausea. The later has created a nasty rash and acne outbreak on my face and upper body. The last three weeks of radiation will be IMRT. I will receive a 1.5 hours of Amifostine for hydration through my "port" prior to every radiation. This is to help save my salavary glands from being burned up by the radiation. So far it really makes me nausiated. That is why they hydrate me beforehand.
I have also had a food tube put in. That is because the radiation at its worse will possible cause mouth sores to the degree I will not be able to swollow. So far I am having moderate pain and swelling on my tongue and as a result I use the tube occassionally. Mainly to take supplement pills.
To offset Side effects I am taking:
Radiation Burn & Dryness:
Biafine lotion
Aloe Vera Gel
Recue Remedy Bach Flower Cream
Nausea:
Compazine 1.5 hours before radiation and at onset of any nausea
ZOftan
Ginger
Irbutux-
Cleocin lotion for rash as needed
Magnesium Oxide for depletion
Sleep:
Ambien
Potassium
Melatonin
Mouth Sores
Vitamin E* topical, (mouth sores)
Salt and Baking Soda Mix
Glutamine* - Reducing chances of mouth sores and fatigue
This past 10 days or so have been rather challenging. The radiation and chemo have taken their course. So far its not as bad as I was told, yet they keep saying it will get worse. Of course I correct them with "it MAY get worse". Their response... "keep praying". So I am asking for your prayers. There is pain- primarily because the cheek and neck flaps have swollen and press hard inward and outward. And my tongue is dry from the radiation.
I am on Chemotherapy with Cisplatin and Irbutux one time per week for the next 5 weeks (2 down), along with daily radiation. They both cause nausea. The later has created a nasty rash and acne outbreak on my face and upper body. The last three weeks of radiation will be IMRT. I will receive a 1.5 hours of Amifostine for hydration through my "port" prior to every radiation. This is to help save my salavary glands from being burned up by the radiation. So far it really makes me nausiated. That is why they hydrate me beforehand.
I have also had a food tube put in. That is because the radiation at its worse will possible cause mouth sores to the degree I will not be able to swollow. So far I am having moderate pain and swelling on my tongue and as a result I use the tube occassionally. Mainly to take supplement pills.
To offset Side effects I am taking:
Radiation Burn & Dryness:
Biafine lotion
Aloe Vera Gel
Recue Remedy Bach Flower Cream
Nausea:
Compazine 1.5 hours before radiation and at onset of any nausea
ZOftan
Ginger
Irbutux-
Cleocin lotion for rash as needed
Magnesium Oxide for depletion
Sleep:
Ambien
Potassium
Melatonin
Mouth Sores
Vitamin E* topical, (mouth sores)
Salt and Baking Soda Mix
Glutamine* - Reducing chances of mouth sores and fatigue
