Waiting at Vancouver Airport

It's Saturaday morning and we are waiting here at the Vancouver airport to fly home. Just got off the boat this morning. The cruise was wonderful and I had a great time. Hopefully this weekend I will be able to post pictures. I have so many beautiful pictures. We had beautiful sunny weather the whole time we were gone. They say that is so unusal for Alaska and it usually rains everyday. We had bright sunshine every day. I love those days sailing on the ship when the weather is so beautiful. Thursaday was one of those days. We went to Glacier Bay that day and the glacier was bright blue from the sun beating on it. It is so beutiful. I have pictures. I am doing well and have a wonderful trip, It felt good to be back on a cruise sailing on the ocean. I love to cruise!

Hope you have many moments that take your breath away. I had many this week.
Love,
Debbie

Cruising to Alaska

So excited to be leaving on Friday for my cruise to Alaska. We will fly to Vancouver on Friday to spend the night and board the ship on Saturday. I'm so excited. It's been 2 years since I've been on a ship cruising. I love being out on the ocean, especially on sea days. It is so beautiful. The only thing about this cruise is that it will be very cold. The weather in Alaska has been about 50 degrees. Not very warm. I'm not going for the weather but to see the sights and animals. I also want and need to rest. These past few weeks things have been really crazy. I have had so many tests, xrays and blood draws. Yesterday it was awful. I waited 2 hours to take an xray on my back. Oh the xray took less than 5 minutes. That was crazy.

The ship called my travel agent, Bernice and offered us an upgrade to a cabin one level up. I can't believe how beautiful our suite on the ship is. We have our own private veranda, a sitting area, double sinks in the bathroom, separate shower and tub including a whirlpool tub. I think because it will be cold we will be spending alot of time in our room. I have been getting up at 3 in the morning for the last few nights and I have been looking online at the ship. I know where every thing is and plan to see it all. The ship is so big and I have never been on one that big. Sebourn Legend is only 200 passengers and this ship Holland America is 1800 passengers. This will be different but I'm not complaining. I'm going to love it!!!!

So I will have pictures and lots to tell when I return on the 29th. I'm sure there will be many moments that take my breath away and I plan to enjoy each and every one of them.

Love,
Debbie

Heart Biopsy and Other Tests

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION RED DRESS FUNDRAISER
MATT, MARK AND ROB TAKING JET SKI OUT OF LAKE

MATT AND ME

WHAT A MOMENT!

"MY MATT"

MATT AND CUPPY AKA CHOPPY

ME AND MARION ENJOYING THE MOMENT

MARK PLAYING LADDER BALL

MATT AND CUPPY SUNTANNING

LITTLE MARKIE

IS HE CUTE OR WHAT?

PAPA MARK AND LITTLE MARKIE

My 4 month heart biopsy was yesterday. Monday Mom and I spent the night at the Fairmont in San Jose. Debbie and Gary joined us and we had lunch with our liquor receiver, Rick Cole at the Grill on the Alley. We had a wonderful lunch. That evening we met Ron Ableman, credit manager for Sysco Foodservice for dinner. I haven't seen Ron in a few months and it was so good to see him. We had dinner at Morton's Steakhouse and of course it was a great dinner.

I was so anxious worrying about the heart biopsy the next day. I have been suffering with pain in my joints and right hip. The hip pain has kept me up at night and I haven't sleep very well. That night I took Decadron and it kept me up. At 3:00AM I decided to get up. Mom and I had a beautiful suite and so I went into the living room and watched a movie. I saw "Dear John". What a great movie. I cried from the start to the end. You must see this one! Mom woke up around 5:00Am and we had breakfast in our room before we had to get to Kaiser by 7:00AM. It would be a long day. Heart biopsy at 7:45AM; clinic at 10:00AM; support meeting at noon until 1:30PM and then off to chemo in Santa Rosa by 4:30PM. Wow was I tried last night.

Today I received all my test results. The first and most important was the best news. I FINALLY WENT UNDER 100 FOR MY LAMBHA LIGHT CHAIN COUNT - IT WAS 96.5. I'm so happy to see it below 100, especially that the number of chemo weeks have been decreased from 3 to 2 and Decadron lowered from 40mg to 20mg. The treatment is working. Thank God!

My heart biopsy came in at a 1a/1r heart rejection. I was hoping for another NER (no evidence of rejection) but this is a slight rejection. The doctors are not concerned. They did xrays on the hip and there is nothing wrong. They think it could be the statins I'm on causing joint pain. They asked me to take more pills called Q10 which helps with inflammation. Hopefully it works.

I realize my life is going to be maintaining this body. It is like a job each day. I have to do things to stay healthy and strong. I have alot to live for.

Last Friday I got to be a model for the American Heart Association Red Dress Fundraiser. It was so much fun. I got to pick a beautiful dress out, get my hair and makeup done too. I met so many wonderful women who have had open heart surgery too. No one there who had a heart transplant but we all shared the same feelings. It was a beautiful moment!

My Sharks have made it to the third round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. We have waited for this for so many years. GO SHARKS!!!!

Hope you like the pictures. Of course there's pictures of Little Markie, the trailer and spending time at the lake, the Red Dress fundraiser and more. Hope you enjoy them.

Update on the headstone for Jazmin and Jamae. I'm happy to share that the headstone was finally installed last Saturday. It is absolutely beautiful. Evelyn went to the cemetery and took a picture with her cell phone. I have to figure out how to get it on my blog or when I get to see it in person I will take a picture and share with everyone. All I can say is thank you for all who donated. Seeing that picture took my breath away! Evelyn told me that Jazmin's dream has been fulfilled. I know she is smiling and her heart is very happy. I can feel the love!

Next week I will leave on my cruise to Alaska. I'm so excited to finally be able to go on vacation. It will be a relaxing trip. I'm excited to see the scenery and be on a ship in the ocean. There is a great feeling being out there at sea. I expect to make moments that take my breath away.

Go out and make moments that take your breath away! That is what life is all about!

love,

Debbie