It's "Going Around"

From this angle, I don't look bald at all!

Here is what has been happening in the three months since my last update:   Just as I got the go-ahead for chemo I got sick.  Just plain sick, a bug that was “going around” (said my Drs) and I was laid up for a month.  I couldn’t walk more than five feet without sitting down; I needed to rest between putting on separate articles of clothing; I once fell asleep between putting on socks.  When I started to get some strength back at the end of those weeks my blood counts were far too low to go on chemo.  I’ve had my blood drawn every Monday of this year (*sigh*).  

However, I have now had one round of higher-dose chemo (June 7-14), and my second one arrived today!  Will I make it to round 3?  Who knows?  I might just not be able to handle chemo.  For now, I’m working on this week and next.  These chemo pills are nasty buggers when it comes to delayed affects.

 My second post-radiation MRI was a little more messy, more like we expected to see, and harder to read.  Basically, my Lloyd-zone is now a mushy, colored area on the scan while it gets itself resituated.  It is scary while it does this, but I knew it was coming.  Mark reminds me when I forget, which I am very grateful for.  Everything is still doing what it is supposed to: things are good.

So apart from spending a month sleeping, then some recovery, I have been really well.  Mark and I went to Dallas for the National Federation of the Blind convention and I got to see a lot of my friends.  It was wonderful being there.  We have spent time with my family at The Dinner Bell Berry and Veggie Farm in Delta, PA (look them up on Facebook!)  Mostly, Mark takes home all the berries & jam he can get his hands on and my mother loves him for it.

My hair has started to come back, largely.  There is still a definite bald patch, but it is much smaller now.  One of my oldest friends is getting married in September, and I’m thinking seriously about getting that hair “added onto” before then if that is possible.  At this point, it is still a mystery.  However, my hair grows remarkably fast—I might have possibilities!

Love,--Kristina (& Mark )

P.S.  For those wondering (you know who you are), we are currently on Dove brood #4

At the end of May I shaved off the few wisps of remaining hair on my bald side and had Mark paint me a (temporary) henna tattoo. Unfortunately, it just wouldn't take on my scalp skin, but it sure was a cool design.