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I don’t want to!!!

August 14, 2012 by altatwood

I’m here for my last A/C treatment – the last of the worst chemo. I smiled as the nurse put the needle in my arm and took a bunch of blood. And again while she flushed it with saline to ready it for the IV. And I kept smiling and chatting as she realized she needed to take more blood because I am participating in a study and had to do it all over again. And then as it took forever to make my next few appointments for the next 12 weeks of chemo, which I do not want. It was supposed to be over today. And then my hair would start growing back. But it’s not. Yes, we’ll be done with the worst, but in three weeks we’re starting 12 more weeks. Ugh. I want to scream. I don’t want to smile and be nice. I want to forget this whole damn thing! I don’t want them to pump the poison into me today. I am so damn sick of being sick! And bald! Deep breaths before I flip on someone…. nurse will be here in a second to start. And I will smile and be nice. And soon all my friends will be here for my chemo party and then maybe my fake smile will be real…

Posted in Cancer | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments »

Blonde

August 12, 2012 by altatwood

I am in shock. Just now, at the Mass Pike rest stop on the way home from Western Mass, I looked in the bathroom mirror and realized the hair growing (in random patches- don’t get too excited for me) on my head is BLONDE. My jaw dropped and Tara, a few sinks away, looked at me inquisitively and said, “You look perplexed – what’s up?”

“Is it me or the light in here or is my hair really growing in blonde?” I asked.

“I noticed that yesterday,” she confirmed, “You do have the genes for it.”

“But I don’t think I want to be blonde!” I whined (even though I can’t stand whining.)

“That, my dear, is the beauty of being a woman,” Tara declared. “You can dye it any color you want! Besides, maybe it’s the peach fuzz like when babies are born, and it will change …”

I was born with a full head of dark brown hair. And I love(d) being a brunette. I am hoping I will be again, but if I am not, I will not dye it. Just like when my hair was starting to go grey, I was letting it. So if I end up blonde, I guess I will just channel my inner Marilyn … maybe not all the time, but certainly when I want to have fun! 🙂

Posted in Cancer, Discovery | Tagged , | 4 Comments »

Walk/Run for Dana-Farber and The Jimmy Fund – and Me! :)

August 7, 2012 by altatwood

I seriously have the best friends on earth. Two of my dearest are devoting their time and energy to fundraising for Dana-Farber to help conquer cancer:

  • On Sunday, September 9, Heather Wojdag Forbes is leading team Amy’s Victorious Secret (no, sorry to disappoint, we will not be in lingerie…) in the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. Somehow she is fitting this in amidst getting her twins off to college, her younger two ready for school, working full-time as a nurse and teaching her first college course! Thank you, Heather! If you’re available September 9, please join her team – you don’t have to do the whole marathon, there are 13-mile, 5-mile and 3-mile options. And if you can’t join, please consider sponsoring – here is a link to Heather’s fundraising page:  Heather Wojdag Forbes’ Fundraising Page  Thank you!!! Oh – and for every donation over $10, we’ll write the name of a friend or loved one on the team shirts!
  • On October 14, Tara Henrichon will run the Newport Half Marathon, also to raise money for Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund. Tara, an avid runner who is also doing the Chicago half-marathon in September, was the first person to lure, uh, I mean inspire me into running and we were going to run Newport together. Instead, I will be there cheering her on as she runs with the intent of helping to make a world without cancer! Tara is another unbelievably busy woman and I’m not sure how she can find the time, but I so appreciate it – thank you, cousin! Please consider sponsoring Tara’s run: Tara Henrichon’s Dana-Farber Fundraising Page Thank you!!!

And I have just signed up and joined Heather’s team  – I will walk with Team Amy’s Victorious Secret for the Dana-Farber 3 mile route – the last three miles of the Marathon. You are welcome to sponsor me, too,  at Amy Atwood’s Fundraising Page . Or better yet, join the team. Or just join us at the finish line for fun and drinks after. Or all of the above! 🙂 Thank you so much!!!

Posted in Boston, Cancer, chemotherapy, family, Fundraising | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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