Thursday, April 2, 2009

A fresh start

Yesterday I had my PET/CT scan. I was hoping that my Sinai oncologist Dr. Kumar would call us with the results. But no, they thought it would be appropriate for me to wait 8 days to get my results. Dr. Kumar is on holiday right now. Needless to say, this didn't sit well with me at all.

Fortunately, today we had our appointment with the doctors at the new facility at St. Joseph Medical Center. They were able to explain the PET/CT results, which seemed to be slightly improved from my last scan in January. There was no spreading or increase in growths anywhere else. The doctors, staff and facility were all very nice and I will be starting maintenance treatment there on April 13. This should be very tolerable as I am only having 1 chemo - Alimta, every 3 weeks over a 9 week period. Then another CT scan. And we'll take it from there. It was a long day, emotionally draining and overwhelming for me. But I still feel we're on the right track. Hopefully Dr. Erlich will re-enter the picture once he has established himself in a practice. But for now, we press on.

Carpe Diem.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Dennis and Zimkids

The pile of 10kg bags of maize meal ready for distribution.
Making dolls - Girls.

Sithibile with advanced case of scabbies. Found her this way when I arrived in October. No money for medicine. She's fine now but it's making it's way through the group. Most get it when they go to the rural areas.

When I sell a doll I ask that the buyer write a note to the child who made theirs. Here the children are reading their notes. Then they will write a thank you note back. When I sell a doll I take a photo of the buyer so the child can see the person who bought theirs.

Making dolls - Boys.

Recent food distribution.

Silethemba carrying 10 kg meal home along with veggies, oil and meat

Brian Dube about 6 weeks before he died

Check out this link and video. You will get a good idea about what the Zim project is doing.

http://www.zimkids.com/video.htm

Carpe Diem.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

I'm home

This morning I, once again, slept in. It's so cool. After my walk on the beach and a quick shower I went downstairs to schmooze with my mom and her friends at a party she was throwing for one of her friends who was leaving the building. Phew, all in one sentence. Ilan drove me to the airport for a nice and uneventful flight back to Baltimore. It was a wonderful couple of days with my mom and friends.


I just wanted to also mention the incredible generosity of my cousin Martin (aka Marty). I was elated to find a note with a check enclosed for our Zim project. I would prefer not to disclose the exact amount suffice to say that it almost matches everything I have collected to date. I and everyone helped and assisted by this project thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You re-define the word "Mensch".


Carpe Diem.

Monday, March 30, 2009

I figured it out


I figured it out. After all these years I finally figured out who my mom is. She is a cross between Don Vito Corleone and Mother Teresa. She really is an amazing woman and mother but I new that all along. She has wonderful friends in the building she lives in and sometimes it seems like she is Don Corleone the way she handles things there. I mean that in a positive light.

What a beautiful day. I got up this morning, kind of early compared to the other mornings and went for my walk on the beach. Green flag today compared to reds and purples. The water was calm, no wind and no man-o-wars.


My mom, Sue (one of her many good friend neighbors) and I went for lunch to Stir Crazy. Then we went to the Apple Store to check out computers. No, not for me, but for Mike when he goes off to college. They make such amazing stuff. Maybe I need to spoil myself?

Ilan, Robin and I went to a movie late afternoon called Duplicity. Not bad. Afterwards we went to McCormick and Schmick for dinner. Howard Palte met us at Starbucks for an after dinner coffee. It was a cool evening. I guess I really ate my way through today or at least it seems that way. But that's a good thing.

My mom was playing cards with her friends so she was busy!

Carpe Diem.