(Source: Austintatious)
Anyway, we managed to add a few more pieces to the puzzle this week. The Goatmother will be starting chemotherapy June 11th. It will consist of 4 treatments, 3 weeks apart, for a total of 12 weeks. Well, that isn't so bad, and honestly, we expected a lot worse. Plus, we are going to get that part out of the way. That has always been the Goatmother's motto: 'Let's just do it and get it out of the way.' This will be followed by radiation, but we aren't absolutely certain about how long that will be yet. That will be discussed in Tuesday's meeting with the Radiation Oncologist.
On the upside, the Cancer Center, here, is a wonderful place. No, really, it is. It is filled with the greatest people, from the receptionists on down, and we feel very lucky. The Goatmother's Medical Oncologist is top notch and her R.N., well, we just can't say enough good about her. (Plus the R.N. likes goats and has already been here to have a look-see. I'd say that is irrefutable proof. Now, if she just likes Peanuts ...).
So, the Goatmother is going to lose her hair. If you ask me, it isn't very good hair in the first place, so no great loss. Besides, I lose hair every summer and, well, it isn't that big a deal. Plus all those goats that go to shows, like my friends over at Herron Hill, get shaved for that event. Maybe we'll just send the Goatmother on over and let the GoatFarmer get her all prepped. She could end up a winner. Stranger things have happened. I wonder if they have an 'Old Broads' class?
And, Oh, goody! We get to have a 'port'! I don't think this is the wine stuff, although the Goatmother could likely use that these days. This is more the 'door' type. Oh! Maybe it is like the Twilight Zone! You know, "You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension— a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over into the Twilight Zone." I hope our beloved surgeon is prepared.
So I think that is where we stand up to now. I think. There certainly is a LOT to assimilate. I may have to go stand on my stump awhile (with a few Peanuts, of course. Brain food, you know.) and try to make some sense out of it. On the other hand, maybe I'll just go have the Peanuts. Stay tuned and thanks for coming along on this wild ride.
" I will take it!
I will take the Ring to Mordor!
... Though... I do not know the way." - Frodo
26 comments:
Thank you for the update, Marigold. The goats and I are often thinking of you and the goatparents. Love and peanuts to all. xox
Dear Claire,
Thanks for those Peanuts. We can ALWAYS use those. :) And the Goatmother says thanks for keeping us in your thoughts.
We certainly have been wondering how your goatmother was doing. Glad to hear she's getting things done and getting on with things. She's a pretty remarkable goatmother you have. :-)
Dear Millie,
No, YOU have the remarkable goatmom. :) Our Goatmother? Some days she's kinda' remarkable. Some days, not so much.
Good to hear your news! I wish Goatmother much luck and huge success on the next journey. Its all an adventure and I think the chemo staff are amazing angels! I remember a hug going into the first treatment and an incredible wholehearted hug when I left! They were amazing. I only have one suggestion...do not eat fried fish on your first meal after chemo...stick with peanuts! You'll never eat fish again! trust me on that one...
Dear DebH,
Ha! Ha! The Goatmother's Oncologist has already warned her not to eat her favorite meals because they won't be favorites any longer! But fried fish???? Oy. What ever were you thinking? :)
Ok, Marigold. Tell your goatmother that some people can eat anything they feel like during/after chemo. They may eat carbohydrates by the truck load, though. Fresh bread daily from the local bakery, huge amounts of fresh fruit, and UMQUA ice cream are highly recommended menu items. And tell goatmother not to listen to any horror stories. Remember those horror stories you may have heard about humans having babies and how some of them had 97 hours of labor and a 17lb.-kid? I mean child? Tell her to listen to her own body and to stay in the moment, the hour, the day. No future tripping, please!
Dear Zitrone,
The Goatmother is cracking up over the 97 hours of labor and the 17 lb. kid! Thank you for making her laugh. :) Blessings on your head!
Marigold, thanks for all this info. Maybe, to be in solidarity with Goatmother, you should shave your head. And then post a picture of yourself. I bet you will still be the best looking goat in the state of Washington.
I'm glad the Goatmother has a schedule now. And I'm really glad she has such a great medical team, especially since it includes someone who likes goats. (Which as we all know is a mark of very good taste.)
P.S. Dear Goatmother - As Gandalf said to Frodo, so we say to you: "We will help you bear this burden, as long as it is yours to bear." Thank you for letting us be part of your Fellowship.
Forewarned is forearmed....or four legged possibly too. Glad you have a clearer picture as to what's going to be happening with the goat mother. Lots of live from Wales!
You'll be starting your chemo on mom's birthday. That's got to be a good sign! Hang in there, we'll all be thinking about you here in Arkansas.
Dear Goatmother,
If you do go over to Herron Hill to have your head shaved--by the way, get your underarms and legs done at the same time, why not?--just a bit of advice: Do NOT get on the stand until the goatfarmer fills the bowl with your favorite treat. We know Marigold's favorite treat is peanuts, but what's yours? M & Ms? Ice cream? Do not let the goatfarmer tell you she will put in the treats after you get on the stand because sometimes she tells her goaties this and when they get on the stand there is NOTHING in the bowl and NOTHING put in it! It is a wicked trick! Be demanding and then when up on the stand you won't even mind the clipping because there's really nothing like having a free favorite treat to camoflauge your problems.
Dear Ozarks Goat Girl,
I know. That GoatFarmer is TRICKSY! I will tell the Goatmother to take your advice seriously. She says she shall have to contemplate what to get in the bucket. Come to think of it, though, maybe we ought to go in the afternoon because if the GoatFarmer hasn't had her coffee yet, there is no telling if she might mistake the Goatmother for someone else and there AIN'T gonna' be no milkin' goin' on!
Dear Hillbilly Cuz,
Hey there!!!! I wonder if Ozarks Goat Girl lives near you? Anyway, yes, a good omen on that date. That is definitely how we choose to look at it. In the meantime, hug those little bitty horses for me! :)
Dear Faith,
Yes, of course there is always that bit about 'a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.' However, we'll try to keep that Goatmother in check. We are so very grateful for everyone traveling with us on this adventure, but Wales? Well, we shall entrust you with the outer defenses. :) Besides you have 3 of the cutest and best defenders on the planet, me thinks. :)
Dear Mrs. Micawber,
A Fellowship! Yes, that is DEFINITELY what this is! Thank you for traveling to the dark doors of Mordor with us. And, as the official muse, we think we might have to write a story soon and it will be all your fault. :)
Dear Ginnie,
I do love the Goatmother. Really I do. But I ain't gettin' nowhere near the GoatFarmer and those clippers! It isn't that I don't want to be in solidarity with the Goatmother, it is just that I DO NOT want to go to any shows. And with that GoatFarmer, well, you just never know. Besides, I wouldn't want to compete against the Goatmother in the 'Old Broads' class. Aren't I considerate?
Thanks you, Marigold, for the update on the Goatmother's upcoming treatment. I like what Mrs. Micawber said, we will all help the Goatmother bear this burden!
All the comments about getting clipped just crack me up! :)
Marigold, if I knew how to post a photo here, I would do so. If your goatmother wants a good laugh, she should see Wolfi's mother without hair!!! Although they tell her she has a nice skull, that really is no consolation.
Wearing some sort of head dress is either too warm, too cold or just ridiculous looking. However, she found one purple (her favorite color) scarf that she wears all the time, tied in the back, and it looks quite good. She wears big hoop earrings with this arrangement but that presents a problem: People keep asking when they can come and have their palms read.....
Dearest Zitrone,
Being an animal, I can say this in all good conscience ... Wolfi's mother is beautiful and I am SURE Wolfi thinks that without a shadow of a doubt in his mind. The Goatmother did order a couple of nice scarves that sound much like what you describe as your beloved purple one. There is something quite mysterious and intriguing about being a gypsy, don't you think? I'd go for that palm read.:)
Dear Candy,
And we are so very glad you are along for the ride. Got any spurs? We may need to use them on that 'C' stuff!!! Then we'll shave it!
May 29th.... Having been on a bit of a blogging and Net holiday... Wow, that's a whole lot of info to digest!
Glad that you have the outlines of the plan. Having a plan is always a wonderful thing. (Another one of those all-purpose-mottos, which we 'olden folk' come up with.) :-) But it's true! Plans rock. They let us know how to get ourselves ready, and all that jazz.
Since as I have said, our daughter went through treatment for breast cancer, a couple of years ago, the general routine is kind of familiar.
(Mmmmm, is there any better way to put, that last sentence? WEll, you understand what I am trying to say.)
She got a wig, to wear to work. But for all else, she used a pink baseball cap.
Or how about, just always wearing fancy ear rings??? I think that look is cool too. Why the hell should men be the only sex, who can look perfectly fine, with no hair? Huuuuuuuuuu? Huuuuuuuu? Huuuuu? HOw come, ask I!!!
Hugs, hugs, hugs...
"Summer set lip to earth's bosom bare,
And left the flushed print in a poppy there."
~Francis Thompson
Dear Auntie,
You make me laugh! Why the hay indeed. :) Hmmm....maybe there is a bit more depth to that statement, 'sounds like a plan', than we realized. :)
Not to worry, of course they have an Old Broads class. They call it Aged Does. You will fit right in. Just try to stand up straight if you enter.
Dear Goatfarmer,
It is very good to know that they have such a class. Do you think the Goatmother could win? She doesn't stand up very straight. Come to think of it, though, it is probably a good thing she isn't very tall. Yes, she'll likely fit right in. Sharpen up those shears. But I'm sending her there because I don't want you anywhere near me with those things. I'm just sayin' ...
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