Health Update
I have a health update that is a little sad. While on hospice, I agreed to do a study with the hospice doctor that involved giving blood every so often. They took blood and tested it and found that my hemoglobin was very low. I went to the hospital and had three blood transfusions. With further testing they found that my cancer has spread to my upper bowel, causing a slow leak of blood. They looked at all of the options and felt that there was nothing safe enough to do to the tumor causing the leak. I came home to enjoy my family. I will die eventually from anemia, but that is not a bad way to go. It should be painless. I will just get tired and go to sleep. I am at peace with this as I was worried I would have a painful death.
Many visitors have come to see me. I told the relief society president ( head of women’s group at church) that I welcome visitors as long as they are not sick, and would appreciate it if the visit is short, 30 minutes is good. I had a very good visit with my bishop and felt his love and support. My family has been and continues to be wonderful. They love me and support me with whatever I need. I have prepared with them everything I can think of that will need to be done after I pass.
Red dress girl
Hospice is wonderful! My favorite thing is the volunteers. They send a volunteer and we paint together. I had my first session a couple of weeks ago and will paint again tomorrow. I am not an artist and usually copy an image from google images, then add my own personal touch. I painted the painting above and added the girl in the red dress to surf the wave. After I painted it, I decided that the wave is my cancer that will surely overtake me, but I am going to ride it and enjoy it for as long as I can. A few years ago I had painted different paintings of the girl in the red dress in a forest, in a snow storm, leaning on a tree in pain, carrying a heavy sword, climbing a large rock, doing and enduring hard things, etc.
A beautiful song
I have an amazingly talented sister who is a singer songwriter. She wrote a song about me and called it, Red dress girl. Here is a link to the song. I am so touched by it and amazed at the beauty. Thank you Cherie, I love you! And I love all of you reading this blog. My wonderful friends. My life is better because of all of you.