Uncategorized Archives - Page 3 of 5

Post Trekkie Exhaustion!

Sep 14, 20168 CommentsUncategorized

That thingamabob in Hannah’s hands is called a bat’leth. It is a Klingon fighting weapon. Who knew? Our daughter, that’s who! In fact, Hannah was interviewed on the SciFi Channel at the convention: During the interview, they asked Hannah Star Trek trivia questions – and no easy ones as far as I was concerned. She got all but one correct and won a piece of Pez for her efforts! Could a parent ever be more happy, proud, and profoundly tickled? I don’t think so! Hannah loved every moment of her 13th birthday present, and it is a trip we will […]

The Slaytons Go To NYC Star Trek Convention!

Sep 1, 20164 CommentsUncategorized

Well, if you ever told me I’d ever be going to a Star Trek convention I would not have believed you. Not that I don’t like Star Trek – I do – but … but … Our daughter REALLY likes it. Like, a LOT. Going to the convention is our present to her for her for her 13th birthday, which is tomorrow – the day the convention starts. And, although I blush to admit this, we went ahead and bought the VIP tickets. Really? Yes, really. What can I say, except having brain cancer has made me a […]

Aug 23, 201612 CommentsUncategorizedCancer assumptions, Cancer MRI Results, Children's Author Brain Cancer, Follow up, Fran Cannon Slayton Brain Cancer, Fran Cannon Slayton Little Bee Books, Fran Cannon Slayton Snowball Moon, Fran Cannon Slayton When the Whistle Blows, MRI, MRI Results, Scanxiety

Bottom Line: MRI Results Are Great! The short version: the MRI last week showed that there is no new visible growth of the tumor. Hooray! The long version is slightly more complicated. It took a day longer to get to that result than I expected. Expectations are often such impediments to the happiness of the moment. If I could better let go of my expectations I think I would be happier as I deal with what is actually happening. I was told that I would get the MRI in the morning, the radiologist would read it, and we’d have the […]

Driving, Feeling Better & MRI Tomorrow

Aug 15, 201618 CommentsUncategorized

Well, it has been awhile since I posted last. It’s because, as of July 17th, I’ve been allowed to drive again! Oddly enough, I wasn’t biting at the bit to get back at it. The break, while often majorly inconvenient, also had its own special, slow-downy charm about it. In many ways, not being able to drive was very relaxing. But at other times I felt a bit like a hostage in my own house. I may have mentioned this before, but the technical, mechanical aspect of driving came back the moment I sat back down behind the wheel. It […]

Independence

Jul 5, 20166 CommentsUncategorized

Happy Independence Day, a day late, from someone who is still pretty dang dependent on others. But that is changing, slowly. Last week I went to see my oncologist to ask him to reduce my seizure medication (which I’d already reduced without permission – I am a bad patient, or bad at patience, or both!). After a good-natured but well-deserved scolding in which he reminded me that he needs to know exactly how much medicine I am taking at all times in case I happen to have a seizure, my awesome oncologist actually reduced my seizure medication even more! I […]

Cruising with Cancer on the Disney Fantasy

Apr 25, 201619 CommentsUncategorizedBrain Cancer and Dexamethasone, Cancer Cruise, Cruising with Cancer, Dexamethasone, Different Kinds of Steroids and Cancer, Disney Cruise and Cancer, Disney Fantasy Cancer, How to Cruise with Cancer, Hydrocortisone, Hydrocortisone vs. Dexamethasone, Side Effects of Dexamethasone, Side Effects of Steroids, Steroids and Cancer, Steroids and Fatigue, Vacationing with Cancer

It was really great to get out of the house! Wow, was it ever good to get out of the house, to get out of the “recovering from cancer routine” at home, and to get out of my comfort zone a bit! The whole family needed a vacation after all that has happened since my diagnosis in January. It was great to just leave it all behind for awhile. The ship was just beautiful! And the weather (for the most part) and scenery were terrific. And there were lots of great things to do, like go on a semi-submarine ride […]

Cleared for Vacation!

Apr 2, 201615 CommentsUncategorized

Before I was diagnosed with brain cancer, our family had planned a Disney Cruise vacation. Before my surgery, my doctors told me I’d need chemo and radiation so we thought we’d have to cancel our cruise. But with all the good news following my surgery, the doctors have said I can go! We were planning to drive to Port Canaveral to make the trip cheaper (the Cruise itself was “free” since we are Disney Vacation Club members, thanks to a gift many years ago from my parents) but now the drive would be pretty difficult for me, so yesterday we […]

An Invitation to Join “The Society”

Mar 22, 20165 CommentsUncategorized

Join The Society! In my book, When the Whistle Blows, Jimmy learns about The Society, an organization started by his great-grandfather, Patrick Fineas O’Cannon. Members of The Society promise to do kind deeds for others – sometimes total strangers – in order to honor family and friends who have passed away, and for whom they can no longer do kind deeds. I’ve decided to start The Society from When the Whistle Blows in real life. Every so often – maybe once or twice a month – I am going to offer an opportunity here on my blog for those who wish to become […]

Sir Elton John

Mar 20, 20163 CommentsUncategorized

I took Hannah to see Elton John last night at the John Paul Jones arena. It was a splurge, but also a phenomenal mother-daughter bonding experience and a night neither of us will ever forget. Although I was super-tired by the night’s end, I made it through, even with the (potentially seizure-inducing) strobelight effects! But between the water and the ear plugs and the high skewing age of an audience that liked to sit as much as it did stand, I held my own! (Not to mention a terrific husband who not only dropped us off but also picked us […]

My prognosis. And my reaction.

Mar 19, 201633 CommentsUncategorized

My oncologist was very happy to give me my pathology report two Fridays ago (March 11th) when I went to see him at UVA. It was not just good news, it was “great” news – the kind of news neurooncologists wish they could tell all of their patients every day of the year, but can’t. Because the news that neurooncologists generally have to tell patients is pretty hard stuff. The bottom line is that my brain tumor was what they thought it was. The dog barked. The prognosis is much, much better than it could have been. It’s the best […]