Merry Christmas

Dear Friends,

2006 has been a year both challenging and blessed. My blessings are abundant indeed. I am still enjoying each precious day given to me, my wonderful home on Lake Hamilton, those juicy summer days, swimming, boating, kayaking, the companionship of Buddy, my adopted Australian sheep dog, my family and friends.

My family is my primary source of joy, of course. Andy and Kim are still in Little Rock, where Andy is a Interventional Radiologist. Jacob and Emily are 10 and 8 and I enjoy seeing them regularly. They are becoming such great friends and companions for me.

Tim and his wife, Amy, blessed me with my 6th grandchild in July. Brooke is a beautiful little girl, charming and strong. She joins her three older siblings Sydney, 10, Cannon, 8, and Carly, 6. I have enjoyed getting to know these lovely children over the last few years. They live in Dallas, only 4 1/2 hours away, although Tim still works for his Dallas law firm.

Mark is still in Denver, an ER pediatrician at Children’s Hospital there. He will be taking 6 months off, beginning in June, to travel in Central and South America. He will not be able to join the rest of us at my house next week for Christmas.

Now the challenges. As you know, I have been in treatment for recurrence of breast cancer since September 2005. I am grateful that I have Andy’s radiology group and his medical community taking care of me. I attempted a break in treatment in August and traveled to Vancouver and Alaska for a trip that was to last a month. I came home after two weeks though because of some visible tumor growth and problems in my mouth. I didn’t get to see all my friends in Alaska, Washington and Oregon, but I did get to cruise up the inside passage and see some of Alaska, the magnificent glaciers and some friendly whales.

In September, I began a protocol which involves going into the hospital for a 96 hour drip once every month, which seems to be kinder to my body than the once a week treatment, and I have been feeling stronger and had more energy since that began. It seems to be just as effective as the other protocol, as well.

I also had cataract surgery in September on both eyes, which turned out well, and more recently a biopsy on my tongue, which was negative for cancer. Yea! I wasn’t looking forward to another tongue surgery. I couldn’t manage any of this without Kim. She takes me, picks me up, brings me what I need when I’m in the hospital, and always make herself available to help me.

Another challenge this year has been becoming the primary caretaker for a quite wonderful 90-year-old black man. I met Junius a few years ago, in a local diversity organization called REGARD. I became friends with him and his wife, who died in September 05. He was doing well on dialysis, but recently fell, and is back in a nursing home for the second time. I consider this role a spiritual commitment and it brings me gifts of joy as well as challenge. I have dropped out of most of my other volunteer work here in Hot Springs, except for my church, as my energy is limited, and he requires a lot of care

I am sad that I have not been able to go to Mexico for two winters now. I recently sold my wonderful new van that I have barely used. If I stay on this new protocol, I will have more time off, and could safely travel the last two weeks of each month, but I probably won’t be driving.

Well, I was waiting to send this until I had my PET yesterday and could share the results. The scan revealed that the tumor in my neck has shrunk by half and the area under my arm has cleared entirely. There are still cancer cells in my chest wall, but they seem to be stable. So I have negotiated with my doctor to skip my January treatment so I will be able to spend some time in Mexico. I will be visiting my fishing village, Chacala, from Jan 8-19, my fishing village on the coast I am so happy to get to go, swim in that warm surf and stay warm. I'm looking forward to seeing all the kids in the scholarship program administered by Cambiando Vidas, our educational non-profit in the village. After two years, I won't know most of them.

I am so grateful for all the prayers and well wishes that have come my way in the last year, as well as visitors from California and around the country. I am so blessed to have such an amazing friends—so much healing love.

May your Christmas and holiday season surround you with Peace, Love, and Joy and Healing at every level. Savor the moments—they are so precious.

Paz, Pace, Paix, Frieden, Taika, Shalom, Vrede, Waki Qiwebis, Salam, Peace!

Blessings, Ann (Ana)
www.travelswithannie.blogspot.com