Who Knows What is Good and What is Bad

 I think it is time to update you guys and the good news is…not much is happening in the TAJ department.  The healing process is slow but steady.  I really have not had much pain (in fact, I have taken no pain medication since the fourth day after surgery) and the level of pain I do have is a “dull tooth-ache” kind of sensation.  Atlanta is providing a great backdrop for my daily walks and I have started working with my Pilates coach to get my body feeling normal again.  My diet has changed dramatically for the good (although I know some of you would say “you call that GOOD?”), thanks to my oncology nutrition coach and my friend, William Spears – I am off all dairy, gluten, alcohol and sugar.  Believe me when I say, there is life and fun without these!

This Thursday Tony and I are headed to Emory to see the oncologist there.  I am fully anticipating a simple course of hormone related therapies…not chemo.  We will keep you updated on what we find out.

 Sabbaticals are a marvelous thing!  I fully recommend them for all my good friends out there who are stressed out and need a break!  New perspectives and ideas are coming to me daily.  I know I will get back to my work sometime in “08, but for now I am allowing this TAJ (standing for This Amazing Journey) to settle into my bones and teach me a thing or two.

 The following is a little story I obtained from my friends Faith and Marita at the Center for Right Relationship.   “Who knows what is good and what is bad” has been a big idea guiding my journey.  Enjoy.

 

Who knows what is good and what is bad?

 
When an old farmer’s stallion wins a prize at a country show, his neighbor calls round to congratulate him, but the old farmer says, “Who knows what is good and what is bad?”  The next day some thieves come and steal his valuable animal.  His neighbor comes to commiserate with him, but the old man replies, “Who knows what is good and what is bad?”  A few days later the spirited stallion escapes from the thieves and joins a herd of wild mares, leading them back to the farm.  The neighbor calls to share the farmer’s joy, but the farmer says, “Who knows what is good and what is bad?”  The following day, while trying to break in one of the wild mares, the farmer’s son is thrown and fractures his leg.  The neighbor calls to share the farmer’s sorrow, but the old man’s attitude remains the same as before.  The following week the army passes by, forcibly conscripting soldiers for a war, but they do not take the farmer’s son because he cannot walk.  The neighbor thinks to himself, “Who knows what is good and what is bad?” and realizes that the old farmer must be a Taoist sage.

 From The Tao Book and Card Pack by Timothy Freke

 
All for now, Teresa

Viva La Cure

Hello everyone….it’s me, Teresa! It’s been 2 weeks and 4 days since my surgery and LIFE IS GOOD! Many thanks to my brother in law, Rex, for keeping this blog updated while we were “otherwise consumed” . This is yet one more example of the tribe of loved ones who have circled my camp and kept me well fed, properly clothed (important with those hospital gowns opening to the wind – yikes!) and nurtured in every conceivable way. I cannot begin to express my gratitude to all of you. This will have to happen over time. Please know that every call, card, flower, meal, kiss and hug has helped me lovingly heal.

As for how I am healing….well, I have already hiked 5 miles up to the top of our wonderful Steeprock lookout, my favorite CT hiking spot. My energy has been phenomenal. My abs feel like they are made of steel and my new breast feels like I have a bowling ball strapped to my chest. I can only hope the abs stay and the breast will soften – if not I could be quite dangerous. This could be a real advantage if I decide to take up professional wrestling. Stretching every 15 minutes or so is my most important activity at the moment. Each day I feel more comfortable. Everyone tells me patience will become my new friend….well, it definitely will be a NEW something.

Tony and I have decided to go to Atlanta starting November 13^th and will return to CT on December 13^th. On December 26^th we will head back to Atlanta for the winter. Our Thanksgiving will be spent in Atlanta with my Mom, “Muv”, and my sister Deb, husband, Rex and my nephew and niece, Dylan and Laurel. Our Christmas will be here in CT with our children and grandchild. This is my favorite time of year and we have so much to celebrate!

Big hugs to all, Teresa

Teresa is back/Well almost

Tony here! We are back home in Connecticut several days now and Teresa is doing so well! She is loving being in our home here in the fall. The leaves are so beautiful, the sun is bright in our space, friends are abundant, our love and gratitude for life, love, our family and friends is at an all time high. We truely feel and are blessed.

Its hard to believe that  its only been 11 days since the surgery, she looks so beautiful, and is vibrant and sassy as always. Its a testament to what a positive attitude, a wonderful team of Doctors, and a full contingency of family and loving friends can do. Miracles!

We met with our Oncologist in Ct. this past week and are getting good scores on the characteristics of the cancer cells. A few more tests in the next week should reveal the next phase of our treatment. We are optimistic that via a wholistic perspective, a healthy diet, exercise, lots of sex, and some sort of hormone therapy, we should be on our way to a lifetime of happiness. More to come on this front as we get the full diagnosis.

People have been so wonderful to bring great food, flowers, lots of love and good wishes to us in the past weeks. It has made a huge difference, thank you so much.

Sissy Deb, Barb, and of course Muv have spent wonderful time with us, we had lots of fun and they were such a great support and love for Teresa. Timo, Jen, Ryan and Morgan came in this weekend and we are having a great, loving time.

This has been the sweetest, most loving time for all of us. We have reached into the well of love that Teresa has created in her life and pulled from it a wonderful flask of healing power. We love youall, and hope that we can give back the love you have shared with us.

Peace in Taj, Tony

Cojo Co. Inst.

Tony All this chatter and about love and vision and healing is well and good but little has been said about you and your journey deep into the well of estrogen where no man has gone before, and returned intact. As the world’s leading Cojones Coach, I can only hope that you have not been subjected to what we refer to as ‘virtual castration” by dwelling for too long in the company of an overabundance of feminousity.  Many men unwittingly become ‘organ’ donors through prolonged exposure to females.  VC is not to  be taken lightly. Symptoms may include a new appreciation  fior the music of the Bee Gees, a sudden affection for anything purple or mauve and heavy sighing for no reason at unexpected times.  Victims may also be seen on golf courses putting side saddle.

Early detection is the key to prevention and treatment.  We recommend self examinations on a daily basis.  This can be done in the shower or on public transportation.  Simply massage the groin area, feeling for lumps.  If you find a number other than two, or notice any shrinkage contact the Cojones Coaching Institute immediately.

       Sincerely              Danog Mutorcs  

            Cojones Coaching Institute

NYC Morning

Should be the last day in NYC.  Here the sisters are off for breakfast. 

Start Spreading the News II

The TAJ team are in the most lovely apartment compliments of friends Holly and Jack who are in Dubai right now at the Festival of Ideas.  The views from large windows on 2 sides of the living room and the bedroom are spectacular.  T and I  have both commented separately how this view brings back childhood memories of looking out at the Hudson from our home in Croton-on-Hudson, NY.  The view is comforting and a reminder of how our journeys are flowing together from a beautiful source.

 Since arriving at the apartment from the hospital, T took a rest and then the 3 sisters have spent the afternoon curled up together in the living room while Tony has been running errands (getting meds and movies).  The highlight of the afternoon was reading the TAJ site entries.  We would look up at each other after reading  an entry and all would have tears flowing down our faces.  Or we would break out in a huge laugh at just the same time.  It was sweet time together and I am so thankful to Rex, my husband, keeping the blog up to date and all the beautiful thoughts from family and friends.  Our other activities have been Barb and I doing energy work on Teresa while singing to her and listening to Barb play guitar and singing. 

 I imagined that this time together would be special.  I didn’t begin to imagine how special.  Tony has been incredible- so present emotionally, loving to T, and darn fun to be with.  The 3 of us have loved each other as we have been loving Teresa.  We have taken notes in a journal of everything medical that has happened.  We have referred to each other as doctors.  Most entries to the journal include a  ridiculous entry which kept our hearts lighter during some challenging times with T.  For example many references were made in the journal about the “hippocritic oath and how it translates to keeping the bar low.”  I would imagine that no one would find our references as funny as we did.  The laughter relieved the tension as did the tears we each shed- tears of relief and thankfulness, tears that come when your heart is wide open and loving a dear person in pain.

 Teresa went into this part of the journey incredibly prepared.  The hospital and health care providers were impressed and amazed by what we created.  After giving us the news that Teresa had done well with the mastectomy, the doctor left the room and then ran back in to say that she had lifted T’s headphones to whisper the affirmations to Teresa about her wellbeing that T had asked her to say.  It was obvious that this request hadn’t been made of her before and also obvious to me that she thought it was kind of cool.  One of the plastic surgeons talked about the good aura created around Teresa.  Today Teresa and I played one of David Wilcox’s songs “Everywhere”, while we held each other in the bed.  Teresa reached out to hold the hand of the nurse.  The 3 of us wept.  Overall the nurses were so kind and caring.  What a difference that made.

 Blessings have been everywhere I have looked.  Thank you to all of our angels.

 Deb, Teresa and Barb’s sister in TAJ

24 Hours Later

Teresa had a good night.  Slept well.  The nurse checked her every hour and reports that the circulation is strong.  Tony stayed with her last night as Deb and Barb bunked at the apartment.  They are on their way to the hospital now to spell Tony.

The current plan is for Teresa to be released from the hospital on Friday, stay in NYC until Monday when she will see the docs again and then return to CT.  in time to compete on Tuesday in a mini-triathlon and then a tennis match at the club that evening. (joke)  I mean come on, she’s good but it will be at least the weekend before she gets back on the court.

Thanks for the Mammary

Teresa is in recovery and the whole morning could not have gone better.  The lymph nodes were clear and the reconstruction went well with circulation starting almost immediately in the transplanted tissue.

During the process, the doctors and nurses recited the affirmations Teresa and Tony had prepared for them and got totally into it.   A dedicated nurse will watch Teresa for the next 8 hours to make sure the circulation stays strong and that everything is ok.  Tony, Deb and Barb will have seen her by now and they all sound thrilled and relieved.

Tony and the whole family thank and salute everyone for all the prayers, health tips and love.  Though they performed the procedure on Teresa’s breast, this was in many ways an open heart operation.

Half Way There

Just got the call, the mastectomy is done and the lymph nodes are all clear. Thank you God. The surgeons are working on the reconstruction as I write and Teresa is, well, being Teresa – just doing great. Vitals are good, everything is going tremendous.

Rex

Thumbs Up!

Here is our intrepid group at the clinic this morning at 6:00 am flashing the technique they used to circumvent the cabs and subway system of NYC to arrive, on time, via hitchhiking. And so, the day begins.