Hola Familia,
Today, Sa completed one week of radiation! She met with Dr. Weidhass and asked if she would be able to travel to Florida to celebrate Ani's 50th birthday in December. Dr. Weidhaas responded positively and said she saw no reason Sa could not go. This is great news for Sa.
Unfortunately this past weekend, Sa's new caregiver was cancelled at the last minute. The caregiver fell through, because she was fired from the agency shortly after Sa agreed to hire her. This incident was particularly discouraging because the caregiver's boss had highly recommended this caregiver to Cristina and Sa days before. Apparently she was not as wonderful as her boss had previously said. Thankfully, Cristina was able to accommodate Sa at her house and gladly helped Sa for the weekend. However, there is still alot that needs to be done in regards to finding adequate care for Sa on weekends and for when Victoria leaves in December. This matter has been the source of alot of anxiety and worry for Sa. Sa has also been feeling down because Amaryllis ( her previous weekend caregiver, who Sa is very close to) has been going through a lot of personal issues. Her sister, Janet who helped care for Papo, recently suffered a heart attack and now needs assistance with her recovery. Sa wishes there was some way she could help Amaryllis and Janet. Please keep them in your prayers.
Another great concern of Sa's is how Thanksgiving weekend will play out. She has been reminded that the Docal family is large and there are many helping hands. We have told her not to worry because these helping hands will work together to make it a wonderful holiday for everyone.
Physically, Sa has had some very good days. Most of her issues have been related to emotional stress and anxiety.
This it for the update of November 7, 2011. Love to all.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
My Recent Sa Visit
Hello and much love to all,
You wouldn't guess anything was wrong with her if you didn't know Sa was ill (apart of course from that cyst she's sporting near her eye). After a week spent going back and forth from 22 Richard Sweet to Cristina and Billy's house in North Haven, I can say confidently that Sa's spirits appear to overwhelm her internal physical condition. I mean it.
I couldn't be more thankful for having had the chance to visit her last week. When she wasn't off participating in her Woodbridge prayer group or Saturday mass at Lady of the Assumption, I found Sa in Cristina's comfortable guest room, sitting serenely on a large and cushiony leather chair immersed in her Mary Higgins Clark novel. Sa was on top of it all. Everyday she asked me to bring her her mail from Woodbridge so that she could remain informed as to the goingson of her home. Everyday she sought to know who had called, and everytime let me know what they wanted and how to proceed. Below are some pictures of the recently gutted basement.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
QUE PASA CON SA HOY?
November 2, 2011
Today, Sa had her third round of radiation. Rosi took her for the treatment, thanks again to Rosi! She is now feeling very well and in good spirits. She is not feeling tired or weak. The radiation treatment has been shorter than her initial treatment. Her treatments only take as long as it takes her to say one decade of the Rosary. She is still staying at Cristina's house. She is very happy for Vanessa on her wedding day and thinks Vanessa's two boys are beautiful.
Her thought of the day is: "tengan fe en Dios"
Today, Sa had her third round of radiation. Rosi took her for the treatment, thanks again to Rosi! She is now feeling very well and in good spirits. She is not feeling tired or weak. The radiation treatment has been shorter than her initial treatment. Her treatments only take as long as it takes her to say one decade of the Rosary. She is still staying at Cristina's house. She is very happy for Vanessa on her wedding day and thinks Vanessa's two boys are beautiful.
Her thought of the day is: "tengan fe en Dios"
Monday, October 31, 2011
Que Pasa Con Sa?
Buenos Dias Familia Docal!!
Welcome to the blog "Que Pasa Con Sa". This is hot new blog has been created to keep "La familia" up to date on the daily adventures of our "madre" or "abuelita" Sa. As everyone is aware, there is a lot going on with our Sa and equally as many people interested in what is occurring. This blog has been created as an easy way to keep everyone in the loop with what is happening with Sa daily. It will include updates on her radiation and chemotherapy treatment, doctor appointments, daily moods and activities, sleep schedule, perhaps some personal reflections and if we are lucky maybe a few updates on her daily bm's (just to ensure all her systems are in check).
This is a space for the family to post comments, communicate with each other, ask questions, and just share. With this blog, all family members will be able to check up on Sa, whenever it is convenient for them. It may also reduce the amount of phone calls during Cristina's family dinners. Of course, phone calls are always welcomed (because nothing lifts Sa's spirit more than hearing from her family) but this may reduce the number of times information needs to repeated and allow everyone to ask more poignant questions when phone calls are made. So as today is October 31, 2011 ( Happy Halloween!) and Sa's first day of radiation, there really is no better day than today to start this blog about the woman we all love and admire so much.
October 31, 2011 6:03 pm
Today at 11:00am Rosi took Sa to her first radiation appointment at the Smilow Cancer Center in New Haven, CT. Her radiation was administered by two bumblebees, yes bumblebees. In the spirit of the holiday the nurses had dressed up as bumblebees. Dr. Joanne Weidhaas, her radiologist oncologist saw her following the radiation. Sa will continue to see this doctor once a week, on Mondays. Dr. Weidhass will monitor how Sa is tolerating the radiation. Sa reported that all went well but is now feeling very tired, from some anxiety and anticipation about the radiation. She is now back at Cristina's house where she is relaxing in her cozy cave. She plans on eating pizza with the Ryan family and watching her three grandchildren prepare for trick or treating with their friends. Even though she is tired, she is putting on her make up to make an appearance at the gathering.
This fall Sa has enjoyed:
Visits from Ani, Tony and Sara, Ernestico, Caroline, Didi and Greg, Sari and Steve
She visited Ani and Ben Kaplan
She visited Tommy Docal at Trinity College and climbed all the way to his dorm room on the third floor
She celebrated Robert Ryan's Confirmation
She went to Boston to celebrate Robert Burns' 27th birthday and was able to stay with Sari and Steve and even video skype with her great gran-daughter Hannah Zrike
She has spent a significant amount of time in her new cozy "cave" in Cristina Ryan's house
She has attended Mass regularly
Sa has not enjoyed:
battling mold in her basement
having a infected lacrimal sac/ tear duct
dealing with the difficulties of diagnosis of breast cancer
Welcome to the blog "Que Pasa Con Sa". This is hot new blog has been created to keep "La familia" up to date on the daily adventures of our "madre" or "abuelita" Sa. As everyone is aware, there is a lot going on with our Sa and equally as many people interested in what is occurring. This blog has been created as an easy way to keep everyone in the loop with what is happening with Sa daily. It will include updates on her radiation and chemotherapy treatment, doctor appointments, daily moods and activities, sleep schedule, perhaps some personal reflections and if we are lucky maybe a few updates on her daily bm's (just to ensure all her systems are in check).
This is a space for the family to post comments, communicate with each other, ask questions, and just share. With this blog, all family members will be able to check up on Sa, whenever it is convenient for them. It may also reduce the amount of phone calls during Cristina's family dinners. Of course, phone calls are always welcomed (because nothing lifts Sa's spirit more than hearing from her family) but this may reduce the number of times information needs to repeated and allow everyone to ask more poignant questions when phone calls are made. So as today is October 31, 2011 ( Happy Halloween!) and Sa's first day of radiation, there really is no better day than today to start this blog about the woman we all love and admire so much.
October 31, 2011 6:03 pm
Today at 11:00am Rosi took Sa to her first radiation appointment at the Smilow Cancer Center in New Haven, CT. Her radiation was administered by two bumblebees, yes bumblebees. In the spirit of the holiday the nurses had dressed up as bumblebees. Dr. Joanne Weidhaas, her radiologist oncologist saw her following the radiation. Sa will continue to see this doctor once a week, on Mondays. Dr. Weidhass will monitor how Sa is tolerating the radiation. Sa reported that all went well but is now feeling very tired, from some anxiety and anticipation about the radiation. She is now back at Cristina's house where she is relaxing in her cozy cave. She plans on eating pizza with the Ryan family and watching her three grandchildren prepare for trick or treating with their friends. Even though she is tired, she is putting on her make up to make an appearance at the gathering.
WHAT HAS SA DONE THIS FALL?
This fall Sa has enjoyed:
Visits from Ani, Tony and Sara, Ernestico, Caroline, Didi and Greg, Sari and Steve
She visited Ani and Ben Kaplan
She visited Tommy Docal at Trinity College and climbed all the way to his dorm room on the third floor
She celebrated Robert Ryan's Confirmation
She went to Boston to celebrate Robert Burns' 27th birthday and was able to stay with Sari and Steve and even video skype with her great gran-daughter Hannah Zrike
She has spent a significant amount of time in her new cozy "cave" in Cristina Ryan's house
She has attended Mass regularly
Sa has not enjoyed:
battling mold in her basement
having a infected lacrimal sac/ tear duct
dealing with the difficulties of diagnosis of breast cancer
Sa's recent adventures
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| Sa at Robert's Confirmation October 2011 |
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| Sa with Sara and Nena at the Robert's Confirmation |
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| Sa in Boston October 29, 2011 Celebrating Robert Burns' 27th birthday |
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| Ay Dios Mios! Look at the mold growing in Sa's basement |
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| Thanks to Didi, Rosi, and Cristina and some working men much of this mold has been eradicated |
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| Cousins can't play in Sa's moldy basement anymore |
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| Sa's Basement before Mold removal |
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| Thanksgiving 2010 Yardley, PA |
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| Sa con su hijo y hija Thanksgiving 2010 |
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| Sa last thanksgiving with the Burns |
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| Sa con una sonrisa y dos tetas antes cirugia 2011 |
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| Sa |
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| New Years 2011 |
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| Sa con familia |
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| Sa y su ninos |
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| Sa with her children in law |
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| Sa and amaryllis |
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| Sa wrapped in family love |
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| Happy 85th Birthday Sa! ( 2011) |
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| The Wedding! |
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| Sa looking beautiful |
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| Baile Baile Sa! |
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| Cheers to Sa! |
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