Last chem

I got cupcakes from Carla for my last chemo. She is best!

Chemo 11

Today I get chemo 11. It was hard to imagine back in February that I would be here today. Although I still have one more treatment and surgery coming up I can imagine now an end to cancer. I feel so blessed.

Chemo 10

Today I am getting chemo 10. I am anxious and excited to get done. Pray for me that the next two weeks come fast. Pray for me queen of all Angels.

It's my Birthday Chemo

I,m having a party with 12 of My favorite friends. Its chemo # 9 and I'm happy! I feel like I am finally getting close. Good news my current MRI is negative for new findings. I feel blessed and have many thing to be so grateful about. Thank you all for your love, prayers and comments.

Chemo #8

Hi to all. Milestone day for us as I get ready to receive my 8th chemo. Count down from here. I got a new oral med for mouth sores. It's been very hard to eat anything like meat. No worries I've had to improvise and eat soft things. Ice cream comes to mind. No major weight loss issues! God bless everyone. Love-Gloria

Half way there

Today I had chemo number 6. I am half way to being done with taxol. As long as my doctor can control my White blood count I just want to stay on track. I am having to get Neupogen shots each week. It can take one or two. This Neupogen helps increase my WBC which include my fighter cells call neutropils. If these get too low it puts me at great risk for infection. Despite My critically low count of neutropils so far by the grace of god I have not been sick. I continue to ask god for strength as I need it most days. Please continue keep me in your prayers.

I leave you with a cute picture of our Mom, Christy, Gloria, Licha and the kids showing there support for Shelly when she had band competition back in November 2012. It was cold and very windy that day.
Love you all-Gloria

4 of 12

I'm back on schedule. Thank god I am on chemo 4. Eight to go. Sounds like a lot but I'm getting closer to recovery. Last chemo is July 19. God willing I will stay on schedule.

Chemo 3 of 12

"Your labs look great" you can have chemo". My doctor gave me the thumbs up this morning. Weird as it may sound I was relieved to hear that. I want to be successful in completing my treatment. After all I have things to do!

Chemo 3 postponed

My white and red blood counts are low. I am receiving a blood cell "stimulator" to help produce white cells. I am re-scheduled for Friday.

Girl Power

My sisters and Mom came to be with me and show their love and support. It had been a long time since my Mom had all her daughters together. I think my Dad was with us in spirit. It was a great weekend. We went shopping. Had some good food and wine. We got to see Sylvia's house. The picture was taken at Sylvia's house. Sitting on the couch from right to left is Lupe, Rosa, Mom, Alyssa David Rey's daughter, Sylvia, Gloria. On the floor is Nora and Melanie.

Taxol round 2,

So here I am again for taxol 2 of 12. I didn't feel as bad from this chemo. I can taste my food and have better appetite and better yet I have been able to go shopping. Yeah me!

New chemo Taxol day 1 of 12

New regimen starts today. I will have 12 weekly treatments. Wish me strength.

Done with round 1

Gloria has finished her first round of chemo as of this week. I'm sure she woul want to post herself but this last round was a doozy.
She will have a two week break (we are so excited) to prepare for the next type. This chemo is weekly, it's side effects are different but should allow her to have more normal days. Chemo II starts 4/30.

Her docs think she's doing great. Yeah Momma!

Circa 1996:

Combination chemo 3

Everything is going to be just fine with you by my side.

It was not a pot luck!

Sylvia stopped by on Friday and brought me two of my favorite foods from the Mexican food group. Enchiladas and capirotada, or bread pudding. Yum yum yum! This made my day! Thank you Sylvia.

A visitor

It's was great to see Aron and my brother Reyes. Thank you for your visit. Love you

Here we are again

Hey the regulars are back. It's like being at Cheers without the beer! They only serve chemo oh and sleepy time medicine. And just like a responsible bar tender they ask if You have a designated driver. I do, I do.....

Girls just wanna have fun

Bet you can't guess which ones are the wig?!

Next Chemo on Tuesday

I made it though my first chemo! I wont lie the first three days after my chemo I felt sick. I just wanted to sleep it off and wake up in a different Month. I am now psyching my self for my next treatment on Tuesday. I guess it better that I now know what to expect. I'm anticipating that i will be losing my hair maybe after this next chemo. No problem I have my wigs on stand by. I have felt all the well wishes and prayers send and made for my recovery. I am blessed. Thank you for your support. love you all !

Quite the roller coaster

There are so many reasons and moments to acknowledge your health. Rarely do we note when the body is actually doing so much. When you have cancer, you notice just what the body does every passing moment. Here are some things to share with what is going On:
1. Lots of blood work and doctor visits occur more frequently even after treatment has started. The "vampires" as
Mom call them, LOVE her veins and drain them regularly.
2. Her doctors make an amazing team, they talk w my mom and dad and EACH OTHER. It is a true team approach process to medicine. Thank God for them.
3. Side effects are very real but different depending on the treatment, day, and for all we know the weather. Your five senses are put to the test. Metallic taste, sensitivity, exhaustion, smell, you name it, there is something effected by the chemo treatment. In fact every time she goes to chemo the dr gives the same questionnaire of 100 different side effects she may experience from that last round of chemo. We don't know if Monday will be like last Monday.
4. Energy is real. It doesn't really matter how you feel, a surge of energy makes it possible to clean the pantry or go for a walk (yep she did :)).
Today is good. We have seen the roller coaster effect. Other days are more challenging. She is soooooo happy today. She was so happy she cleaned her floors. "Whatever you want" is the theme in the house these days.
Thank God.
Keep praying. Tuesday she goes in again and we see more yucky days...That's okay. Chemo is doing its job and in a few days or a week we will hear her laughing or becoming way too dramatic over her latest novela.

She loves you all so much.

Note from Gloria

I love you all. Your prayers and well wishes really empower me. Please stop picking on my Bro. Yes I did punch  a few times and yes it was a KO. But please be kind to him. I want him to keep sending me prayers

Knowledge is Power

PET, CT, EKG, ECHO, blood work, two (as mom calls them) "bibopsys" all show an isolated tumor. That's great news, it has NOT metastasized.

That's a fighter, seeking the truth even under the most unfavorable conditions.

Cancer starts its end next week with first Chemo 2/14.

Cancer makes you busy

Whenever you hear the words cancer you never think...oh you'll be busy. However that is exactly what you are, at least, when first diagnosed. GTN has seen multitudes of doctors and clinics to verify several different components to the cancer, physicians to give choices to chemotherapy, and finally taking the time to tell the people that you love. There is also the business of daily chores and events that still go on, work, housekeeping, why is Christmas still here dismantling, cooking , etc.

This blog is intended to keep loved ones informed on GTN. She will be busy. She has some of the best doctors in the world who are there to fight this cancer and help her make decisions. She has her daughters and her husband-they will make sure she is doing well and will let you know what is going on through this blog. We want to keep you informed. We know you care. This allows the information she wants to be given. Phone time will be limited.
Cancer makes you busy.

GTN is known to me to be the ultimate symbol of strength. She is faithful in all things. We are asking for prayers. Please feel free to post notes here. She will get time to read this and will appreciate the kind thoughts.