Health update

I am scheduled to start chemo to reduce the size of a GIST (gastro-intestinal stromal tumor) to prevent -- or minimize -- surgery that would require removing my whole stomach and part of my esophagus.

Now it is down to who pays. Cost of a month's meds is $11,000. There could be help on many fronts. First victory - Humana, after saying it wasn't covered, has given me approval for the name brand med, which is what the oncologist has ordered. However, the co-pay was $3,000 a month. After many calls, it is now down to $950 co-pay a month, still pretty hard to swallow.

Novartis, the maker of the med, may opt to provide it for $25 a month based on my income and the severity of the illness. My fingers are crossed. Definitely the best deal, but it could be up to three weeks wait, and there is a little discomfort that I'm hoping will go away if the tumor shrinks.

In the meantime, I am dealing with this by assuming that anything less than total removal of my stomach is a win. And even if the worst happens, it is not life threatening. So that's where I am.

I'm continuing on my low carb ketogenic diet. I've started drinking Essiac tea every night. My friend Bill reminded me that turmeric has cancer fighting properties. I can do that! Love curried anything, which is loaded with it. My daughter reminded me of the healing properties of frankincense. I rub it on the back of my neck in the morning, put a few drops on the personal diffuser I wear around my neck, and use it in my cute little diffuser that fits in the USB port on my computer and in my car.

Finally, the weather has broken and spring is here. I filled my seedling tray with organic seedling mix and filled 11 cells, mostly tomatoes, in each of 24 rows. There is one row of basil and four rows of flowers, mostly nasturtiums. See, even the flowers I grow have to be edible! And they have already started to germinate.

I spent time in the sun cleaning up my rose garden yesterday. I often say that making a dozen or so French baguettes twice a week are my moments of Zen, but I think flower beds are, too!

Cyn is coming over this afternoon to practice Tai Chi with me. You can find Brother Raymond teaching Tai Chi here. Cyn and I go to River Bend on Wednesday for first hand instructions.

Brother Raymond leading tai chi class

I am stopping to smell the roses, bake bread and do tai chi with friends. Who could ask for anything more?