Dearest family and friends,

There is nothing worse than waiting. We go for #2 chemo treatment Thursday. While I sometimes have to strongly suggest she eat (my cooking or the chemo?), she’s doing fime. A little tired but is determined to live a “normal” life. Spent one morning choosing her “trail mix” combination (dates, dried cherries, raisins , nits, etc.). She seems to like that.

Neighnor and friend Holly brought soup (and flowers) last night. Melanie will do the dogs Thursday. What a neighborhood.

I, of course continue to write. The opus I am working on is “30 Degree Golf” for Dr. Ned Armstrong. He makes this all possible.In all this pandemonium I have had a poem accepted by Poetry Magazine and the The New Yorker. Won’t appear for probably 12 months and I have to decide which publication. Yes, I do poetry. Just remember, Shakespeare wrote for money.

We are well and ready for the fight. Please keep Nora in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you so much for your support.We need it.

Pau

Included is my favorite pix of my bride 25 years ago (more or less) with Sarah.

PET scan took much less time than we thought. Our new rule is to get to every appointment an hour early. We arrived at the J.C. Lewis Cancer Center in Savannah yesterday morning an hour early and they took Nora in right away! Less stress is good for everyone. We won’t know results until next week. Due to fasting prior to the scan, Nora was ravenous (good) and was treated to a vanilla milkshake on the way back to “The Ridge.”

Nora is finally feeling the effects of her first chemo treatment. Not severe but she’s gets tired easily. Still sticking to strict regimen of “heavy on the leafy greens” diet. I have been told, in no uncertain terms, brussel sprouts are out.

Tybee and Bob  passed the  “new person” test. The Palmers (Karen usually walks the dogs) are on the way down to the Keys for a show of Karen’s work (beautiful stuff) so dear friend and neighbor (and landlady) Melanie Reeder kindly walked the dogs while we were in Savannah. She said they “did their business” quite well.

This is such a wonderful neighborhood full of wonderful people. The Reeders are very special. A few days before Nora’s first chemo teatment, Melanie, husband (and my new golf buddy) Wayne, Nora and I went to our new “home course,” Sargent Jaspar GC, and played 9 holes. (Nora beat me on the #1 par 4.)

Nora reads the blog every day and it sure helps keep her spirits up. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

Paul

Preparing for PET scan on the 21st. All protein, no carbohydrates.My company,Mirror Image Golf Swing, LLC (www.mirrorimagegolfswing.com)  sent Nora a beautiful boquet today (from partners Steve Anderson, MItch Laurance, Sara Fields and Dave Lavery). Take a look:

Talk about a bunch of good people.

We also got a fantastic care package from The Sisters Coleman! Not only are the three of you the most beautiful women in the world, you put up with your sister, my bride. She needs you … in her own way. We love you. We love you al.

Footnote: Where we now live is “Really Rural; Ridgeland.” While our neighborhood is peaceful, even joyful, Jasper County is a bit rough. When the kif dropped these flowers off today he was very hesitant. As he slowly approached me, he said, “I’m not trespassing am I? I can deliver these flowers, right? Thank you sir, thank you~” And off he went, relieved, I an sure, I wasdn’t carrying a shotgun. Rest assured, Boyd Creek Drive is very restful and laid back. But I couldn’t stop ;laughing.

Please know that Nora reads everything on the blog.

PauL

My dear family and friends,

Visitors this weekend included Sarah (daughter) and Jeremy (Sarah’s paramour) from HHI, and Dustin (son) down from Charlotte, NC. Too cold (30F) to do much of anything but sit by the fireplace and enjoy the warmth, which seems to satisfy all. (Fire logs diminished but that’s they’re there for.)

Nora is holding her own after her first chemo therapy (last Thursday). Slight reactions so far but she will not be immune to all the stuff they are pumping into her. Still… this is Nora. Amazing.

Dustin got to meet Walter and Karewn Palmer at the “compound,” and The wonderful Reeders (just down thew road). He was, as he should be, impressed with our very caring neighborhood.

Good news on the diagnostic front: Nora’s insurance company initially denied  coverage for a PET Scan. Her chemotherapy doc didn’t accept that (three cheers for Dr. Yannucci) and badgered the insurance company. Nora gets a PET Scan on 2/21. Nora did have a CT Scan last week (showed no signs of the cancer spreading to vital organs or bone.  Just the lymph nodes under left arm and neck). But a whole body PET Scan is really state of the art and she needs that.

We are now altering Nora’s diet so she’ll be ready for the PET scan (NO CRABOHIDRATES),  so we can see what’s what.

She’s a little puny but loves all response on the site. She reads every word. But she’s not ready to talk to her most intimate relatives and friends yet – friends and relatives are one in the same, i.e. sister-friend).

Fire in the fireplace right now. Nora sleeping. You guys are so very special and the very best. It helps so much hearing from you. Keep it coming, even if it is to say “hi.”

Paul

Paul

Happy St. Valentine’s Day to everyone! And thank you.

Nora has had first chemotherapy session today and came through just fine. The “port” she had put in last week is fantastic. Pop the stuff in there and you’re set.

Nora is being treated at the Nancy C. and J.C Lewis Cancer Research Pavilion at St. Joseph’s Candler Hospital in  Savannah, a first rate facility. Her chemo doc is Dr. Jennifer Yannucci, top drawer, 5 star.

Today, Nora was “fed” Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide. Check it out on chemocare.com if you are so inclined. We were given more info on side effects and diet. Actually, since moving to “The Ridge,” we’ve been eating better than ever. Now, it gets gourmet! That, of course, means more fresh fruits and veggies (nothing acidic like oranges).  My dear friend Walter Palmer and I went to Food Lion (closest “big” grocery – 14 miles) when Nora and I returned from Savannah, in search of almond extract, which we found. Walter helped make my day. More on that later.

I promise to leave my office and take long walks with my bride every day. We now have plenty of places to go.

All side effects will probably become apparent in the next two days, but we’re prepared. We live in an astounding place. Our friends and neighbors are so wonderful. Melanie’s lily bouquet is awesome! Wayne’s tests make my(our) day. Karen’s dog-walking (plus gardenia bouquet AND split soup) remind Nora and I just how lucky we are. Then there are your texts and calls to me and comments on the blog – Nora, my semi-Luddite wife, actually reads the blog. Next treatment is 2/28/2013.

Whenever you want, whisper to Nora through all these tools. Though she’s one tough cookie (others have use the “b” word, she actually appreciates your thoughts and prayers. So do I.

Paul

Had a great consult with our surgeon today. She’s optimistic about the chemo and the outcome. We start the six week chemotherapy program tomorrow.One heck of a Valentine.

Nora is feeling good, but a little tired from all the poking and needles. We are both relieved that treatment is finally starting.

Nora’s dog,  Tybee, knows something is up.

My dog,  Bob,  knows that the tennis ball should be in her mouth, in the air, or under a cabinet, unreachable.

We’ve added a private message area for anyone who would prefer to keep their thoughts and comments for Nora alone.

Nora has read your comments and greatly appreciates all them and your text messages, care packages, and positive energy flowing this way. Might be able to avoid the light bill with all that power. We’ve very excited about a visit by Dustin this weekend. He’s never been to “The Ridge.”

Keep commenting whenever you want. It really helps Nora’s spirit.  Our neighborhood is the greatest! Thank you all.

Paul

Family and Friends,

Nora’s surgery to put a “port” in her chest wall for the chemo went smoothly yesterday. She had everyone laughing until she “went under.” She was given a really neat hat (sort of like a super sized beret) by one of the surgical staff to use when she loses her hair. As I understand it, the nurse who makes them also survived stage 4 breast cancer.

Today, to quote, Nora is “sore as hell.” However she’s doing her stretching exercises and getting her right arm (that’s where they put the port) back in working order. We see the cardiologist (he’s my cardiologist too!) next (to make sure her system can take what’s coming) and meet with the oncology surgeon, Dr. Herrmann, to map out our future.

In a very short time (I’ll let you know) we’ll have a blog site (www.noradevere.org) up and running so you can leave comments any time you want and see updates from me, like this one. A special thank you to Bill Edmonson for hosting the site and filling in for my IT ignorance.

Next stop is our chemo doc. I’ll let you know what’s happening. Thank you for the emails, phone calls and positive energy coming from everywhere.  I want everyone to know my Mirror Image Golf Swing team (Steve, Mitch, Sara, Dave) has made Nora and my world a better place. Thank you all. Thank you, everyone.

Paul

This will be the place for my update on my beautiful wife’s progress. A little background.

In the fall of 2012, we moved from Hilton Head Island, where we had lived for 30 years, to “really rural Ridgeland” South Carolina on the banks of Boyd Creek, a tidal estuary off the Broad River. We had friends here and made more wonderful friends when we arrved. That keeps happening.

Through self examination, Nora noticed something wasn’t right in the fall and contacted her primary care provider, Stephanie. Nora went in for a check up and Stephanie immediately began to set up a team of doctors, headed by Dr. Virginia Herrmann, who specializes in breast cancer and teaches breast surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston.

Nora has been diagnosed with “triple negative” cancer, usually found in younger women (as I’ve always thought of Nora). Bottom line, it’s more agressive and needs special chemotharapy, a (double) mastectomy and radiation therapy. This will be a long process.

As you probably know, Nora is a stubborn, aggressive, onery, “take no prisoners” sort of person when it comes to someone or something she can’t abide. She cannot abide cancer.

Nora is also a very private person and while phone calls and emails and texts will be greatly appreciated, her focus will be on fighting this stuff. Which is why I created this blog. I ENCOURAGE YOU to join the blog, leave Nora notes, pictures, whatever. Come visit as often as you’d like. Even more often. Tell your friends, her friends, heck strangers, about the courageous young lady. We’ve been together 30 some years and I still find her (see above, i.e. “stubborn …”) an amazing person.

I’ll post updates as they happen. Show your love by joining the blog. Everyone loves Nora (well, I’ve identified 3 really low lifes who don’t, but they are being taken care of as we speak … they are being escorted to the Sabarmati Ashram (Gandhi) where they will have to give the peace sign every 10 minutes (for those who support Nora) followed by that other sign (somehting to do with “the bird”) to show their hatred of breast cancer. They will be at Sabarmati for 8 months.

This is where you can talk to Nora. Please let us hear from you!

Paul