Up Coming B3 Fight Events

There are a lot of fun and exciting fundraisers going on right now for The B3 Fight. Currently:

• In Nashville, TN the 5k on the Run is teaming up this weekend, May 1st to join forces to benefit The B3 Fight and young women in need! Hosted by Bill and Ilonka Deaton. http://www.illonkamusic.com/
• Relay for Life in McKinney, Texas  April 30th - Community Boot Camps - Relaying for Brenda.
• B3 Fight Garage Sale, teaming up with all the local "junk" in McKinney, Texas on May 22nd. All sales and proceeds go to The B3 Fight Trust.
• T-shirt Sales, Bracelets and Pins!! On Going....
• Church Car wash in Layton, UT (already took place April 17th ) Bake Sale and Car Wash to Benefit other members of the church battling cancer as well as The B3 Fight!
• Still Moments Photography - % of all picture orders go to The B3 Fight. On going...till Remission....

Bucket for the Cure

http://www.bucketforthecure.com

Brenda at C3 Staff Meeting

“C3 Staff honored Brenda at their weekly meeting on April 21st by presenting her a gift to commemorate her completion of the Red Devil chemo treatments and then laying hands on her as Pastor Mike Smith prayed for her and Nick. She was blessed and touched by Pastor Scott Roley’s words and the encouragement received from the staff. The toughest part of this event was to get her to sit in the middle of the room as Scott presented her with the picture. Our Community Life Director, Cindy Blom eased Brenda’s spirit by placing 3 chairs in the middle for her and Nick to join Brenda. The C3 Staff continue to bless Brenda and Nick through loving them well. For you other B3 Fighters, please accept our invitation, when you’re in Franklin to drop by C3 and meet these wonderful people God’s placed in our lives.”

Adios Diablo Rojo

"On April 6th the Staff of Christ Community Church was invited by Brenda and Nick to celebrate Bren's final Red Devil treatment; hence Adios Diablo Rojo. Thirty people raised their glass to Brenda for her courage to fight through the harsh effects the red devil had on her body. Bren and I raised our glass to the staff of C3 to thank them for their unceasing love and support through prayer, meals, and their presence. The celebration was held at La Hacienda, a Mexican restaurant close to C3. Bren and I were honored by the many that attended the celebration. Bren, for the first time, met several staff members and their family.
In hind sight, we can also celebrate God's loving-kindness and mercy in using the red devil to shrink her tumor down to almost nothing. Brenda told me the other day that "she knows she had to face the red devil to recieve God's power to heal through it." ~Nick

Chemo number 5

My visit today to the oncology ward brought some anxiousness as I began my next 4 treatments of a different kind of chemo (Taxotere). My appointment was early so I was up with Nick and anticipated just getting there, seeing Dr. Murphy and then settled into my easy chair to await the new drugs. Seeing Dr. Murphy went well. I have lost a few more pounds and my counts were good.

It wasn't too long when the ward really began to pick up the pace. No one was with me and I was managing all of it until the sudden rush of the business of the ward caught me totally off guard. My first vein that they tried failed. When they have to go into the vein at the bend of the arm, it always is a bit more stressfull. Between that and the sudden bustle, I could feel my emotions rising to the top and they began to spill over. Before I knew it, I was in tears. (I even tried to turn up my ipod with my piano music nice and loud to manage to noise, but that didn't work)

They had to give me benedryl for this first treatment to be sure I had no allergic reaction and it made me a bit drowsy. I put Nick on standby for coming and driving me home. I soon found that the tears were not gonna stop so I called him back and asked him to come sooner.

When he finally arrived, he could tell I was visably upset, but I soon drifted off into a more relaxed state and before I knew it, the treatment was done and we were ready to go home.
I was able to rest and nap for several hours when I got home and it felt good. I will return for my next treatment on May 6th and that will be number 6 (of 8). No more shots on the Friday after chemo anymore either. That part of the treatment is done - Yeah! Another one under my belt - it's a good thing.

Sonogram Update

We were VERY encouraged at the appointment today with Dr. Whitworth (the breast dr.) I had my first sonogram since my diagnosis and the tumor has shrunk within the margins. In fact we saw the Physician Assistant and she wanted us to wait for Dr. Whitworth to come out of a procedure so he could see how GOOD the progress of the tumor shrinking looked. Dr. Whitworth had a big smile on his face when he looked at his "tumor marker" and said, it is responding better than expected and we can proceed forward on schedule. We did ask the question if surgery might NOT have to happen, but he said that although the tumor has shrunk, they still have to go in and get the cancer cells within the margins to be sure I am free and clear after my last 4 chemo treatments. We were both very encouraged with the news and it looks like Thursday is a go for chemo number 5. I will need to have an MRI prior to surgery and then I will be ready for surgery the end of June. Overall it was a very positive appointment. P.S. As a surprise, my honey got me a new durag for riding the cycle today!

Chucked Full

I wanted to update the blog before we venture into this upcoming week. It is one that is going to be "chucked full" of doctor appointments and treatment and there is no telling if there will be time to check in with all of the B3 supporters once the alarm goes off tomorrow morning.


I have several dr. appointments this week and Nick has a "big" appointment on Wednesday for his "over 50" check up. Tuesday will be the day of my first sonogram since my diagnosis and after I have had 4 rounds of chemo. It will be interesting to see how the "red devil" has succeeded in shrinking this tumor. We are anxious to find out the results of that. Thursday will begin the next of the series of chemo treatments called Taxotere (4) and these will come every 3 weeks instead of two. I read over the paper this last week on the additional possible side effects and am getting geared up for this "new" adventure.
Our specific prayer needs this week will be for rest amongst all of this busy time. I am feeling good physically at this point in time and my prayer is it will continue. One side effect of this new chemo is bone pain, so prayer for the management of that will be helpful. Four more treatments of chemo and then we can move onto surgery.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers thus far and continual support. We are grateful for all of you. Brenda

Ham and Pegs

A few weeks ago it would have been hard for me to imagine that I would be on the back of the motorcycle enjoying a fantastic day of riding. When I was so sick I could barely pick my head up off the pillow and to now be out in the fresh air enjoying a beautiful spring day in Middle Tennessee is amazing to me.



We knew that the weather was going to be in the 80’s and although the Easter ham had 4 hours to cook, we planned it so we could pop it in the oven and hop on the bike to head to the Natchez Trace. As we drove along, I was awed and amazed at the strategic planting of the beautiful pink blossoming trees. The last time we were on the Natchez Trace, it was at the end of fall, all the leaves were gone and it was not pretty at all. We passed many a biker and others enjoying the absolutely gorgeous day. Along the way there are homes tucked in and out of the area. I kept thinking, boy these people have it made. Living back here in the beauty and splendor and then my mind got to thinking EXCEPT when that snow and ice hits and the need for medical care and groceries comes along. I am sure that beyond the birds eye view from the cycle there was a Walmart lurking out there somewhere, I just couldn’t see it.



We took a detour to get gas and ate at this little country store and I am talking country! We both had a roast beef sandwich and it tasted every bit of good to me and Nick was very much amazed that I ate the entire sandwich. A sure sign that my appetite is back at least for the moment. Perhaps it will add to the necessary padding I was missing when riding seeing I have lost over 15 lbs and that makes for a boney butt and not much comfort when riding on the cycle. Time for extra padding for the seat!



What was even more pleasurable was the fact that everyone was enjoying their Easter Sunday with their family and the traffic was minimal. That put my mind a little more at ease and I was able to relax a bit more than I normally do. All in all it was a good day and we made it back home just in time for ham and sweet potato dinner.



As I continue to build strength this week in anticipation of my sonogram and chemo treatment next week, continue to pray for sickness protection B3 supporters. This week is the time when my counts are prone to drop and my defenses go down. So far so good, and I hoping for a good outcome as we forge ahead.

This week....

This week has been pretty uneventful which has been a blessing in disguise. Sometimes with chemo, you get by from day to day and wonder when the other shoe will drop. So far this week has been a week of resting and enjoying some sunny weather here in Middle Tennessee.

I did find out today however that now my chemo treatments will be every three weeks for the next four treatments. I have to have a sonogram prior to beginning the next of the series so my Dr. can see the progress on how the "red devil" treatments worked in shrinking the tumor. I must admit this was a bit of discouraging news because I thought I would be ready to have my surgery by early June. Spreading them out every three weeks will delay the surgery and the radiation - can you tell I am anxious for this to be over. I am ready for my hair to start growing back and my strength to come back.

I am getting used to being bald though as I ran to answer the door the other day for the UPS man, I forgot to put my turban on. I am sure he had a story to tell that night at the supper table, I just chuckled to myself after it was over.

As I plod along these next few weeks I will have to ask my B3 supporters to pray for patience for me, as you know the saying, never pray for patience for yourself. And let me know if your gonna show up at the door - so you won't get a bold awakening like UPS! `Brenda