Don’t Cry for Me Argentina and Winter Solstice

My brilliant friend Elaine posted this on her facebook feed:

“As we approach the night of Yalda (21st), let's spare a thought for the brave Iranians who are fighting oppression. Shab-e-Yalda: “shab” meaning night, and “yalda” meaning birth or light. It is a holiday celebrated by millions of people from Iran to Azerbaijan to the U.S., on Dec. 21, the winter solstice. Christmas and Yalda are celebrated just a few days apart, and the celebrations hold similar traditions and values: family, love, resilience, rebirth and a triumph of light over dark. Originating in the pre-Zoroastrian tradition of worship of Mithra, the God of Sun, but popularized by Zoroastrians, Yalda, also referred to as Chelleh, celebrates the sunrise after the longest night of the year. Ancient Persians believed that evil forces were strongest on the longest and darkest night of the year. People stayed up all night, telling stories and eating watermelon and pomegranate, in addition to dried fruit, in anticipation of the sun rising..”

I love the darkness of winter.

As for my journey the past month has been filled with abdominal port removal, infections, weeks of Iv antibiotics. I kept asking myself am I dying yet? especially since my absolute neutrophils (white counts from bone marrow) were so low that they couldn’t treat. I got a brain mri (clear) and a pet scan that showed no new cancer but a hot spot on rib that radiologist said was a new fracture—I felt it. I also went to wound care ctr in Oakridge and doc looked at all my wounds—2 from radiation on my backone under left arm, no healing right chest where they took out chest port with pseudomonas. Last week 9 doc appts and about 11 arm sticks. I’ll be glad when I get my port.

Yesterday I had a long chemo 9;30-3:30. They couldn’t get a vein at first and after my 7th jab, Lindsey. got a good vein and we kept it in for port insertion today and IV drugs. I’m getting something called a pas port which is good according to Dr. Gharavi (so glad he’s coming back!). He says: “At Penn, it’s all they ever used to avoid the chest. It must not be cost effective, but it’s so much more comfortable.”

Sister Bev dropped by bearing gifts and helping me up and down. I was pretty worn out.She’s such a love.

Christmas will be a houseful—David’s gang, Elizabeth’s tribe and Dans tribe of sis Anne and her hubs Paul.

Last week Matt and Audrey came with gifts and a violin Matt assembled from a 3d printer, modeled after a stratavarius. He plays it too! picture below.

I’m on steroids today and ready for my later minor surgery. Wound care first in Oakridge. And don’t cry for me Argentina, This is my one of 2 happy days a month (chemo drugs). Hope you have a great holiday season this year!

Forgive typos it was 5 am when I started, Will fix later. .