Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Dukes Up...

OUR LIFE UPDATE:
Over the past weeks Ginny has been working with Gal Pal Jocelyn to complete the manuscript for Ginny's latest writing project.  We are now working with Byron (Jocelyn's Husband) the artist on the illustrations for the book.  This is an exciting time for Gin as seeing this project complete is high on her "living list".  Stay tuned...we are expecting publication later in the spring.


OKAY DUKES UP...


    


On Monday Ginny went in for her 10th stent to keep her right ureter open and her right kidney functioning.  When they got in there, her kidney was in distress as the stent was clogged.  Once the old stent was removed and the new one placed her kidney danced the hokey pokey with relief.

She will not wait as long for her next replacement (2 months).

As part of the monday procedure, medical staff took a good look at her bladder from the inside to see if that tumor is indeed penetrating into the bladder.  Two biopsies were taken from two questionable areas.  We will get results at the end of this week.

Today we are in Rochester for Ginny's first round of Doxil cocktail, a chemo that she has not yet experienced.  There are many possible side effects with this one and we are hoping she tolerates it well.


As I sit here, watching her drift in and out of nap mode, I am acutely aware of how amazed I am by her strength.  She walks in such grace.  I am certain that I would not be so gracious if in her shoes.

One of the things we have been talking about is the legacy or the thing people will remember most about her.  She has taken this very seriously in the past couple of years.  She believes that it is her mission to create memorable meaningful moments with people, both those she knows as well as strangers.  Ginny seeks out opportunities each day to engage with others, to share cheer.

At a retreat this past weekend she was asked to identify a word to live by and to help her grow.  Her word?  SHINE.  This is not a surprise to those of us who know and love her, but having a word to focus on and to meditate on pleases her.  So our sweet Gin is stepping up her "shine".  Hang on world, this hilarious, quirky, intelligent, kind woman is on a roll and is determined to make as big an impact as she can creating  memorable bright moments.

Shine On :)
Kir


4 comments:

  1. Aww, reading that word made my eyes teary. SHINE-ing with tears.

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  2. Shine! So fitting! My backyard is across from hers. She has the most BEAUTIFUL flowers in the summer and SHINING, gorgeous lights in the winter that illuminate in the dark of night. Brings happiness to me every day. Keep on shining Virginia! Thoughts and prayers sent your way. Respect always, your neighbor Andrea and dog Phoebe (she loves Sophie!!) take care sweatheart!!

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  3. I stumbled across this blog somehow this evening. I knew nothing really about Virginia personally, but spent a fair amount of time with her in the dog park. I haven't been there in quite some time as my dog matured and became persona non grata. However, this woman remains a part of my memory. You don't often meet someone who asks a question and actually cares about the answer. She sticks out in my mind...stranger in the dog park... she was not only intelligent and well traveled, but also caring and genuinely interested in the other people there. I appreciated the kindness and the heartfelt interest in my brood. Stay strong. Fight hard. Darica and Kopek (the Anatolian).

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