Still here!

Dear Folks, My sister Mary is typing for me, because I'm too lazy to!
Now, don't think I wear this cute white chapeau all the time these days. This picture is from right after the surgery on July 23rd. Mary wanted to post it because she thinks I look so cute.
Nowadays, I walk around without a turban. Chemotherapy and radiation were just as fun this week as the week before, and finally, yes, my hair has started to fall out, just yesterday!
I often have great energy and sometimes I'm really tired. I just went to the movies tonight with Mary (Cairo Time. -- highly recommended.)
My spirits are great and we all know your healing is in your spirits!
Thank you so much, everybody, for supporting me with your prayers and thoughts and everything else! It's all helping!
Keep those cards and letters coming! It's great to hear from you whenever you want to email me or write or whatever.
Love, Trisha

Trish Update

Hi all - John here for Trisha!

We are into the second week of radiation and chemo - and Trish is doing a great job of handling it all. But this is an intense time - she goes daily for a radiation session in Berkeley - and she takes a chemo pill everyday, as well. This a drug recipe for disaster, but she keeps it all together with a delicate balance of powerful steroids and anti-nausea meds. She is seeing two different docs every week - and they both want blood samples before each appointment - ouch! But Trish is keeping a cheerful attitude throughout - just amazing. She also has incredible support from her dear, close friends and family who are taking her to and fro - and watching over her.

She is looking forward to the light at the end of this nasty treatment tunnel - which will be in late September - early October. For now - Trisha tires easily, and gets a bit frustrated when her brain cannot handle too many visitors at once. So she is asking all of you to be patient and she'll be in touch with you all about visiting when the time is right.

Meanwhile - she is getting back to e-mail, so please communicate that way if you like - but she may take some time to get back to you.

Love to all,

-John

Trisha's New Deal

Trish is settling into her "new"schedule of Monday through Friday treatments. Here's what she has to say:


Hi there, my friends! I'm doing better pretty much day by day--lots more moving and thinking and I even steal time from the difficulties of brain tumor by reading historical novels. I've started in on my daily treatments out in Berkeley, and today had lunch out there once for a little adventure. I still nap quite a bit and it can be very overwhelming to see too many people, so I have definitely been keeping myself pretty socially quiet--perhaps in a month (or more? or less?) I'll be able to see more people. Of course I love to hear from you, and of course I wish I had a million hours of time, lots of money and---what the heck: no brain tumor! so I could spend all my time visiting. Well, for now the best hope is lots of time, continued health improvement, and eventual opportunities to be in communication with you all. I'll hand things back to John, now, my inspired web site blogger. Great to talk to you! xoxxoxox Trisha

Please keep replying: we love hearing from you.

We are in good shape for now regarding drivers and caregivers - and we thank the many who have offered. If you have those skills to offer, do let us know - we may well be calling on you. For the many friends who would like to visit, let us know about that, too. We will see about working in some short visits over the next several weeks. With the many treatments, Dr.'s appointments, etc. - Trish can only see a limited number of friends at this point. Please contact me directly about these things at john@callahanpiano.com



Love to all,

-John

From John

Good news - Trisha has been getting steadily better each day. Her spirits are great, her sense of humor is superb, and her new haircut is edgy! She is inspiring all of us, as together we chart the unknown waters of her illness.

Trish will be starting her daily radiation and chemo treatments in Berkeley on Tuesday -a six week run, Monday though Friday, weekends off. We thank the many local friends and family who have volunteered to help with driving - and we will be calling on you!
Today Allison (photographer at right) took her for a haircut, and a romp in the park.

Yesterday, Chloe Ma and her mom, Regina, came by and played some beautiful music - just what the doctor ordered.



And best of all - I have just figured out how to post photos on her blog!




While these images portray a rosy picture - the fact is that Trish is slowly working up to a point where she can have visits from friends, and get out a bit. She "overloads" easily (and suddenly) and the 24 hour cocktail of scary doses of drugs she is on keeps her family and friends (caregivers) on their toes. More soon ...

Love to all,

-John

Doctor Daze

Trisha had a nice recovery once the great docs at UCSF got her meds stabilized over the past 48 hours.

She felt well enough today to meet briefly with her motley, yet beloved gang of co-workers at the piano workshop www.miracleinabox.com . Then it was on to Berkeley to meet with the team of docs who will be overseeing her ongoing treatment (radiation and chemo) which will begin first thing next week.

After her first day venturing out, she is exhausted - and will take the next few days to build up some strength before starting the radiation and chemo phase of treatment.

For now, she will be staying at John and Nancy's in Oakland - and we will soon be calling upon all of the local friends and relatives to help with the daily, Monday through Friday trips to Berkeley for radiation.

More details about that in a few days.

Love to all,

John and Trisha

Trisha back home

Sorry - technical difficulties here ... We're back - and so is Trish!

Safe at home at John and Nancy's. Feeling much better--more tomorrow.

John and Trish

Trish at UCSF

Trisha was transferred back over to UCSF last night to be close to her surgical team as they moderate her meds. She is feeling better and her spirits, as always, are great, considering the fact that she feels pretty lousy.

This post brain surgery recovery has its ups and downs - but she is in great hands, and the love and support of all her wonderful extended family and friends means so much to her - we thank you all.

We hope to have her back home today or tomorrow.

-John

Trish landed back in the hospital

Hi all,

Well, Trish was doing so well over the past 10 days, that we were all surprised when her symptoms of head pain and nausea worsened today. Mary Ellen did a valiant job, but Trish was not able to keep the all important medications down - so the docs ordered her back to the hospital so they can get the meds into her through an IV. She is at Alta Bates in Berkeley at the moment, and the decision has not yet been made whether to keep her here, transfer her back to UCSF - or possibly let her come back home.

The good news is that she is finally resting comfortably after a rough day.

-John

Sunday Night thoughts from Trisha

John writing for Trish - who is worn out from a weekend of good family, good food, and good exercise of both her body and her brain.

Our sister Mary Ellen and her fella, Walter, (both here from their home in Manhattan) stayed with Trish this weekend, along with help from Trisha's nephew, Christoph, and his girlfriend, Ann. Nancy and I were away. Mary and Walter did a great job of cooking healthy organic food for Trish and regulating visits from several family members and friends. Cousin Sally, came this evening with a fabulous lasagna, and dessert was amazing homemade chocolate ice cream from John and Linda Brooks. Trish took a hike up and down our steep stairs afterward.

Tuesday will be a trip back to UCSF to visit the docs and get information about plans for future treatment. Stay tuned ...

-John