It’s a Cha-cha

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One, two. One, two, three. Two steps forward… and three steps back.

I was feeling pretty cocky about my new drug because everything was going so well. Yep, you know what’s coming. With two days worth of pills left, I crashed and burned spectacularly. The drug did its job too well – and my platelet count, well, let’s just say I was “running on fumes.” Or, could barely run on fumes.
The good thing about being cared for at an oncology center is that they don’t take things lightly – it’s not, “oh, we can fit you in later in the month.” It’s, “Come in now. Labs first. Next, you’re going to go across the street to the hospital get a “cross & type” done, because we made an appointment for you to get a platelet infusion tomorrow morning at 10:00 am.”

Not what I was expecting, but friends who have gone through cancer treatment told me it happens, that they’d been through it.

Afterward, we drove 50 miles home in rush-hour traffic, in the dark and the rain, the first we’ve had in a while. It was a spectacular electrical storm, lightning rending the sky, the white bolts temporarily turning everything violet. It was a great distraction, as were the muffins we ate as we drove. Crumbs everywhere… but that wasn’t important for a change. Crumbs can be vacuumed.

There is a wonderful upscale grocery market just blocks from the hospital, and I love going there when I’m in that part of town, which is rare these days. Their bakery is fantastic. Their deli is expansive. Everything is mouth-watering. If there is a Heaven, surely it will be a place like this!
Before heading home, we had stopped there and bought coffee and muffins for the road. Dinner. My fave is a Lemon Poppyseed, which isn’t gluten-free, but under the circumstances…

I was back at the oncologist for bloodwork early the next morning, and I did have to get that infusion of platelets. Wasn’t horrible. (I’m lying, it was. Brave face.) But, it was all finished in two hours. I spent the weekend binge-watching Netflix, and I finished the book, “Olga Dies Dreaming,” by Xochitl Gonzalez.
I always enjoy her articles in The Atlantic but cannot remember who recommended her book to me. “Set in NYC in the months surrounding the most devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico’s history, Olga Dies Dreaming examines political corruption, familial strife, and the very notion of the American Dream.” For having been written four years ago, it features a bigoted, corrupt, imbecilic President – and cast of supporting political characters who all seem quite familiar. I wasn’t sure about Olga herself, in the beginning, but I ended up loving both her and the book!

I have to be back at the hospital today for a blood transfusion. While ,y platelets are going up, but for some reason my hemoglobin is almost non-existent. Luckily, it’s fixable. I asked if there was a place I could do this closer to home, and there is. I know that my chauffeur probably appreciates this as much as I do. We went yesterday and I had my blood cross & typed again – and this time the room had windows, it was warm, and the nurse who will be caring for me was as gentle as kitten. This is going to be a much better experience.

Needless to say, there’s no way I’m cooking a Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. I’ve let that go. Although it seems like it’s all about the meal, what’s on the table isn’t important. It’s who is around my table; the people that I get to love are what I’m so thankful for!

You know how much I appreciate you all for being here. Have a delightful Thanksgiving tomorrow!
(Have non-traditional plans? Not making a turkey? Cooking for 20? Tell me what you’re doing, I’d love to hear all about it!)

XO Donna

Busy, Busy

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A dear friend, Joanie, has moved to Sun City! And in a happy coincidence, in a town of approximately 17K people… she has moved walking distance from me. We met 30-ish years ago in a Nia White-Belt training; she went on to become a wonderful teacher and will hopefully teach classes here in Sun City and in Georgetown. It turned out I that have stage-fright, so teaching was not for me.

Yesterday Joanie and I went to an exquisite yoga studio downtown for a 75 minute Yin (restorative) yoga class with sound meditation at the end. I was so excited to “be getting my airy-fairy on,” it’s been years! Both the class and the studio far exceeded any expectations I might have had.
The sounds were singing bowls – so soothing – during our long poses. And at the very end, during the “corpse pose,” everyone’s favorite, where you lie still on your back and integrate the work you’ve done, they played a vibration for 10 minutes or so. When I came home, I did my homework; it is one of many frequencies known to have healing effects on the nervous system and the body. These vibrations are measured in Hertz, and 174 Hz has been found to have the potential to alleviate stress and pain, improve focus, and give the organs a sense of security.

For the first time in years I felt at ease, as if I were floating. Unbound. Unburdened.

I’m still feeling more relaxed than “normal” today. I’m scheduling that class into my schedule. That ease even made my workout with my trainer easier. Weight-training is so important as we get older for bone density and strength. My watering can weighs 16 lbs when I fill it, and I can carry it again to water the garden I’m trying to grow. My green thumb seems to be limited with indoor plants, where I can grow anything. Outdoors, all bets are off. I keep starting over. And over.

Speaking of… I have three books on my nightstand that I just can’t stay focused on. I start, read 15-20 pages and put it down. On to one of the others, same thing. I seem to have the attention span of a gnat. Is this inability to focus an age-thing? Any of you having the same problem?
Or is your Mom?

So, I bought another book. Of course. The title is simply Long Island. Since I’m from there, how could I not delve a little deeper? It’s one of Oprah’s book club picks, which aren’t usually my cup of tea, but the female protagonist has a man come to her door one day, asking for her by name, and tells her that his wife is pregnant by her husband, and when the baby is born he will deposit it on her doorstep. The novel is about what she does with this news, and what she refuses to do.

My youngest sister, Elizabeth (you remember her) and I have started reading it. I will give you a book report next time. And maybe this will break my lack of focus and I’ll get into the others.

One last thing, a health alert. I was really shocked to read this, so I’m passing it along, please do the same.
AZO and Uristat are brand names for the drug phenazopiridine, long used to treat symptoms of urinary tract infections. Both are available in any drugstore or pharmacy aisle in the grocers. I’ve used it a few times while waiting to reach my doctor. And, of course I assumed it was safe.

It is not FDA approved, and twenty years ago the FDA raised questions about its potential to cause cancer.

It works by numbing the urinary tract, but that can mask serious infections requiring medical attention and antibiotics. Sadly, most doctors are unaware of this drugs potential for harm. If you do use it, it should only be used for two days as you call your doctor for treatment.
If taken for too long it can slow breathing, and lead to death. A 1978 National Cancer study showed it caused tumors in lab rats and mice, and the National Toxicology Program said “it is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.”

The article I read was from BLOOMBERG: “The Potential Cancer Health Risks Lurking in One Popular OTC Drug,” by Anna Edney May 19, 2025

Thank you for reading my posts – always makes me happy to know you’re “out there.”

XO Donna