Tuesday, July 4, 2017

A STUMBLE ALONG THE JOURNEY...










I hate to start this post off
 with a note of sadness,
 but this is kind of how
 the past few weeks have been.

 Tim, Tami and Jake 
lost their golden, Cruzer, 
to stomach cancer. 

 He was a 
big, goofy, beautiful and good boy, 
and he will be 
missed so much.






As if that wasn't enough, 
a few days after his passing, 
Tami experienced 
some heart problems.





She and Tim 
were working around the house
 when her heart 
started beating so fast
 they were unable
 to get a reading on
 their home BP monitor.






When sitting in a chair,
 she said it felt like the chair 
was coming through her back and 
she could see the beating 
of her heart 
through her shirt.






Tim took her to the ER 
where they were finally able 
to get a reading of 258 beats per minute.

 It finally settled back
 into normal range
 and they called in a cardiologist.

 She performed an ultrasound 
and discovered some fluid
 around the heart 
which may have been the result of
 the heart's beating 
so hard and fast and
 caused it to rupture 
a small amount.






She was diagnosed with
 arterial flutter.






An appointment was set up for her 
at a hospital in Redwood City
 to perform an ablasion, 
which she had last Wednesday.

 If you are not familiar with that word, 
in simple layman terms,
it is a procedure 
where they poke a wire through 
a small hole in a vein
 in the groin area and 
run it up 
into the heart.






When they find
 where the flutter is 
they fix it
 and you are as good as new.

 It is quite a common condition 
that millions of people have.

 As I have stated, 
this procedure,
 with the spelling and content, 
is purely in my words.
 I don't have the expertise
 to state it logically but
 I hope you can get the idea.

 They are watching the fluid, 
making sure it doesn't get any bigger 
and expect it to clear up,
on its own, 
over time.





As many of you know, 
Tami is a fourteen year survivor
 of breast cancer.

 Every year, 
for the past fourteen, 
she has raised money to walk 
in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk
 in San Francisco.





Over the past thirteen years
 she has raised a total of $23,400 
and this year she added $2,200 
to that amount.

 It is her way of honoring 
all men and women
 that have been hit by 
this horrible disease and 
to give "C"
 a hard kick 
in the ass!...






...except this year 
she won't be able to 
as the walk is this coming weekend
 and it is too soon for her 
to be attacking 
the hills of San Francisco
 as she usually does,
 and you have to know Tami, 
she never does 
anything
 halfway!





Needless to say,
 she is more than disappointed
 that she won't be able to walk.
 She is concerned that 
she would be letting down 
all the ones who donated 
to the cause.
 Even though 
most would never know 
that she couldn't walk,
 she would know.

 But here is where
 a bit of brightness
 comes into the whole picture.

 Jake
 is going 
to walk 
for her.





You all know that
 I brag about Jake 
as often as I can.
  
I am not apologizing for that at all. 
 It is just a fact
 of who he is.

 But, 
I have never been as proud 
as I am in this instance.

 Pure and simple,
 his mother is devastated and
 he is stepping in 
to make it right 
for her.





Tami, 
life is a journey and 
we are so proud of your family and 
glad that this part of your journey
 is coming to an end and
 looking forward 
to the best 
that is yet 
to be.


...Mom and Dad...





Hope you all 
are having the best
 Fourth of July 
celebrations!


Sharing today with:













20 comments:

  1. When I read about Jake stepping in I started to cry, because beautiful things can bring me tears. What a meaningful gesture. Did he graduate from UCSC? One of our sons graduated from there.

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  2. Im so sorry about the loss of your daughter Dog I know what she went true I loss my Lala with the same Cancer last year in October all my prayer go to her on her heart problem she is going to be ok
    On her procedures that is so nice of her son you has to be so proud of him God bless him
    Blessing
    Isora
    XO

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  3. So sorry about your grand dog. It is so sad when we loose them.

    I am so proud of Jake stepping in to take over his mothers place in the walk against cancer. You have every right to be so proud of him.

    Take care of yourselves and Happy 4th.

    Hugs,
    Mary

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  4. Tami is one strong lady. That is so scary and I know you were out of your mind with fear for your daughter. I have heard this before and the procedure. So thankful we live in a time that something can be done to mend the heart in this way. Such a sweet precious grandson stepping in for his Mother. Sorry for the loss of the family dog. So grateful that your daughter is on the mend. She is a pretty lady.
    Betsy

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  5. Judy, Such a heart warming post; I will be lifting Tami up. It is so hard to lose a beloved 4 legged companion! Then to be hit with the heart issue. What a warrior she is to have walked so often in the Walk-a-thon; I had a friend in SR who did it several years in SF. I also have family and friends who have battled breast cancer; in fact, our best friends in SR dealt with the hubby having a heart attack in March and she was diagnosed with breast cancer the first of April. Tami will grow strong and walk next year.
    Hugs,
    Noreen

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  6. Judy,

    It sounds like a roller coaster over the past few weeks. I'm glad that all is turning out ok. Jake is so sweet and shows his wonderful character to do this for his mom.
    Hugs
    Amy Jo

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  7. Judy,
    You have an amazing family!! Sending prayers for Tami and the rest of your family. It is a common procedure but when it is a loved one of your own involved, no procedure is considered common in your mind... Keep us posted...
    Hugs,
    Deb

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  8. Love, hugs & prayers for all of you at this time. You are a strong, loving, courageous family.

    FlowerLady

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  9. So happy your post ended on a good note!! Great pictures of your sweet family. The golden was beautiful.

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  10. Hi Judy!
    I'm so happy that Tami is going to be okay- how scary. I can't imagine my heart beating that fast. Terrifying! I am saddened to hear about the loss of Cruzer. They are devastated, I'm sure. This news all brought tears to my eyes and when I read about Jake going to walk for Tami, well- they are overflowing! What a wonderful act of love. You brag about that grandson of yours all you want to! He's doing such a great thing for his mom. I'd squeeze him until he yelled for help if I could get my arms around him. LOL Sending love to you and the family...xoxo, T.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Tina. I appreciate all your kind words. I squeezed him for you..Have a wonderful weekend..Judy

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  11. I'm so glad your post ended on a good note for Tami.... How scary for that to happen! First I was thinking "anxiety attack" as I've had those in the past where you feel like your heart is going to jump out of your chest..but I don't think my beats were EVER that fast! I'm so glad she had the procedure and is doing well.. and that her son is stepping in to walk the walk for her. I would be proud too! I hope the coming weeks settle down for you.. it is hard and scary when medical things happen to our "kids". Sending blessings to all of you too for the loss of sweet Cruzer. Hugs.. Marilyn

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  12. My heart goes out to Tami and her family. The loss of a family pet is very emotional. Very hard to reconcile with and get over, as we animal lovers have a special bond with our furry friends.

    That said, I am so, so relieved to hear that Tami is on the mend. I pray this never happens again. And her son, God bless him! What a way to show his love. My sisters have done the Avon Walk and it is not for sissies!

    Love how you write about life, it's ups and downs and I truly enjoyed all of the pictures.

    Jane x

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  13. Judy, I am so glad to hear that Tami is feeling better. Your grandson is an amazing young man and you should brag. It's wonderful to hear about a young man stepping up in this world that lately seems filled with "me, me, me". His behavior is a testament to how you raised your own children and in turn how they raised theirs. I am sending positive thoughts and hugs to you that Tami continues to feel well and that scary episode is totally behind her. Thinking of you my friend...xo

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  14. What a beautiful post. A post of sadness....turned into tremendous JOY!

    xo
    Jo

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  15. So sorry to hear about the dog ,such beautiful doggie ,knows how it feels to loose a pet friend and a big thumb for your grandson ,what a family you have Judy ,your daughter such a strong person and wonderful that her son will do the walk I wish goodluck good weekend
    Rita

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Rita. We are very proud of our kids..Happy weekend to you..Judy

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  16. Wow - emotion filled post - but so wonderful what Jake is doing. our thoughts are with you all during this time - hoping for the best of results. Hang on to your loved ones, I know you do, as they are so precious.

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  17. Hi Judy, I am so behind on my commenting. So sorry to hear the sad news about the family pet. It can be so difficult. On top of that Tami having some health issues. Jake is a wonderful young man and you have every right to brag. Have a good weekend.

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  18. I'm so sorry for the loss of your granddog. It's a difficult thing to get over. Our fur babies mean so much.

    Jake sounds like a wonderful, thoughtful person, and what a meaningful gesture for him to walk for his mom. I'm glad she's on the mend, but that must have been beyond scary for you all to go through.

    (((Hugs)))

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Your comments are so special to me...Judy