Thank You

For Taryn, who lights up my life so brilliantly that even the sun can't compete. For Warren, who continues to patiently tolerate my failings as a wife. For Emily, who makes me proud every day of her strength and perserverance. For Ian, whose humor continues to bring laughter into my life. For Addison, who revives me at the end of the day with her winning smile.

For Bruce, who reminds me daily of what "family" is all about - love and loyalty. For Chris, whose friendship extends far beyond our mutual parenthood. For Lisa, who is my rock (and my roll). For Dave, who loved my sister so. For the family lost to me this year - Bonnie, Ken, Gubby - whose memories keep them alive in my heart. For the family that remains - aunts, uncles, cousins - who continue to celebrate milestones and birthdays, weddings and graduations, christenings and anniversaries.

For my in-laws, who continually find ways to demonstrate their love for me. For my friends, who make me forget the trying times. For my neighbors, who never tire of showing their support for me and each other. For my co-workers, who inspire me daily to conduct myself with integrity. For my congregation, who help me to hold onto my faith when all seems lost.

For this beautiful life filled with love and laughter and grief and tears and grace and compassion and loss and horror and courage and inspiration and sickness and fear and joy and achievement and every one of you as part of it to make it a priceless gift.

For all of this - I thank you God.

Blessings and Love to All.

Cheers (Drink To That)

In a year of many sucky things...there is still this. Fabulous friends that make me forget my troubles and remind me of my good fortune. I'll drink to that! (oh wait, I guess I already did).

And now for something completely different - the saga of the missing medication:

My chemo drugs come from a specialty pharmacy and when my company changed insurance plans, I needed to go through a different pharmacy. The new pharmacy contacted me on a Monday to tell me that they had received the prescription the previous Friday and were working on determining what, if any, Rx benefits I had with the new plan. On Tuesday, they called to tell me that I had not reached my "new" deductible and needed to pay full price for my drugs - $2,200 + for the 2 week supply. Gulp! And...cue the tears of frustration (which did dissipate later on when I was reimbursed for the cost). Nevertheless, I paid up and was told they would be mailed out on Tuesday. I reminded them that I HAD to have the drugs by Wednesday as that is when the new cycle was to start. They "understood." No meds Wednesday. No meds Thursday. I called them Thursday and was told that there was no evidence in the system that the shipment had been set up - but yes, yes it shows that I paid! They would be happy to set it up for me - to be shipped Monday, a full 10 days after they first received the prescription. Did I mention that the old pharmacy had the meds in my hands within 24 hours? Well - I let 'em have it ("Do you people want me TO DIE? This is CANCER medication I need to LIVE!!!") loud and long and with a generous helping of sarcasm. After "consulting" with the pharmacist, the customer service person advised that they would be sending out the medication that evening. No meds Friday. No meds Saturday or Sunday or Monday. Today is Tuesday. No meds. I am now one week past when I should have been beginning my 3rd cycle. Fortunately, I had a scheduled appointment with my oncologist yesterday, who assured me I would be OK starting the next cycle this late and who arranged for some emergency meds (since it is unclear as to whether I will EVER get that prescription filled). The pharmacy's name is Accredo. They are the worst I have ever dealt with in my life. I can't wait to inform any regulatory agency that will listen about the unconscionable way they handled this matter.

Is it any wonder I needed a drink this week?

A shout out to the many folks who helped me deal with this ridiculous incident, including Thea, my mother hen; Patti, the witness to my extended diatribe on Thursday; and Little Jenn, the world's most compassionate and capable dental hygienist (c'mon whose hygienist tracks down within hours all the information needed to seek reimbursement from the drug manufacturer?). Cheers to them.

Blessings and Love to All.