New Year Looking Good
I don't want to give myself a kenahorah, but so far 2011 is looking up. Julianne finally found a job. So, let me state first that not all attorneys are bad or fit the stereotype. The attorney who hired Julianne seems to be a fine young man. I haven't met him yet, but he is opening his own practice and has hired her to be his "right hand" and paralegal. She tells me he is very nice and a very kind person. Well, he is a better human being than anyone else with whom she has worked or interviewed. He knows all about Rebecca's cancer and the trips to NIH for the clinical trial studies and he hired her anyway. Now THAT'S a mensch. A gitte neshomah. A good soul. Yes, he's Jewish, and that tickles me no end. And it sound like he's had a good upbringing and respects family.
December 2nd she and Rebecca were in a terrible accident. I was in Atlanta at Sulky Teacher Certification classes when I got the call from Jools as they were in the ambulance on the way to the hospital to be checked out.
They were on their way to the airport to go to NIH for Rebecca's checkup when a woman driving a van slammed into the rear of Jools' car and pushed the car into the jeep in front of them. The "Big Girl Car" as she was known, was totaled. It was a miracle that both my girls walked away with only minor bruising and soreness. But the emotional toll it has taken has been devastating. Both are very nervous drivers now. And for Julianne to lose her car through no fault of her own (a car that was long paid for and in excellent shape might I add), was almost too much on top of everything else. She fought hard to get a good property damage settlement, but would never get enough to pay for another car in as good a shape. We have many family members and friends to thank for their generosity in contributing to the car fund that enabled her to make a substantial down payment on an almost new car so that her payments would be affordable. Had she not known she had this new job, a car payment would have been out of the question.
We were able to celebrate a very happy Christmas and New Year. New Year's Eve found Julianne, Rebecca, Frank and me shopping for a car. Did you know that you can probably only visit three or four car dealerships per day when shopping, IF you find something on the lots in which you're interested? No kidding! Took us at least 2-3 hours at each dealership. The last one, Palmetto Ford, was the winner. Those two salesmen were wonderful as were the folks behind the scene and made it possible for Julianne to get a Ford Fusion, 2010 model, with only 2,046 miles on it AND she'll have a payment she can afford and NO maintenance or repair expenses for six years. (It was "Mama's" car. Belonged to the 90 YO woman who does their commercials!) Well, anyway, listening to me tell Julianne's story made them determined to make it happen, and happen it did. G_d bless them all!
But the best news of all is that Rebecca is responding well to the Sutent (clinical trial drug) and the MRIs show "significant improvement and possible reversal" according to the doctors at NIH. Heck, I don't know what the doctors see, but I don't see any signs of tumor on the MRI images. She's had some thyroid problems because of the drug, so is off of it for a while so that her thyroid can hopefully recover. She is as happy, healthy, beautiful and talented as she has ever been. We so enjoyed being together during the holidays. I particularly enjoyed seeing her do her artwork while at my house. To some people it might seem like she's just playing with paper, but every time I see her create even the smallest, silliest thing, I rejoice.
Frank has been able to get my car's little broken annoyances fixed. And we hope that 2011 will find us being able to build his workshop, or at least start on it. I'd like to get a newer car (mine is 17 years old), but I'd rather have a workshop this year.
Mother is doing well and seems to be enjoying being back at her house. Johnny visits her every day (wish I could) and makes sure she takes her meds, eats a good meal and helps with housework and laundry. I miss having her at my house, but am glad she can be at her own home for as long as possible.
As Julianne said in her recent Caring Bridge post, maybe we are exiting the dark. I sure hope so.
December 2nd she and Rebecca were in a terrible accident. I was in Atlanta at Sulky Teacher Certification classes when I got the call from Jools as they were in the ambulance on the way to the hospital to be checked out.
They were on their way to the airport to go to NIH for Rebecca's checkup when a woman driving a van slammed into the rear of Jools' car and pushed the car into the jeep in front of them. The "Big Girl Car" as she was known, was totaled. It was a miracle that both my girls walked away with only minor bruising and soreness. But the emotional toll it has taken has been devastating. Both are very nervous drivers now. And for Julianne to lose her car through no fault of her own (a car that was long paid for and in excellent shape might I add), was almost too much on top of everything else. She fought hard to get a good property damage settlement, but would never get enough to pay for another car in as good a shape. We have many family members and friends to thank for their generosity in contributing to the car fund that enabled her to make a substantial down payment on an almost new car so that her payments would be affordable. Had she not known she had this new job, a car payment would have been out of the question.
We were able to celebrate a very happy Christmas and New Year. New Year's Eve found Julianne, Rebecca, Frank and me shopping for a car. Did you know that you can probably only visit three or four car dealerships per day when shopping, IF you find something on the lots in which you're interested? No kidding! Took us at least 2-3 hours at each dealership. The last one, Palmetto Ford, was the winner. Those two salesmen were wonderful as were the folks behind the scene and made it possible for Julianne to get a Ford Fusion, 2010 model, with only 2,046 miles on it AND she'll have a payment she can afford and NO maintenance or repair expenses for six years. (It was "Mama's" car. Belonged to the 90 YO woman who does their commercials!) Well, anyway, listening to me tell Julianne's story made them determined to make it happen, and happen it did. G_d bless them all!
But the best news of all is that Rebecca is responding well to the Sutent (clinical trial drug) and the MRIs show "significant improvement and possible reversal" according to the doctors at NIH. Heck, I don't know what the doctors see, but I don't see any signs of tumor on the MRI images. She's had some thyroid problems because of the drug, so is off of it for a while so that her thyroid can hopefully recover. She is as happy, healthy, beautiful and talented as she has ever been. We so enjoyed being together during the holidays. I particularly enjoyed seeing her do her artwork while at my house. To some people it might seem like she's just playing with paper, but every time I see her create even the smallest, silliest thing, I rejoice.
Frank has been able to get my car's little broken annoyances fixed. And we hope that 2011 will find us being able to build his workshop, or at least start on it. I'd like to get a newer car (mine is 17 years old), but I'd rather have a workshop this year.
Mother is doing well and seems to be enjoying being back at her house. Johnny visits her every day (wish I could) and makes sure she takes her meds, eats a good meal and helps with housework and laundry. I miss having her at my house, but am glad she can be at her own home for as long as possible.
As Julianne said in her recent Caring Bridge post, maybe we are exiting the dark. I sure hope so.
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