Day 7

I'll be honest. I accepted the invite to blog for Jenny for purely selfish motives.
I wanted to secure the chance to talk to her every week and hear her voice.
And I think talking to her this morning did me more good than her (that's pretty classic Reeder, don't you think?)

I found out about everything that first weekend in November via txt messages. I was working an event and she was in the hospital. But, even over texts, my heart was in Virginia. And it has been every day.

I was just telling Jenny that because I'm connected to her through several groups of friends (or rather because I'm connected to several groups of friends BECAUSE of her), that I have a rare chance to see all the things people are trying to do, wanting to do, planning to do.

Is there a girl more loved than Jenny Reeder?
If there is, I do not know her.

SO...on with the update of Day 7 (and we'll see how good my journalism skills are...if I got this all correct).

First of all, Jenny sounds great and that made my heart happy.
So great that when she told me about her steroid treatment (daily pills to make her organs strong). She said there weren't any side effect but that her face is getting puffy. She said people tell her that her face ISN'T getting puffy. And she just wants to say, "Shut up, jerks!" That made me laugh right out loud (so even if her face ISN'T getting puffy...maybe just play along with her...grin).

One good thing about the steroids is that her appetite came back. In fact, yesterday she was randomly craving chicken enchiladas but then Reeder realized she was in Virginia and asked, "Where in the world am I going to find normal chicken enchiladas here?"
There is one Mexican restaurant that she loves but has only had their fajitas. She called a friend who called a friend and was assured this place had good chicken enchiladas. But, they came. And Jenny tried them and...no go.
Happily, her Home Teacher is making some for her and bringing them today.

Tomorrow (Day 8) is a big chemo day that will likely wipe her out. It's a drug she has had before but it's the drug that will likely make her hair fall out. A friend is going to come and give her a cute little pixy cut in preparation. I don't know about you but I think if ANYONE can pull off a new look, it's Reeder. Petite people always can pull of a new look.

She is overwhelmed by the love and prayers and support. But, that's what happens when things like this happen. You find out who YOU really are through the way people are moved into action because of the impact and influence you have on them.
And I for one am REALLY grateful for Jenny's impact and influence on me.

GO REEDER!
(this picture was taken way too long ago...but it makes me happy.)

Sunday Update

Jenny had a pretty good Sunday. She didn't get any chemo, just an infusion of white blood cells to boost her counts, which had fallen to a dangerously low 0.5 (instead of the seven to nine that they should be). She felt so good that she took not just one but TWO walks around her floor today. I'm sure she'll be training for a marathon again in no time!

Jenny's fabulous friend Debbie was visiting from out-of-town this weekend and spent most of her time with Jenny (leaving her husband to take care of the kids in the hotel room--awesome). Here are Katie and Debbie visiting our girl. (Not sure why it's so small. Click it to get a full-screen view.) Thanks to Anais for the cool panoramic pic.

Other good news from today:

• Jenny's kidneys are once again functioning at 100%. Woot woot! She no longer requires the services of her nephrologists.
• Jenny learned that she does NOT have the Philadelphia chromosome, which is a big relief and will help the doctors fine tune her chemo/treatment as they proceed.

When she wasn't visiting with friends or doing laps around the hospital, Jenny dug into The Hunger Games. In fact, she's nearly finished with it and on the look-out to borrow the second book in the series later this week. Anyone have a copy to lend her?

Stay tuned for more pictures and keep those comments and visits coming! Big hugs to you, Jenny!!

Warmth and Sunshine!

Its very apparent when you are near Jenny's hospital room, there is just joy and love seeping out from under the door!

This weekend Jenny's room has had some out-of-town-guest-love, her Aunt and a dear friend, DW, in addition to her sweet mom, are bringing extra joy to the hospital room.

I am sure you all know that Jenny has mad-good sewing skills and is always making aprons or quilts for others. Well, bring on the quilters who are out in force to return the sewing-love and to take care of Jenny! DW, who drove down from Ohio, brought with her a beautiful quilt she made for Jenny (above photo), it is the perfect addition to add warmth and love to Jenny's life!

Last weekend some other friends pulled together fabric, sewing machines and love to make a bright and cheery quilt for her. Others pitched in to drive the quilt to the quilter, watch kids, sew on the binding and buy supplies. Truly a team effort! She gets cold after her treatments and so both quilts are perfect (and if there are any other quilts in the works please don't be deterred, they can happily be put in rotation).


A few other tidbits from Jenny's life:

• Other patients and nurses have come to take a tour of Jenny's well decorated hospital room
• Jenny has not met any of her neighbors, but she is the youngest on the floor by 30 years
• For lunch she had a gourmet burger with grilled onions, thanks DW!
  
• One highlight from today was a phone call from an old Bishop who is currently a mission President in Japan
• Make sure to ask Jenny about the, and I quote, "sweaty-tooth-mad-man"
• Jenny loves that she can still shower by herself...but do not interrupt her while she is blow-drying her hair. This morning she told her Dr to come back later, after her hair was done!
• Visitors who break out into spontaneous dance and cheer moves are deeply loved! (Dance moves are not required to visit, though, check with SS in advance in case this does become a requirement at a later date)
  
• The love from all of you is evident and heart-warming!
  

A New Reality

One week ago this evening Jenny was being moved from the emergency room to a longer-term room. She and the doctors knew something was wrong, but she did not yet have even a preliminary diagnosis. When we spoke that night, she was concerned but in good spirits. Tonight, Jenny told me, “This has been the longest week of my life.”

Jenny explains that the chemo has now killed everything – her white blood cell count down very low. She is getting blood transfusions frequently as well as getting injections of platelets. In the next few days she expects to receive the results from her bone marrow analysis, which will tell the doctors the specific brand of leukemia. This will allow them to come up with an even more focused plan of attack.

She has become an expert on her unique medication cocktails, knowing how to expect to feel after each dose. Luckily her anti-nausea medication has worked perfectly, but she knows that not long after taking it she will be super light headed”

Last night, Jenny had an allergic reaction to the plantlets she had just received. “I woke up at 2 a.m to go to the bathroom. I looked in the mirror and noticed that I had hives all over my chest.” She called the nurse who quickly ordered a round of Benadryl and called her doctor. They decided that the reaction likely came from the preservatives in the bag of platelets, but this is still something that they need to keep their eyes on.

Also last night, Jenny was able to hold a Relief Society presidency meeting in her hospital room. (For those who don't know, Jenny is the Relief Society president of the Shirlington half of the Crystal City Ward) “This was the best thing about last night. It made me feel like there was more to me than just being sick!”

As she reviewed the many developments that have unfolded over the last week, Jenny told me that it has been very up and down emotionally and physically, but after a draining day yesterday, today has been a good day. “I have been more energetic today. I was just given steroids today, no chemo, which seems to have helped.”

Typical of the Reeder attitude we all know and love, Jenny has an inspiring attitude towards the life she is facing. “This is reality for me now – a new reality.”

The first few days, I was in a whirlwind, but this is my life now. I’ll only be here, in the hospital, for three more weeks, but I probably have two more years of chemo ahead of me,” she says. “I go through periods where I’m not ok, but there are times that I think, ‘ok this is my life now.’”

Jenny has been overwhelmed by the huge support network she has had behind her. “I mean, I always knew I had a lot of friends, but the amount of support I’ve received is overwhelming,” she explains. “My friend Debbie, from fifth grade, just drove from Ohio. She brought me a bag full of treats from a bunch of my friends.” Stories like this one seem to be never ending.

To those reading this blog, Jenny would just like to say thank you. “I know that my mission in life isn’t fulfilled yet. I am going to overcome this. I want everyone to know that I know I have a mission in life, and it’s not over. So I think, ‘Well then let’s do it, let’s kick this cancer!”

You are my Sunshine

Jenny says that the treatment is kicking her butt, but says that is a good thing, kick the lymphoblasts right in the trash. Her kidney function is good and her appetite is back woot woot! She ate french toast and pizza today. However she says she is holding out for the Carlyle. We love you Jenny!

Financial Contributions

Many of you desire to make financial contributions to support Jenny.  She--and those of us close to her in the Crystal City Ward--are so appreciative of your desire to help.  While Jenny will certainly need support with medical bills not covered by her insurance, she will also need help covering basic living expenses such as rent and bills in the coming months as she recovers from the treatment.

If you would like to make a financial contribution, you may donate to the fast offering fund of the Crystal City Ward.  The bishop can use these funds to pay Jenny's medical bills and other expenses.  Church members as well as individuals of other faiths are welcome to donate this way.  On the standard donation slip, please indicate that the funds are for the fast offering.  The check should be payable to "Crystal City Ward" or "LDS Church."  Please send the donation with the standard donation slip to the bishop of the CCWard at his home address (email welovejennyreeder (at) gmail (dot) com to get this info).  If you are of another faith and would like a donation slip and envelope, please email welovejennyreeder (at) gmail (dot) com to request that one be mailed to you.

If you would like to make a gift to Jenny directly, rather than through her local congregation, you are also welcome to write a check, payable to her.  You can mail it to her at her home address (email welovejennyreeder (at) gmail (dot) com and we'll send it to you).  If you would like to donate to Jenny anonymously, mail it to DS (one of Jenny's housemates), who will deposit checks from anonymous donors into Jenny's account. 

We thank you for your generosity and support for Jenny.

Bishop KS, Crystal City Ward Bishop

SS, Crystal City Ward Shirlington Relief Society Presidency

"What I love about today."

As you would expect from Jenny, when I asked her for an update for her blog she started listing things she loves about today. Gotta love that girl!

She loves the chocolate protein shakes brought by CL. She has had no appetite and a hard time eating. (I do hear she was also able to also eat half a cheeseburger and some pad Thai, which is great news.) She's craving fresh fruit but she can't have it due to bacterial concerns, but she can eat Clementines if someone peels them for her. (She didn't specify if that means they have to be delivered peeled or what, so email her before you send her a carton full of them!)

She loves her paper chain her roommates made for her to count down her 22 days of chemo. She has 20 days left-- Today she did her second round. It hasn't made her quite as sick as she had expected (she's yet to toss her cookies-- wahoo!), which is hopefully a sign of how she'll feel in the future with further treatment.

"I love my afternoon walk!"

She is loving her doctors and nurses and says they are the greatest. She describes them as a whole team, with groups of doctors for all of her different needs and she is so grateful to them all.

Her blood levels are going back down, which is to be expected. She will probably have more blood transfusions tonight or tomorrow, which usually boosts her energy.

And, of course, she mentioned how blessed she is for the outpouring of love she's receiving from so many people. I told her it's fitting, since she always takes care of so many people.

We love you, Jenny!

More On How To Help

Jenny continues to be so touched by the outpouring of love that you all have shown her in the past days.  We have been overwhelmed by so many offers to help.  At present, we don't know exactly what Jenny will need over the course of her treatment.  We know that she very much appreciates all the prayers on her behalf.  In addition, we have some ideas for ways to help . . .

Visits:  Continue to contact SS to set up visits.  Remember the visiting rules.  And if you are willing to babysit so that individuals with children can visit, please also email SS.  (Or send an email to welovejennyreeder (at) gmail.)

Meals:  Jenny's mom is staying with Jenny for an undetermined amount of time.  If you would like to provide a meal for her, please email LN in the ward or send an email to welovejennyreeder (at) gmail.

Plane tickets, vouchers, etc.:  We'll talk with Jenny about any members of her family that she would like to have visit her who may not otherwise be able to fly out to visit with such short notice.  If you have vouchers, plane tickets, or frequent flyer miles, or buddy passes that you would like to donate, please email SS or welovejennyreeder (at) gmail.

Phone calls:  We ask that you limit phone calls since Jenny will likely need to get a lot of rest.  However, emails are welcome.

Flowers:  Jenny loves fresh flowers, but her doctors have instructed her not to have them near her.

Updates:  Continue to check here on the blog for daily updates.

And check the previous posts for more information about visits or contacts/gifts.

Again, thank you so much for your outpouring of love to Jenny.  We know that this means a lot to her.

The Room

A couple shots of Jenny's amazing room.  Thank you AM for sharing your extraordinary decorating skills!

Caring staff . . .

Technology . . .

And friends and loved ones . . .

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

On Saturday, November 6, Jenny was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  She had been feeling tired for about a month and then was hospitalized Friday at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Virginia. 

She was scheduled to begin aggressive chemotherapy yesterday, but there was a delay getting the necessary echo cardiogram.  After "some words" with hospital staff, Jenny got the echo cardiogram and her chemotherapy was started today about noon, while I was talking to her on the phone.  She will receive treatments daily for about 10 days.  She has been told that she will stay in the hospital for about a month.

Jenny's ward fasted for her Sunday.  As our dear friend and Relief Society President, she was really missed.  It was amazing to see the outpouring of love and concern for Jenny from the entire ward.  So many asked if they could help in so many different ways and we have seen friends and colleagues from across the country show similar great love for Jenny.

A ward friend, AM, decorated her room with a rug, fall foliage, Christmas lights, silk flowers, and more.  It looks so great that hospital staff has been stopping by to check it out!

Today, Jenny feels pretty good.  She's "anxious" and doesn't "want her eggs to drop like flies" which she learned today will happen.  :(

She wants everyone to know that she is "so so so grateful for the love and support" that has been shown to her in so many ways!  Jenny, we love you and send our hugs and pray for your added strength!

A Message About How To Contact or Send Gifts

Please use this blog to send comments to Jenny.  You can also send her emails and posts on her facebook wall.

Cards, letters, and gifts can be sent to her home on Utah St, and her housemates will deliver it to the hospital.  They will be making daily runs.  Please do not send flowers or plants.  (If you need the address, please send an email to welovejennyreeder (at) gmail (dot) com.)

A method for making donations is being established, please stay tuned for more information.

Thank you again for such a wonderful outpouring of love and concern!!!  Jenny can truly feel your love.

A Message About Visits

For local visitors, please continue to coordinate requests to visit Jenny through SS.  (To contact SS, please send an email to welovejennyreeder (at) gmail (dot) com.)  Jenny's immune system is already compromised, and it will only get worse from here, so we must be vigilant in guarding against any exposure to any type of illness or other contaminant.  While greatly appreciated, the volume of visitors is emotionally and physically draining, so this process is meant to coordinate and distribute our efforts. 

When you do visit, please adhere to the following rules:
1.  All visitors must leave by 9:00 pm.
2.  All visits must be brief, preferable no more than 15-30 minutes.
3.  Groups should contain no more than 4 visitors.
4.  No children.
5.  No flowers or plants.
6.  No visitors with ANY chance whatsoever of being sick!

Thank you for your overwhelming outpouring of love and desire to help.  Jenny is so grateful for everyone's love and concern.

Also, if anyone wants to get something to Jenny, you can give it to one of Jenny's housemates, VJ, YY, or DS, and they will bring it to her.  One of them will be making a daily run to the hospital to bring her what she needs, so you can get your cards, books, artwork, etc. to her this way.  (If you would like the address, please email welovejennyreeder (at) gmail (dot) com.)

Victory... Victory at all costs... Victory at any cost

The funniest thing happened last week.

Now you probably know I'm a runner. I've run a couple of marathons, and while I'm no Boston-qualifier, I love the thrill of the pulse and the finish-line flourish.

Well. The past two weeks I've suffered from what has been called Washington DC's worst pollen in ten years. So when the annual Victim's Rights run came to campus, as it does every year, and my department coordinated registration and t-shirts, and I coughed up a lung that morning, I decided to walk instead of run. Which I did with my friend Sheila. Sheila and I chatted it up the whole time--it was a pleasant morning, and we talked about the state of the history department, her current success at defending her dissertation and now working full time at the Center for History and New Media, and all sorts of things. When we walked across the finish line, some man asked if we were students. Sheila just graduated, but I gave them my name. We sat down with our running friends and ate sandwiches during the little awards ceremony.

Lo and behold, they called my name. I was the first place student walker! Complete with a trophy! I don't know whether to be proud or not, being a runner... but the trophy earned a place of honor above my computer.

I AM, however, proud of my victory at the Lunt annual Easter Eggstravaganza a couple of weeks ago, when my hearty egg, named Eliza R. Snow, won the egg crack-off...

Yes--I did decorate her Martha Stewart-style, although you can't see the fine design in this action shot.

Check out the winning bracket! Intense competition, I tell you.

Bhangra Blowout

Last Friday, Andrea taught ME and I to make Indian food. Of course we stayed up too late to marinade and watch High School Musical 3 and an episode of Alias (season 3, episode 1--was she really gone for 2 years?!?). But all the delicious food and dancing was prelude to this...


Last Saturday, Jamie persuaded Jennifer and I to attend the Bhangra Blowout with her at Constitution Hall. What's that, you ask? Well, only the premier Indian dance festival in the country, of course!


Jamie decked us out in all her Indian garb (it was so hard to choose!), and we headed into the District (there's something about riding the metro dressed up... you get a lot of looks when you wear garb that's obviously not your skins!). I think we were the only Caucasians around. It was a party, I'm telling you--Bollywood at it's finest! Dancing--on the stage AND in the aisles, singing, and I hear the after parties are crazy.
How I LOVE me a good celebration! The music pumped through that auditorium, the colors swinging around, and boy do I want to learn some of those moves. Who knew all of this could come out of the good ol' DAR? I need to go to India one day...

On the Up and Up

Good news moment! Brought to you with pictures of my favorite cherry blossom neighborhood in Chevy Chase from a couple of weeks ago...

drum roll...

I have funding! My department has offered me one more year of funding. This news came the day after I did NOT receive funding from another significant source (which was a good thing because I didn't necessarily want to move back to Utah, although it would have been ridiculous to turn it down if I DID get it). Ahem. Anyway. The PhD director swore up and down that he would most definitely NOT give me funding ever again after this year, which means I either need to finish my dissertation this year (wonder of wonder, miracle of miracles!) or find another fellowship (I'm trying! I'm trying!). So one more year of pittance upon which to thrive and write and write and thrive. Just you wait!
AND... just found out today that I received a Charles Redd Center for Western Studies fellowship--a very small award but money! Hooray! More pittance!

AND... (the list goes on!)... as I went online today to find a new laptop battery, I discovered that I'm still under warranty for 49 more days! Hooray! New battery for free!

My View

This was my view. Not today, but two days ago. I didn't have the energy to post on Tuesday.

I must say one of the greatest rewards of growing older (this is not a post on age) is the recognition of what you're feeling--physically and emotionally--and what you want to do about it. You recognize when you're elated and why, you know when you're mad and you can decide what you're going to do about it, and you sense when you're discouraged and you figure out how to handle that.

I've been attacked by allergies. And it's made me feel sick. I haven't been sick in a long, long time. I refuse to let my body slow down long enough to feel sick. But after huddling in a blanket all day, not really being able to breath deeply, clinging to my laptop for warmth (and catching up on a billion emails), when my sweet friend Diedra called to invite me over to dinner, I admitted it. I didn't feel good. She immediately offered to bring me dinner. I started to cry. And then I knew I really was sick.

So this was my view: notice kleenex, water bottle, mug of hot tea, tin-foil-covered dinner from Diedra, my puffy Laura Ashley comforter, and, of course, my bound Woman's Exponent and laptop open to the Nauvoo Relief Society Minutes resting on the awesome antique coffee table I found on the street and still haven't figured out how to refinish.

I'm on the mend. I have prescriptions for flonase and an inhaler, I've had a delightful sleep thanks to some benadryl (who knew it was almost as good as ambien!?!), and lots and lots and lots of liquids. And emails to catch up...

And the Heavens Opened

Bozeman, Montana, May 2008

Last night I inadvertently left my sun roof open. Thank goodness when I got into my car this morning that it hadn't rained and that the temperature had lowered and prevented a fine dusting of pollen to fill my Golda with its springtime wealth.

I like to believe that I was tapping into my conduit to heaven through my sun roof. That and the wind rippling through my hair and the bright spring sun are what motivate me to open up Golda in this pollen-infested world.

Just last week, for instance, I was in a tight spot with my dissertation. My adviser was convinced that my structure was all wrong and that my previously-written chapters were off and shouldn't be included. She was partly right. The biggest problem, though, was that I didn't have a tight focus. I couldn't figure out the core value of all my little strands. I'd felt blocked the past few months as I tried to hammer out a dissertation that didn't really stand on its own.

So I struggled through it that weekend. I went to all my usual sources of inspiration (including the fabulous Kenwood neighborhood in Chevy Chase for some non-touristy cherry blossom stimulation). I read an article by my dear mentors from a previous life at BYU, Jill & Carol. They seemed to have hit one of my ideas right on, and while I was delighted in their work, I was also a bit disappointed because it's now not mine to make.

And then it hit me. It came. The heavens opened and all of a sudden all these little pieces from my past years of research and papers and exhibits instantly fell into place. CLICK. I figured it out. I saw so clearly, in that beam of sunlight on my back patio last Wednesday, the day before I met with my adviser to restructure my dissertation, and my conduit popped. I welcome those brief moments of clarity. This morning at the gym as I labored on the bike (breathing heavily through my allergy-infested lungs), I had another moment, explaining another part of my life. These are the moments, these bits of light, these conduits, that I cling to and that provide direction for the next little bit. Oh thank goodness!

Bits and Pieces

This, my friends, is a pretty nice explanation for my life these days.

In all reality, it's what I've been spending 20 hours a week working on with my fellowship with the Papers of the War Department. Piecing through fragments. Finding dates and names and locations. Making sense of any word or phrase I can find.

This is actually a letter from James McHenry, Secretary of the War Department, to some guy named Roach (as far as I can tell), dated 12 January 1798 (as far as I can tell). In fact, the only thing I can really tell is that nice, clear signature. James McHenry. This I know.

Sometimes that's all I know. But sometimes that's all I need. Just a name. Sometimes just MY name. The rest can be a foggy haze until the bits and pieces settle and we can make more sense of it. And you'd better believe I'm going to run with that name. I'm going to get all the mileage out of it I can. Because it may be all I have right now.

Like my life. I know I need to finish this dissertation. I don't know how long it's going to take, or how I'm going to pay for it (or my rent or food for that matter!). I don't know how it's all going to shake out in the end (although I think we win. At least that's what history tells us today.). But I'm going to stick with what I DO know and run with it. Just you wait.

said through the mail slot...

Tonight I dropped a treat by my friend Julie's house. Little Elliot and I are great friends, and even though it was an hour past her bedtime (maybe especially because it was an hour past her bedtime), she invited me several times to come over and play with her. I only stayed a few minutes, and as I as getting into my car, the front door opened and Julie told me that Elliot had something else to say. She wanted me to know that if I wanted to, I could call her tomorrow on the phone and come over and play with her.

The best part? Before her mom opened the door, Elliot called for me through the mail slot in the front door. "Jenny Reeder! Jenny Reeder"

Love those little messages. That made my day!

Stuck

Digging out from the Blizzard[s] of 2010 has been a much more lengthy process than I anticipated. Walls of snow line my streets... we're still down to one lane. Last night I drove around my block six times looking for a parking spot. There is plenty of space--but it's filled with crusty, icy snow. Many cars are still snowed in; they didn't even try to dig themselves out.

After being snowed in for over a week, with two free Sundays, we finally had church. Short church. The parking lot, though well plowed, was still full of snow. There's just nowhere to put the darn stuff. So we split into two groups and just had one hour a piece. I can't tell you how great it was to be back with the folks, even just for an hour.

Everyone is hoping for sun. That seems to be the only way to melt this mess. But then we think about the potential flooding problems if it melts too fast. And the other problem with melting is that the water quickly turns to ice at night. It's like a no-win situation. Too much? Too fast? Not enough?

Which sums up how I'm feeling about now. Stuck. Trapped in walls of snow. Bogged down in grant applications--which means I'm not working on my dissertation, but I'm trying to define my dissertation for these proposals, and then I feel like it's undefinable and dumb, and then I get further and further away from it.

So. I'm waiting for sun. And this time I hope it comes quickly and wholly and completely.