Update #1 November 12, 2008

This was written Nov 12 and has been waiting for Bonnie to add some words, but she hasn't so here it is anyway.

SURPRISE!!!

Long time no hear from us, huh.

Thought we better let you know of things going on since the last post in August.

Bonnie started radiation on September 8 and had to go every weekday for a 5 minute treatment. She did it at LDS hospital which is closer than the new IHC hospital. JaNae would take her a day or two a week on average and I would take her on Friday’s. Other kind sisters in the Ward would take her the other days. It took longer to get there and back than the time spent there.

She would lay face down on a table and they would raise it up to the radiation projector and line up the tattooed dots that they put on her butt and each hip. Then the projector would start on one side and go up and over to the other side emanating radiation the whole time. For the last 4 days of radiation they narrowed the beam and increased the intensity for more targeted treatment. Treatments ended on October 16.

The side affects of the radiation were a real treat too. She was nauseated a lot and had diarrhea for many days also. The affects would hit with barely any notice on most evenings and made her pretty miserable. It took 3-4 weeks for the side affects to go away (mostly). She still is tired all the time and has some vertigo feelings going on now.

We went to Lake Mead at the end of August and stayed on James and Tammy’s houseboat for 4 days and had a great time. The lake and weather were warm (hot), but the nice air conditioning made it bearable. We would go out on a wave runner a couple times a day and really enjoyed it. Thanks James and Tammy, it is a wonderful vacation spot and houseboat! Two of my sisters spent the first night with us and we had a good time. Then we spent 3 nights in Vegas and went to the Aggie/Vegas football game.

We are leaving this Friday the 14th to go with my sister and her husband, Louise and Bob to Orlando for a week to go to Disney parks. Merissa and JaNae decided to go down at the same time but are staying at a different resort. We will have a meal together each day when down there. We are taking a wheelchair for Bonnie because she gets so tired after long days. Chad Akagi (Rachelle) arranged for us to use one, thanks.

I'll show some pictures of the houseboat my niece (Tammy) took because ours were not good. And a couple of pictures of Bonnie getting radiation if I can find them.