Merry Christmas everyone!
I haven't posted in quite a while because I've been busy with work. This semester was difficult for me in many ways, but all of the wonderful things I got out of it were totally worth all the hard work.
Mother has had to go back on a chemotherapy regimen again because some cancer cells have reappeared in her blood. But her doctors are very optimistic that all will be well. She will have one more round of chemotherapy and then she will have a "booster" again in late January or early February. The booster is basically more cells from the original donor. I will know more in a couple days once I make it home for Christmas and talk to my family.
Anyways, I'm looking forward to a happy and productive 2016! There are so many goals that I've set for myself, and I really want to accomplish all of them. I'll hopefully make a separate post about this later, but let's just say some are very big!
That's all for now.
19 December 2015
13 May 2015
GoFundMe Campaign for Mom
As most of you know, my mother was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (bone marrow cancer) in September 2014. She had a bone marrow transplant in February at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, and after being released from the hospital she moved in with her sister - our wonderful Angie - and her family in order to recover from the transplant.
Time is almost upon us when Mother will be moving back to Mississippi, but she still has medical bills to pay for as well as travel to pay for to get back and forth to Atlanta. So, my awesome cousin Whitney Marquis Pullen has set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for mother's medical and travel expenses. You can donate to mother's campaign here, and any amount would be greatly appreciated!
You can read more about mother's diagnosis and prognosis here, and you can read more about the type of cancer she has here and here.
God Bless!
LINKS:
Wanda Gordon Burns's GoFundMe Campaign
http://www.gofundme.com/uf7p9k
"Mom's Cancer" Blog Entry from February (Diagnosis and Prognosis Info)
http://kellywburns.blogspot.com/2015/02/moms-cancer.html
More Info on MDS from the American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/myelodysplasticsyndrome/
More Info on MDS from the National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/myelodysplastic/Patient/page1
Time is almost upon us when Mother will be moving back to Mississippi, but she still has medical bills to pay for as well as travel to pay for to get back and forth to Atlanta. So, my awesome cousin Whitney Marquis Pullen has set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for mother's medical and travel expenses. You can donate to mother's campaign here, and any amount would be greatly appreciated!
You can read more about mother's diagnosis and prognosis here, and you can read more about the type of cancer she has here and here.
God Bless!
LINKS:
Wanda Gordon Burns's GoFundMe Campaign
http://www.gofundme.com/uf7p9k
"Mom's Cancer" Blog Entry from February (Diagnosis and Prognosis Info)
http://kellywburns.blogspot.com/2015/02/moms-cancer.html
More Info on MDS from the American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/myelodysplasticsyndrome/
More Info on MDS from the National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/myelodysplastic/Patient/page1
12 May 2015
Performing Life 2015-2016
Upcoming Performances
In June, I'll be singing again with the Mozart on the Green Festival here in Athens. I'll be performing songs by Mozart, Bellini, and Quilter in a mini-recital with pianist Gail Berenson. I'll also be teaching a few lessons that week to high school students who are attending the Ohio University Summer Music Camp, which is always fun!
The Fall semester begins in late August, and things get off to a quick start for me! In September, Gail and I will be presenting a faculty voice recital. We're performing songs by Gwyneth Walker, Franz Schubert, Gabriel Fauré, Reynaldo Hahn, and selections from the early Italian composers.
After that, I'll be singing the tenor solo in Carmina Burana in October, the title role in Benjamin Britten's Saint Nicholas in November, and the Father in Kurt Weill's Seven Deadly Sins in December.
I'm so excited to be learning all this new music - all of the works in the later part of the year are brand new to me as a singer, and I can't wait to do them all! Here's to Happy Practicing!!!
In June, I'll be singing again with the Mozart on the Green Festival here in Athens. I'll be performing songs by Mozart, Bellini, and Quilter in a mini-recital with pianist Gail Berenson. I'll also be teaching a few lessons that week to high school students who are attending the Ohio University Summer Music Camp, which is always fun!
The Fall semester begins in late August, and things get off to a quick start for me! In September, Gail and I will be presenting a faculty voice recital. We're performing songs by Gwyneth Walker, Franz Schubert, Gabriel Fauré, Reynaldo Hahn, and selections from the early Italian composers.
After that, I'll be singing the tenor solo in Carmina Burana in October, the title role in Benjamin Britten's Saint Nicholas in November, and the Father in Kurt Weill's Seven Deadly Sins in December.
I'm so excited to be learning all this new music - all of the works in the later part of the year are brand new to me as a singer, and I can't wait to do them all! Here's to Happy Practicing!!!
18 March 2015
What's in a diet?
I just had some amazing apple sauce and some sliced cantaloupe for lunch. Yummy.
I really love cooking, but lately I've been in a rut - repeat performances of the same (tasty) dishes. It's hard to find time to make something fresh each day, so cooking on the weekends seems to be my only option. But free weekends have been scarce this year. Lots of people have suggested that I make things that can be eaten throughout week, and that's a great idea, but it gets boring after a while. I also don't like eating out of boxes because of all the sodium and preservatives that come along with the meals.
I need to find a way to combat this. I'm tired of spending tons of money eating out and not really being able to eat good, healthy food. I'm thinking about starting a diet in which I only eat baby food (probably going to cost a lot of money). Maybe it'll become a trend, and I'll get rich and famous and go on Ellen. Hashtagbabyfooddiet.
I really love cooking, but lately I've been in a rut - repeat performances of the same (tasty) dishes. It's hard to find time to make something fresh each day, so cooking on the weekends seems to be my only option. But free weekends have been scarce this year. Lots of people have suggested that I make things that can be eaten throughout week, and that's a great idea, but it gets boring after a while. I also don't like eating out of boxes because of all the sodium and preservatives that come along with the meals.
I need to find a way to combat this. I'm tired of spending tons of money eating out and not really being able to eat good, healthy food. I'm thinking about starting a diet in which I only eat baby food (probably going to cost a lot of money). Maybe it'll become a trend, and I'll get rich and famous and go on Ellen. Hashtagbabyfooddiet.
04 March 2015
A Message from Mother
Wanda Gordon "BiggaMomma" Burns has a short message for you all:
"Everyone is beautiful in their own way!"
And now for some updates:
Today is Day+7 - one week since the transplant. Mother is doing as well as can be expected. She has suffered from a long list of symptoms so far, but it seems to me that the big one is extreme weakness. The best news is that she's eating and drinking regularly, and she's starting to get a little exercise by walking up and down the hallway. So, she has some good days and some bad, so we're just taking it one day at a time. The next week will be the hardest part of her journey. Thanks so much for the continued prayers, positive thoughts, good vibes/juju, etc!
I spent the night on Monday night, and I must say that Mother is one tough cookie! Between giving me the look time and time again from making her drink her water and the occasional laughs, I could tell that she is fighting like mad! (Actually, she really loves how this blog is titled "Just Let Your Soul Glow" and every time I tell her I'm posting something she says "Rrrrrrrandy Watson!" in her best Eddie Murphy impression and then giggles.)
Getting rest is easier said than done in a hospital when you have so many people coming in to check up on you - poking, prodding, sticking, and all that. But they're really doing their best to get sleep when they can.
Daddy and Angie are holding up well - they've both been two very big rocks for her.
Corey and Brandon are coming to visit this weekend, so she'll get to see her other babies soon!
"Everyone is beautiful in their own way!"
And now for some updates:
Today is Day+7 - one week since the transplant. Mother is doing as well as can be expected. She has suffered from a long list of symptoms so far, but it seems to me that the big one is extreme weakness. The best news is that she's eating and drinking regularly, and she's starting to get a little exercise by walking up and down the hallway. So, she has some good days and some bad, so we're just taking it one day at a time. The next week will be the hardest part of her journey. Thanks so much for the continued prayers, positive thoughts, good vibes/juju, etc!
I spent the night on Monday night, and I must say that Mother is one tough cookie! Between giving me the look time and time again from making her drink her water and the occasional laughs, I could tell that she is fighting like mad! (Actually, she really loves how this blog is titled "Just Let Your Soul Glow" and every time I tell her I'm posting something she says "Rrrrrrrandy Watson!" in her best Eddie Murphy impression and then giggles.)
Getting rest is easier said than done in a hospital when you have so many people coming in to check up on you - poking, prodding, sticking, and all that. But they're really doing their best to get sleep when they can.
Daddy and Angie are holding up well - they've both been two very big rocks for her.
Corey and Brandon are coming to visit this weekend, so she'll get to see her other babies soon!
02 March 2015
A Message from Dad
Today is Day +5. Wanda is feeling somewhat better; she started eating again! It seems like the fever has gone down. She's still experiencing some nausea and she has gained a little water weight, but they have her on medications for both of those and they are under control for now.
Wanda doesn't feel like talking a lot and is very tired, but she is in good spirits. She wants y'all to know that she is thinking of y'all and is so thankful for the prayers, cards, well-wishes, calls and texts.
She should have a pretty good turn around in 8-10 days. We miss you all, and you're in our prayers. A special thank you for the chocolates from the children's class!
Please keep praying for us as well as Wanda's sister Angie who lives here in the Atlanta area and is helping take good care of us. She truly is an Angel!
God has been so good to us, and we appreciate his love and his grace!
In Christian Love,
Terry and Wanda
Edited at 2:48pm EST (adding the picture)
Here's a visual of what we will be expecting Wanda to go through over the next few days. We're entering the "Basement Period" - the timeframe in which Wanda will be at her roughest. This will be a little scary for us, but at least we know to expect it. You'll notice the blue dots/hashes on the lines represent each day that passes. We're currently on +5. We'll keep everyone posted about her progress. Click the image to enlarge.
Much love,
Kelly
Wanda doesn't feel like talking a lot and is very tired, but she is in good spirits. She wants y'all to know that she is thinking of y'all and is so thankful for the prayers, cards, well-wishes, calls and texts.
She should have a pretty good turn around in 8-10 days. We miss you all, and you're in our prayers. A special thank you for the chocolates from the children's class!
Please keep praying for us as well as Wanda's sister Angie who lives here in the Atlanta area and is helping take good care of us. She truly is an Angel!
God has been so good to us, and we appreciate his love and his grace!
In Christian Love,
Terry and Wanda
Edited at 2:48pm EST (adding the picture)
Here's a visual of what we will be expecting Wanda to go through over the next few days. We're entering the "Basement Period" - the timeframe in which Wanda will be at her roughest. This will be a little scary for us, but at least we know to expect it. You'll notice the blue dots/hashes on the lines represent each day that passes. We're currently on +5. We'll keep everyone posted about her progress. Click the image to enlarge.
Much love,
Kelly
22 February 2015
Mom's Cancer
This story is, of course, a hard one to tell because it's so personal and also unfinished. Last September, my mother was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) - a cancer of the bone marrow. Basically, her bone marrow is no longer able to produce blood cells properly. So, her immune system is greatly affected. Patients with this type of cancer typically need blood transfusions and/or chemotherapy treatments to survive. The best form of treatment is a bone marrow transplant. MDS used to be classified as pre-leukemia, but that's somewhat misleading (in Doctor Speak) even though if MDS is left untreated it can and likely will develop into acute meyloid leukemia.
Mother's treatment and prognosis has been fairly good so far. Starting in October 2014, she took five days of chemotherapy at the beginning of each month in Oxford followed by routine check-ups with her oncologist at the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University in Atlanta. We were incredibly lucky to learn early on that there were three "perfect" matches in the National Marrow Donation Program, so my mother will have a bone marrow transplant this Tuesday (February 24) that hopefully will effectively cure the cancer. My mother could live many more years if all goes well.
Of course, any type of transplant comes with risks and uncertainties. This is the unfinished part of the story, and it likely won't be finished for about 2 years. The worst of this treatment process comes at the beginning, though, and chances of survival increase as time moves along. Mother, Daddy, Corey, Brandon, and I are all staying positive, and we are joined by extended family (most notably Mother's sister Angie) with lots of positive reinforcement and incredible generosity. I already know many who will make a trip or two from Mississippi to Atlanta to visit, offer support, help ease the burden, and relieve our "cancer vigilantes." I have to say I love each and every one of you!
After she has the transplant, Mother will be in the hospital under constant supervision for at least 30 days. With the doctor's approval, she can move in with Angie (who happens to live in the Atlanta area) for another 4-6 months. She'll need to stay within driving distance of the hospital in case there are any issues with the transplant being rejected or other complications. In other words, Georgia is getting one of Mississippi's most beautiful magnolias for the better part of 2015. Also, my uncle must be a saint for allowing two Gordon women under his roof for so long - especially one that has paired that upbringing with a Burns husband for 35 years!
Mother's medical team is very optimistic about her recovery, and they are nothing short of a miracle! We are glad that she is receiving such wonderful care from her doctors, nurses, and so many family members!
Any and all prayers, good thoughts, good vibes, positive energies, etc. can be sent our way! We appreciate every ounce of love and understanding!
Mother's treatment and prognosis has been fairly good so far. Starting in October 2014, she took five days of chemotherapy at the beginning of each month in Oxford followed by routine check-ups with her oncologist at the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University in Atlanta. We were incredibly lucky to learn early on that there were three "perfect" matches in the National Marrow Donation Program, so my mother will have a bone marrow transplant this Tuesday (February 24) that hopefully will effectively cure the cancer. My mother could live many more years if all goes well.
Of course, any type of transplant comes with risks and uncertainties. This is the unfinished part of the story, and it likely won't be finished for about 2 years. The worst of this treatment process comes at the beginning, though, and chances of survival increase as time moves along. Mother, Daddy, Corey, Brandon, and I are all staying positive, and we are joined by extended family (most notably Mother's sister Angie) with lots of positive reinforcement and incredible generosity. I already know many who will make a trip or two from Mississippi to Atlanta to visit, offer support, help ease the burden, and relieve our "cancer vigilantes." I have to say I love each and every one of you!
After she has the transplant, Mother will be in the hospital under constant supervision for at least 30 days. With the doctor's approval, she can move in with Angie (who happens to live in the Atlanta area) for another 4-6 months. She'll need to stay within driving distance of the hospital in case there are any issues with the transplant being rejected or other complications. In other words, Georgia is getting one of Mississippi's most beautiful magnolias for the better part of 2015. Also, my uncle must be a saint for allowing two Gordon women under his roof for so long - especially one that has paired that upbringing with a Burns husband for 35 years!
Mother's medical team is very optimistic about her recovery, and they are nothing short of a miracle! We are glad that she is receiving such wonderful care from her doctors, nurses, and so many family members!
Any and all prayers, good thoughts, good vibes, positive energies, etc. can be sent our way! We appreciate every ounce of love and understanding!
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