[Jackie07]

Thanks, Adriana. How are you doing?

I am about completely recovered from my hysterectomy/oophorectomy now. In the past ten days, we have been walking twice to the water fall located in the middle of the new walking/biking trail built by the city . The water fall was beautiful and and the walk relaxing, though the one hour round trip tires me out. Most people park their car in front of a local Internet/computer company. We might try that next time to trim 10-15 minutes off our walk.

We are (I am)going to check with my doctors about the vaginal atrophy issue. Hubby has finally made me understand the frustration he has had being just 52 and hasn't had the 'real' thing for almost 7 years. I had tried a low dose estrogen cream January last year after seeing a gynecologist. But I was soon scared off after feeling a 'bump' on my chest. It had turned out (after biopsy) to be the 'clip' (inserted during the mastectomy as a 'marker')that was pushed up against the muscle/skin. My surgeon said that most people couldn't feel it at all. I think I am just very skinny and very sensitive.

It's really a roller-coaster ride with huge ups and downs.
I'm fortunate to have very strong family ties and feel quite secure - the worst senario will be for me to go home stay with my parents in Taiwan (They have a live-in housekeeper and my 5 siblings all want me to take it easy...) Hubby is stuck with the situation - he can't take a job because he's needed by both his Father and me. And there's hardly any suitable/flexible jobs available in this rural area.

Really appreciated your message. We have made some progress - will make it a project to paint our garage door and clean up the study/fix the tiles in the bathroom before my niece's visit 2, 3 weeks from now. She's my oldest Brother's daughter - she has an older brother who's on his way to England for graduate school. I stayed with her family briefly while in college around the time when she was born. Everyone says that she takes after me - mainly her 'giggling' and her temperament, and her 'tiny' teeth. She's going to fly (from Taipai, Taiwan) to New Mexico, spend a few days there and then fly to either Dallas or San Antonio (because MTrack does not have a direct connection to our town.) Her plan is to travel 10 states in three months by train. How wonderful it is to be young! We think she inherited the adventuous spirit from her Grandmom, her Father, and her Little Auntie...

I have just received a check of the 'back payment' from the Social Security Administration. Though the amount was small, the approval of my 'disability' status has given both of us a sigh of relief and some vindication. Hubby had suspected (he couldn't help it) that I was purposely trying to torture him (with my memory problem) and that I was fired from all the jobs because I wouldn't get along with people at work (again because of my memory problem.)

Last couple of weeks I've got connected with some college alumni through the Association Chapter in Southern California. Though I reside in Texas, they wanted me to write something about my 'cancer-fighting' story. I was complimented by the editor on both my English writing and Chinese composition skills. How nice! I'm going to write more often. It's therapeutic...

Mostly, people just like to know how I am able to keep a positive attitude, maintain a vibrant spirit, and stay happy during the long, rough journey. Well, one thing I know - besides being well-influenced by my Mother and having a strong belif system and a supportive spouse - is that I've got this wonderful Her2-support family here. Joe and Christine have done something so extraordinarily wonderful for all of us, I think they deserve a Congressional Medal.

Thanks again. You've caught me in a good (up) day!