University of Texas Police Department Today – purse found!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At University of Texas Police Department today picking up my purse!!!!!!!! Thank you to everybody for the prayers So thankful the person that found it turned it in!! They found it exactly where I thought I left it too. Tomorrow I will be at MD all day and it will be nice to stop by the cafe and say thank you to the employee that turned it in....
Rough Day at MD Anderson :(
Had an extremely rough day today. Losing my purse was just icing on the cake. The expression when it rains it pours not accurate, it should be when it rains it turns into hurricane!! Today was my PET scan “aka” starvation day. Had nothing to eat or drink after midnight so driving in with no coffee and starving for my 1:30 scan was already hard. Thinking driving when starving might be as bad as driving when sleepy or drinking , lol. After I got to MD, had to wait a long time because they were running behind. Had 3 IV misses and had to get a different person to come in and they got it on the 4th try. The vein was in a weird spot and hurt (inside elbow included pic). Finally finished around 5:30 and could barely walk I was so wiped out from not eating. Brought rolls to eat in the dressing room when I finished my scan so I could at least make it to get food. My blood sugar was 46 a few scans ago and almost blacked out when I was leaving so I bring something small to at least keep me from possibly fainting. I then made it to the Cafe (next to large cafeteria) for Starbucks…… Credit card machine was down, so dumped out change in my Purse and was $1.00 short for my coffee…… lady behind me actually bought my coffee. Dropped my lip gloss at counter of course , one of those days. Was crying at counter after lady bought my coffee , told her thank you several times....
Late Chemo / People Staring At Me – Pink Hair & Hat
Posting this a little late, was super busy working late night during chemo and didn’t get done at MD Anderson until about 10 pm last night. Interesting thing I have noticed with pink hair is people stare at me and I even felt like I was getting some dirty looks. When I had no hair, I think people knew what I was going through and tried not to make it obvious they were staring. We teach our kids not to stare and point fingers when they see signs of an obvious medical condition because we feel it’s rude, but pink hair from what I have noticed doesn’t fall into that category. I definitely get very obvious head turning and surprisingly I don’t think people realize that it is pink due to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Luckily when my pink hair is out of control I have a little pink Texans hat to cover it up ~...
Arian Foster w/ Texans While Waiting for Chemo
Arian Foster, Jamie Gilmore (me sneaking out of MD Anderson before chemo started) at the Reliant Stadium September 26, 2013 Arian Foster, Jamie Gilmore (me 5 months before chemo started and 2 months before we found out my cancer was back again) at Texans vs Baltimore Ravens Playoff Game on January 16, 2012 My New Jacket So another little bonus yesterday!!!! I went to MD Anderson for labs….grabbed a pager for chemo…..snuck off campus and ran over to the Texans store at the Reliant Stadium to see if they had any new unique items since we leave for San Francisco for the Texans game next week!!!!!!!! While I was shopping Arian Foster stopped by to do a little shopping!!!!!! I have met him twice now, once with really long blonde hair, now with just a little bit of hair and think I may have met him with no hair, but did not take a picture, ( I included my old pic just to see how different I looked) Also, I scored a new Jacket It’s nice to have a jacket that I can wear with business attire and also can wear it if we are going to any Texans event where I want to dress up a little. After my little stop I was off to I.W. Marks to pick up the donated pendant I will be wearing during the live auction on October 25, 2013 (Masquerade for a Cure)!!! (See previous post for info) Then back to MD for chemo ~...
Battle Wound from IV / Blood work, Labs and Scans
Battle wounds from 2 IV’s over the past week for the PET and CT scans and lab work yesterday:( The good news is for both IV’s they got it on the first try and no fainting episodes!!!!!!!! I got their names so I can ask for the ladies up at MD next time I have a scan, lol. Kind of like my blood draws, Jewels is my lab lady every Monday. Once I found her, since I am a fainter, I started requesting her every time. Before Jewels I was a disaster when it came time to draw blood, but since her I am no longer afraid. She has been drawing my blood for almost a year in June (since I started chemo) and has never missed. I am so thankful to have met her and she helped me get over my fear. However, in the event of her absence I have to ask for a senior tech Next post is chemo update and scan results. Sharing pictures of my tumor on the next post....Kentucky Derby
Finally here, it’s Derby time!!!!!!!! My hat is ready and it’s going to be a beautiful day. Hope to see everybody!!!!!! The Derby event at The Marque starts at 3 and Tickets will be available at the door....Chemo Monday – Tuesday
Finally leaving from chemo, crazy how busy MDA is after a holiday! Exhausted!! Time to head home & get some rest… Gotta be at the Jamie’s Hope office in the morning – we have events to prepare for! What is up with starvation after leaving md???? I get a steroid in my pre meds because I had toxicity of the lungs, wondering if it can kick in and make you hungry in such a small amount of time….. My luggage and I are getting in the car, yay!!!!! So almost got in trouble with my doctor again for bringing too much stuff again, but the bag is full of magazines I was going to leave at the MD library for the patients. I was supposed to go through them to get them organized for my drop off, but didn’t get to it. (Trying again on Wednesday) Back again on Wednesday for another appointment. Have had some recent episodes where I took a step and could no longer move or walk at all. Almost fell apart at cvs when this continued to go on for about 20 minutes. One of my daughters school pta moms actually saw me while she was in the Starbucks line (memorial dr.) completely freeze in the middle of the parking lot and then a few minutes later after stretching limped my way in. She came inside and insisted in a nice way (not pushy at all) to help me with my shopping. I kept telling her I was fine and didn’t need help (was very worried I might of seemed rude), however I was really...
Perry’s Valentine’s -bill pd. by Stranger / released from MD today!!
Today I was released from MD Anderson around 12:30!!! Cindy picked me up with just enough time to pick up valentine bags, get to the house and put them together. I made it to Mikala’s school Valentines party and was only a few minutes late, so didn’t miss anything!! For dinner, Garrick, Mikala and I went to Perry’s at Memorial City. One of the staff came over and asked us if we knew the guy that had been sitting next to us and we said no. He asked us if we were sure and we said we definitely did not know him. He told us that when the man closed his bill he paid for our entire bill!!!!!! Garrick and I were in complete surprise that a stranger would do something so nice, took everything in me to hold it together and not cry at the table We tried to see if any of the staff knew his name or who he was, we just wanted to say Thank you!!...
Released!!
Released!! Had low blood pressure reading of 85/52 when I was asleep and they checked it again to make sure it was okay to go home and it was 98/62. Had breakfast, packed up and moved out Almost home. View from room Mikala watched all morning for...
Friday – MD Anderson Update – 2nd blood Transfusion
Energy today!!!!! Escaped from the room and went missing for an hour today Pushed my meds down with me, stopped by Jennifer Christie’s room to say hi and see how she was doing, went to the gift shop, ran my ankle over with the stupid pole thing that holds all the bags of medicine (ouch!!), stopped to check out Kim’s Center (for ages 15 to 30) which I am about to be to old for on February 1 Then back up to the 19th floor where I walked around and explored a little since I have been feeling better!!! My mom stayed the night with me last night and stayed with me all day, so dragged her with me for my adventure out of my hospital room Garrick and Mikala are now here for a little MD Anderson slumber party and I am receiving my 2nd blood transfusion. My mom left and picked up our puppy Zora in the pic below to puppysit, she was named after Toro ~Jamie Labs from this morning...
Updates from MD Anderson, Blood Transfusion, Visitors, Etc….
Had another fever of 102.7 around 4 am and they got my temp back down with Tylenol. Yesterday I had a temp of 103.1 and also had very low blood pressure off and on, so just trying to get everything back to normal and stable so I can get home. Had a blood transfusion this afternoon due to low hemoglobin levels. I am on all kinds of fluids and high dose antibiotics as well. Today is the first time in several days that I have been more awake and alert. Also, a few visitors ~ Jamie Getting my blood transfusion On the new floor (19th) at MD Anderson, super nice!!!! There is a couch for your guest that turns into a bed and they get their own tv. Lunch today!! Hospital food at MD Anderson is very good, think I always gain 5-10 lbs when I am here. Amanda stopped by today Mikala and my Mom watching the other tv in our room / awesome new guest area Garrick wearing his mask, also was sick Cindy and Adam pushing me into the ER on Monday night. Adam pushing our luggage ER on Monday night and released around 6 am Tuesday and ended up back at in the ER Tuesday evening and stayed in observation until Wednesday and then was admitted into the hospital. Cindy and Adam trying to sleep on the tiny couch in the ER...
PET Scan Results, Update, Visited Jennifer at MD, Chemo
Haven’t blogged in a while, the last 2 months have been very challenging. I have noticed when I feel good I push myself to the point of exhaustion and then crash for days. The hardest thing I am trying to learn is to slow down and that I’m not superwoman anymore, lol. This is my most challenging struggle with cancer, since I hate laying in bed and sitting around and resting and not feeling productive. Hopefully, I can find a way to manage my energy better so I don’t have the down days where I can’t move at all. Next comes my PET scan results!! Last week was my off week from chemo, so the last 2-3 days I have felt like myself once again My PET scan was last Thursday and I received results yesterday before chemo. According to the scan my SUV went down on all tumors by a little and this was my first positive test result. The report stated “Mild Positive Response to Therapy”. After discussing this with my doctor we wanted to know what my long term goal is and if surgery is in my future. She said the goal is to get me to a baseline and if we can get there to try to switch me to less toxic therapies for long term. Surgery is nowhere in my future at this time, it is two dangerous and my disease is too advanced at this time for that to be an option. The ultimate goal is to get my disease under control where it’s not spreading, growing or active and then we hope...
Bald is Beautiful
When you first begin chemo, losing your hair can become one of the hardest visual side effects a woman faces. Family and friends come together to try to make Jamie’s journey a little sweeter....
Jamie Gilmore featured in MD Anderson CancerWise
Fighting cancer with hope By Erica Quiroz Although Jamie Gilmore’s cancer has relapsed three times, she’s hoping the fourth time will be the charm to finally beat it. Gilmore was first diagnosed at 14 years old with acinic cell carcinoma (ACC), a rare salivary gland cancer. But her most notable experience with ACC happened when she was 20. She had pain on the left side of her face — the exact spot where she had a mass removed six years earlier — and was scheduled for surgery. A happy surprise “This time the tumor was all around my facial nerves,” Gilmore says. “The surgery was going to be five to six hours for removal of the tumor and then another five to six hours for reconstructive surgery.” As Gilmore’s husband and family waited, the anesthesiologist noticed her hormone levels were elevated. “My mom had me on a lot of natural remedies, and I thought that was why,” she says. “When the anesthesiologist came in and said I was pregnant, I was shocked.” Surgery was postponed, and Gilmore was referred to a high-risk OB-GYN at Texas Woman’s Hospital.”My doctor’s first priority was to ensure the safety of the baby,” Gilmore says. “Six weeks after delivery, I would be able to have the surgery.”Gilmore was induced at 38 weeks and her daughter, Mikala, was born Dec. 4, 2002. “She’s our miracle baby,” Gilmore says. Cancer spreads The following January, she went through a 12-hour surgery to remove the cancer and have reconstructive facial surgery.”I looked horrible afterward,” Gilmore says. “But my doctors did a great job, and I couldn’t believe how well the surgery...Jamie’s Hope featured in MD Anderson’s Promise Publication
Jamie hopes for a cure One patient’s rare cancer inspires collective effort Promise – Fall 2012 – By Erica Quiroz Jamie Gilmore is a fighter. In 1996, she was diagnosed with acinic cell carcinoma (ACC), a rare cancer that affects the parotid gland, the largest of the salivary glands. She’s been in remission from it twice. Now, the 30-year-old native Houstonian is in her third bout with ACC. She created Jamie’s Hope for a Cure with her husband, Garrick Glascock, in May to help fund research for targeted therapy at MD Anderson. “My family and I were surprised that there haven’t been any new developments in ACC treatment,” Jamie Gilmore says. “We thought surely something would be different from 15 years ago.” ACC affects an average of 135 people a year and accounts for 6-10% of all salivary gland cancers. To help create awareness, Gilmore and her family promote Jamie’s Hope by selling maroon and white bracelets for $5. They also collect donations through the website jamieshope.org. “The money we raise funds research for other rare forms of cancer and for people who don’t have a standard form of treatment,” Gilmore says. Jamie’s Hope also partnered with the Texas Realtors® Leadership Program (TRL), after Gilmore, who owns a real estate brokerage firm, joined in March. With the TRL’s help, Jamie’s Hope organized an October gala, “Masquerade for a Cure,” at River Oaks Country Club in Houston, with all proceeds benefiting targeted therapy research at MD Anderson. “Each year the TRL decides on a legacy project that will benefit the community,” Gilmore says. “Once they heard my story and what I’ve...Donate Here
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