My Dear Friend....Vicki Peterson

February 24, 2007 - Yesterday my computer was in a rest mode and random slides were popping up on my laptop. This picture of my dear friend, Vicki Peterson, popped up and made me smile. Tonight this picture, makes me smile but along with that smile, I carry sadness in my heart.

My dear friend, Vicki, died this afternoon. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor on November 20th, had surgery then chemotherapy and radiation over the past two months. She got pneumonia and has been in ICU over the past two weeks. Vicki fought hard but with her family by her side, she left us to be with our heavenly Father freed from the struggling she had been through over the past months.

Of course, through the sadness of all left behind, we struggle with loosing sweet Vicki but we know she is with our Lord. She was such a faithful and loving servant in her walk in life. She touched the lifes of so many people through her love for others. She was a wonderful wife, great daughter and sister, loving Mother to her children, friend to so many in her spiritual community and beyond. She made a difference to so many in her social work, therapy and advocacy for others. She was truly a gift to the world!

This picture is of the special time we shared this summer at Adventurers Camp at Camp Trinity with campers with developmental challenges. Vicki and I loved being a duo in our program time with the campers who we so dearly love. Seeing this picture spoke to me yesterday before Vicki died and today says so much as well. Her smile and her angel wings exemplified the wonderful person she was to all of us. Angels are my thing and tonight I know Vicki is among the cast of angels with our Lord and Savior.

I ask for your prayers for her family this night and in the time ahead. Pray for Richard, her loving husband; Erin, Mike and Chris, her wonderful children; Emmy her faithful Mother, Jenny, her dear sister and other family members Greg, Larry, Elizabeth and Alex. Bring peace and comfort to their hearts in the loss of loving Vicki.

Tonight, I also pray and feel gratitude for all who have offered care of Vicki: her family, her church community, friends from many facets of life and the medical community.

For Vicki, our dear friend, may you rest in peace this night and for evermore. Thank you for being the angel in many of our hearts. We love you and will miss you. Peace my dear friend!

WINTER...IT HAS BEEN A PERIOD OF A QUIET JOURNEY OF HEALING FOR ME!

February 18, 2007 - I regret that blogging has not been my focus over the past 6 weeks. I have had a period of chemo which has been somewhat challenging and I have just not felt up to writing. I am fine but moving on through the last three treatments has been fairly taxing. I will give you a quick recap to catch my friends up on the latest.




Dr. Heather White, my oncologist - she
is an alumna from St. Mary's College in Raleigh - As I told her she is a younger alumna working on a healing a older alumna. She is just wonderful! The scarf is made by my friend from my United Way days in Columbia, S.C. - Nancy Wiegand. It definitely helps give me some color with my new look of no eyelashes!


January 5, 2007 - This was the last of my first four treatments with two drugs. The journey of those two drugs primarily gave me the feelings of naseau. Thanks to the anti-naseau meds I made it through the last session. I began to realize in January there was some building exhaustion. I have really tried to listen to my body when rest has been warranted. I have to say, I was glad to get through these first 4 treatments which began in November. Now, I began to prepare for the next 4 treatments which should be easier on my body.


January 26, 2007 - Well I began my first of the next four rounds with two new drugs on this day. I have to say much to my surprise, they did not go as well. I had some reactions while receiving treatment and the chemo nurses were wonderful as they worked with administering the drug more slowly to allow my body to receive the drugs more easily.

Unfortunately, one of the two drugs along with a steroid given did not settle well with me. I had a number of physical side effects which were not comfortable nor probably very safe over the weekend after this new treatment. Over the three week period awaiting the next treatment, I really have not felt good and have had some very interesting effects. I have been wired up real tight, not sleeping, emotional, short of breath, swelling of legs, loss of eye lashes, loss of a good deal of my eyebrows, and some swelling in my face and eyes. As I have told several, I think I really look like I am a chemo patient now!

Had a trip to the Emergency Room this past week with some symptoms I could not second guess. After 11 hours in the ER, all has checked out ok. I do have some anemia apparently.

Each week between the four 3 week treatments of these two drugs, I have to receive one of the two each week. That means I have chemo each week on Friday. That drug seems to be fine for me.


February 16, 2007- I had my 6th treatment of the total of 8 I receive in the entire chemo segment today. I should be done with chemo at the end of March if all goes well.

Dr. White, my oncologist, was very wise in listening to my side effects of the past three weeks. Upon reviewing my side effects, she decided to reduce my steroid dosage some. Also, she was able to explain some of the side effects I have had over the past three weeks. Some of my drugs have been tweaked to help in balancing my chemistry better with the steroids. She also noted that why I was feeling some of the side effects was that my red blood cell count was lowering. She gave me something to begin to build those cells up which may take some weeks to come. I will be getting this drug over the next weeks to build the count. As you know these are the good cells. I do not want to loose them for they combat the white cell count which brings more complications.

Since my chemo treatment on Friday, I have had less complications from the steroids, thank heavens. They are not my friend but are necessary for some of the side effects. I am feeling some of the side effects still so we will have to see if the steroid reduction will be ok. I am content with the lowering of this drug unless something else pops up.

What I have noticed since Jan. is that my energy level has decreased. I have definitely not felt as well and know these chemo drugs are working hard on the body. I have had two long naps over the weekend which tells me my body is trying to recover and integrate the drugs in my system.

In all of this, I continue to remain in awe of the entire experience. There are so many people who continue to pray for me and offer care and concern. I feel I am beating the cancer but this is the process I must go through to be healed and achieve wellness in the future.

I was asked in a store the other day if I was a survivor...I guess the baseball hat and my bald head cued the person. I told her I was not a survivor yet but was working on being one. She said she was a survivor of 15 years. I thank all of the women whose lives have touched mine and assured me of the chance to survive breast cancer. Now I am going to keep work on healing from this disease for I want to say: "I AM A SURVIVOR!"

On Friday, I took pictures of all the wonderful staff and the Doctor who is treating me in chemotherpy. They are such caring persons who are committed to walking through the journey of cancer with so many folk. I am so grateful to be on the journey with them.

Each week I am reminded of just how lucky I am in this pursuit of wellness. Cancer is such a dreadful disease. Many with whom I have sat in the chemo room are struggling. For each of them, I pray for their recovery and healing in whatever manner it best! This disease truly can touch anyone!


Here are all the wonderful oncology nurses who administer my chemotherapy. They really have huge hearts and caring and calming ways. I have really grown to respect each of them in the work they are offering in the health care profession.

On the left beside me is Leigh Vincent, a former youth ministry friend here in East Carolina, who is now serving in her profession as a oncological nurse. How neat it is has been to be with one of my friends from St. Timothy's, my church, and one of my young adult friends along this journey.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF THIS CREW FOR MAKING THIS EXPERIENCE OF CHEMOTHERAPY A REASSURING AND CARING TIME ALONG THE JOURNEY!!!