A Must-See!!

As I continue to fight my cancer, I try to use humor to get through the harder times. So I thought I would share some photos that bring a smile to my face. These photos are of my sister Brittany, from the Look Good, Feel Better Class we took this week at Avera. Our WONDERFUL teacher Del asked my sister to model some of the wigs. I think myself and the other women appreciated Brittany modeling these wigs!
Enjoy
Danielle

A Great Day

I wish you all could see me tonight: A big smile from ear to ear. Today has been a great day. A week ago today I had my first chemo treatment, and finally today I'm beginning to feel better and more like myself. Last night I even got some sleep, sleeping till 9am!!! That is the latest I have been able to sleep in a very long time. After many sleepless nights, its was nice to get in an hour of shut eye. Its amazing how my attitude has lifted now that my body is feeling better. My last treatment has made my appreciate those good days where I feel my best.

So, since today I felt more like myself, I was able to spend some time outside. I even went to the driving range!! My golf swing was horrible, but it was nice to be out in the sun and outside. However, I did notice my body got really tired after hitting a few balls, just another indication I'm losing some of my physical ability. But I have to keep telling myself I'll get it back. After the golfing range, I took my sister for her first time to Falls Park, a must-see staple of Sioux Falls. We had a fun time and I think she liked it. I hope my other sister and brother will some day get the chance to visit! Sioux Falls is a beautiful city.

We then had dinner outside, and it was a beautiful evening to spend some time in the fresh air. I don't know what it is about eating outside, but its always so much fun!! It was great to take a moment and enjoy those around me, as well as the outdoors. And talking about enjoying those around me, I am so grateful for the love and support I have received from everyone around me. It has been so inspirational to hear the advice and guidance from so many people all around me. I continue to be amazed by the stories I hear each and everyday. So Thank You!!!
Danielle

President's Health Care Address

This evening I watched President Obama's address to Congress about Health Care reform. I wanted to write on this topic NOT to pick a certain side, but to discuss the importance of health care in general. In no way am I saying I have the answers or that I lean to the left or right, all I'm saying is I'm gracious I have health insurance.

I'm so grateful that as I battle cancer, I have great doctors, nurses, and staff helping me along the way. I know I'm still early in my treatment and I haven't received my bills and insurance letters yet, but I can't imagine trying to go through this fight alone. Fighting any disease requires so many different doctor appointments, medicines, surgeries, and lots more, and if you didn't have financial help along the way, it would be a very dire situation. I think facing that fight would be just as hard as fighting the disease that's making you sick.

So my heart and sympathies go out to those people who do have to fight for their life uninsured; I can't imagine what you're going through. My thoughts also go out to those people who have run into problems with their health insurance not covering certain medical issues. I'm learning that this is a problem that has affected so many people in our nation. It is disturbing to hear that many people can quote their own stories with insurance battles in the past. I know for me I had my own insurance battles while I lived in Wyoming and I was battling ITP. Since Wyoming is such a rural state, my insurance company would not cover any of the doctors in the region. Therefore, when I had to have my spleen removed I had to use a doctor that was out of the network and pay more.

However, as I remember that time, about a year and half ago, I'm grateful that I'm no longer in that same situation. It was a time of tears, frustration and anxiety that I hope no one else will ever have to endure.
Danielle

Climbing Uphill

I must say its been a busy past few days. I have found it funny how fast the time can go when you least expect it. A few times I have felt like I was a chicken with its head cut off because I really wasn't ready for all that I still had to get done in my normal life. That's one thing I have learned since going through Chemo, even though you are sick, doesn't mean your work load shrinks. There is always something that needs to get done. I guess the trick is to know how to balance everything and keep organized. I'm still learning how to juggle work, with doctor appointments, with resting, and with keeping up with family and friends. Its still all a learning experience.

A few times I have felt pretty down over the past few days because one aspect of my life would become overwhelmed and I would get stressed out. Sometimes I can get into a tunneled vision and get really stressed out, but I know all I need to do is take a step back and re-evaluate the situation. I must admit though sometimes its hard, especially when you're in that stressful moment.

As far as how I have been feeling the past two days, I would say tired. Especially today for some reason I feel very tired. I am still having a difficult time sleeping through the night. It seems as if I wake up several times during the night because I'm either uncomfortable or I have to use the restroom. Then this morning I woke up at 5am and just couldn't fall back to sleep, which I'm sure you would agree with me is very annoying. I also still have a pretty bad headache everyday and my eyes are constantly aching. But there is some good news!! My stomach is finally beginning to go down a little, since I was so bloated. Plus, I have started to use the restroom (number 2) a little bit (sorry if that was too much info, but I'm just being honest). Right before my first Chemo treatment, doctors found two ulcers in my stomach, and now I think the medicine is beginning to work.

I'm also excited to say that tonight and tomorrow I am going to be working on a story about the "Look Good, Feel Better" class in Sioux Falls. I went to the class yesterday and met some amazing women. I'm really excited to share their stories, as well as my experience in the class. I had a great time learning how to look and feel good about myself, while getting in a good chuckle. And then sharing that chuckle with my sisters over web cam!! So make sure to stay tuned!!

Once again, I need to say thank you to everyone for your love and support. I have been blown away by the compassion and understanding I have seen from so many people.
Thank You!!!
Danielle

Bracing for the Unexpected

We'll, its the first couple of days after my first Chemo treatment, and I really had no idea what to expect. The common advice I have been hearing from everyone is each person is different and reacts in their own way. So I thought I should write how my body is reacting so far.

I noticed my first obvious change Friday night/Saturday morning, around 2a.m. I woke up unexpectedly with a horrible nauseous feeling, and every muscle and bone was aching in my body. It felt like a bus had slammed right into me and my body was completely bruised. I took some medicine to help, but whatever position I tired to go back to sleep on felt painful. Needless to say I didn't get too much sleep that night.

On Saturday I tired to take it easy, and just took a little walk to move my leg muscles around. However, I felt nauseous at times and my body just ached constantly, with a horrible pounding headache. I also did notice my reaction and processing time was significantly decreased. I felt as everything around me was moving very quickly and I had a hard time catching up.

This lack of physical ability has been the hardest part for me so far. I'm such an active person that it has been hard for me to not be able to lead the once busy schedule I'm so accustomed to. Its hard to see such an obvious change that constantly reminds you that "yes, you are sick." Instead of traveling or going out with friends or enjoying the outdoors, I'm a young woman who can't, at this time, do what I love to do. But I know this is only a brief time in my life and things will get better, but it is hard, especially, when I know this is the first treatment in a long series of other treatments I still must face. I just have to keep strong and hold onto my positive attitude.

So far today (Sunday) I have felt similar to how I felt on Saturday, just nauseous, tired, aching, and lethargic. I must say though, my sister and mom have been great, helping me keep positive and entertained. We have been watching movies, looking for mini-daschunds to buy, and I have started to create collage. So for now, we are just taking one day at a time.

Thank You everyone for your comments, stories, and support, they have all been so helpful for me during this time of fighting Lymphoma.
Danielle

VIDEO: First Day of Chemo

Since I'm a Television Anchor, of course I had to bring a camera with me on my first day of Chemotherapy. Here's a first hand look at how the first day went

The Morning After Chemo

Right now its Friday morning, and currently I'm feeling better than I expected, just a little sleepy. I had a difficult time sleeping overnight, but the nurses said that would happen, since I have so many different steroids in my body right now. So I woke up pretty early and made breakfast and just relaxed throughout the morning. The nurses told me come this afternoon the steroids will begin to wear off and I'll begin to feel exhausted. Then Friday evening, Saturday, Sunday and Monday will be the toughest days. Then during the middle of next week I'll begin to feel really tired, since that is when my white blood cells will be at their lowest.

However, I did want to write about the rest of my time receiving my chemotherapy yesterday. It took about 5 hours to completely receive the Rituxan, but the good news is this amount of time will shorten each session, as my body gets use to the medicine. After the Rituxan, we started the Chemo drugs. I think the significance of this situation eventually hit me, when I saw the nurse come to my bedside in full protective gear. The nurse told me all the nurses wore that type of outfit when administering the Chemo drugs because they are so dangerous. So this kind of scared me because I realized I was putting these dangerous drugs within my body. Something that others avoided was going directly inside of me. For so long I have made an effort to keep healthy and now I have to put poison inside my body to save my life. So it is a strange contradiction and a scary one in fact.

We finally completed the Chemo drugs at around 7:30pm, so a very long day. From the start of the steroids to the end of the Chemo drugs was a grand total of 8 hours. However, the time didn't seem to drag on because of my wonderful support team. My mom, boyfriend, and sister were with me the whole time and were great company. They made me laugh and they really helped me feel relaxed in this scary situation. Then today I have to go back to the doctor to receive a shot to help stimulate my white blood cells. I hope the shot won't be too bad, but I guess each time I get pricked, I'm learning to be not as scared.

Danielle Dupuy