Retreat -- Word for the Day -- Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Retreat

Definition: 1: an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable 2: the process of receding from a position or state attained 3: the usually forced withdrawal of troops from an enemy or from an advanced position 4: a place of privacy or safety refuge 5: a period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction under a director.

This may be too far back for you to remember (heck, I can't remember it myself).. Sharon and Mike (sister-in-law and brother) signed us up in December to go to a CARTI cancer survivor retreat at Petit Jean. Well, with my mom being ill and with Sharon having radiation treatments/chemo and then with ChemoSabe beginning his cycle again in January, we all had to reschedule. To make a long story short, ChemoSabe and I made the trip on Saturday and arrived at Petit Jean at 10:00 a.m. for check-in.

Let me back track a bit... ChemoSabe had his Velcade injections last Monday and Friday... CRP (crap) was down to less than 5 on Friday.... WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT! So, without the fatigue setting in and coming off the Dex on Friday, we decided to ride the bikes up to the retreat.

Parker did not have a stroke. He is having neuropathy, just like ChemoSabe's except his is from being a diabetic. Having Pete neutered on Tuesday.

Now, back to the retreat. We checked in at room registration and were instructed to go to a meeting room. BOOM!!! we walked into a room full of people and we were given a packet. Kinda like our first visit at UAMS Myelmoa clinic upon Orientation. We found a table with six other people...from L.R. and Quitman. I saw that look in ChemoSabe's face as we sat down. It was the same look I saw when we had to take a property tour at Disney World some years back.. He swore "NEVER AGAIN!".

We ate before starting. We were able to introduce ourselves and share our experiences along with the others. We ate. We watched a video and did a session on "Gifts" and "Challenges". We ate. We were dismissed to lunch... And we ate.

We broke up into groups of "Caregivers" and "Survivors". This I really liked. We got to share more. We ate. We were given free time from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and then We Ate dinner.

Our Fellowship time was the neatest and funniest time. We played "Not So Newlywed" game. I have always wanted to play this game. Fortunately, ChemoSabe and I were selected. I was thrilled... He wasn't so thrilled. BUT, we came in Second Place and laughed our booties off. The first place couple has been married for56 years. Afterward we stayed for the movie "Yes Man" with Jim Carrey and laughed our booties off more.

I ended up sleeping on the floor in our room. I am guessing all that laughing did something to the muscles in ChemoSabe's throat and he snored his bootie off. ha

We cannot tell you how much we enjoyed the meetings, the sharing, the crying, the information and the Eating... We learned so much from each individual we met. It brought back memories of the pain we endured when we discovered his cancer. It brought back the joy of the word "Remission". It brought back the fear and uncertainty. It reminded us we are not alone.

We learned of new cancers and treatments we were not aware of. Brain cancer, throat cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer and rectal cancer. All these are treated by radiation. Which brings them to CARTI (Central Arkansas Radiation Treatment Institute). Unlike the MM patients, the CARTI patients are all from Arkansas. With MM we have met people from just about every state in the U.S. and some from outside the U.S.

We were able to share the type cancer that ChemoSabe has and the chemo treatments. We call it the liquid treatment. We soon discovered the CARTI patients do not take even the closest of the medications that we have.

The volunteers, employees and doctor were wonderful in their presentation and preparation for this retreat. It was truly an experience we are glad we did not cancel or walk out on when ChemoSabe had that look in his eye.

If you have not visited WinRock Farms to site see or stay at their facility, you are in for a treat. It is beautiful there. We never knew it was there all these years.

I wondered on the way home if there were any words of wisdom I could have or can share. I thought about my bike. Something I say to myself each time I ride and approach a curve. I never know what is on the other end of the curve. It was taught to me at my motorcycle course.

LOOK -- SLOW -- PUSH -- ROLL

LOOK way head of the curve -- wherever you look, that is where your bike takes you. If you look down or to the right, that is where you will go. So, look positively ahead of your illness. It will get you started in the right direction.

SLOW down and get your bearings about you. Plan your next step. Slow down your thinking. You are not in control, so just relax as if you are on an air mattress on the lake basking in the sun.

PUSH your handlebar. Push in the opposite direction of the way you want to go. This was a difficult one for me. If you push your handlebar to the left, for some reason your bike goes right. So, push forward with your illness. Sometimes it may seem you are headed in the wrong direction, but if you keep your focus on LOOK and SLOW, you will reach your goal.

ROLL -- means to increase your speed. My son always told me when I got to that curve to speed up. It would balance me out. I didn't want to increase my speed in a curve.. NO WAY! But...when I would go around the curve slowly I found my bike wobbling and choking. Sure enough, I trusted my bike when I increased my speed and it takes the curves wonderfully. So, when you set your sites on your illness, and slow down to plan your attack, then push ahead with your plan, increase your speed. Your motivation. Roll up your attitude, your feelings and your faith. It will increase your energy and make you more positive.

Thank you so much CARTI for the weekend. We wouldn't have wanted to do anything different.

Good day and Love -- Pepper