Wednesday, March 14, 2007 9:14 PM, EDT

Hello all,
Today was a great day!
I feel good and my appetite is back! Thank you to Maura McCarthy for feeding us a great roasted chicken meal. It’s the first meal I’ve eaten in days. I even popped several of the mini-hotdogs…yummmmmy J
There are several special people who provided us with meals in the early days and weeks of this nightmare. You fed us on the days I was too scared and too sad to function, on days we spent long hours in Boston or directly following a procedure. Because of you, we were able to sit at the table as a family and eat good, hot meals: Alison Vigeant, Pam Ahearn, Kathleen Roche, Wendy Zinkus, Mary Kennedy, Peggy Munger, Karen Gardner, Allison Labovitz, Dina Rassias, Katelyn Costello, Bridget Sullivan, and Kristen Regan , Paul Najarian and the members of the FIIS Inside Sales Management Team. The food was delicious and the time and love you put into the meals was truly appreciated. Thank You!
Thank you to Kelly Newcomb for giving me an amazing gift. I’m humbled by your generosity. Thank you also to Laura Raven and Cat Colton for helping to make it happen. I’m truly blessed.
Also thank you to Tim Mulcahy and Jordan Burgess for all their support. Having Greg around for the appointments and the hospital stay has made a huge difference.
I went to the hairdresser today. Did I get a perm? NO! I have a photo album full of my lovely 80’s hairdo and when I look at those pictures I say to myself, “what was I thinking?” Lucky for me, all my friends in the pictures with me were thinking the same thing so my hairstyle blends in. The amount of volume I could achieve with a bottle of Aussie Sprunch Spray and a diffuser is amazing.
However, I did cut off eight inches of hair—8! I think I like it. It looks completely different. Even though I may not lose my hair, there is no guarantee. With that obviously comes no guarantee that I can keep my hair. I figured by cutting it short, I’m putting less stress on it. There is also a chance it might thin out as well. All in all, cutting it shorter seemed like the right thing to do.
We went to see Dr. Walsh this afternoon. Today was the first day we had an appointment on the most beautiful day of the week. Coincidence? I hope not. I am not kidding when I tell you that every single time we had an appointment or a procedure it was on the coldest or the rainiest day of the week. I even had to reschedule an MRI on the day of the only snowstorm we’ve had this season.
My blood work looks perfect and from a clinical standpoint we may have some improvement. Right before I started treatment, I had an enormously swollen lymph node in my left supraclavicular fossa (told you I’d throw those medical terms in whenever I could). Basically, it’s in the crook of my clavicle. If you put your fingers right above your own clavicle, you’ll find your supraclavicular fossa.
Anyway, that lymph node has shrunk a little. The funny thing with chemo, and it’s different than any other medicine you might take, is you don’t know whether or not it’s working right away. Think about it. If you have a headache, you take Advil and the headache goes away. If you have a sinus infection you take antibiotics and you feel better. With chemo, you have no idea what is going on inside your body. And some of the time, the chemo might make you feel sicker than the cancer. In some cases there are clinical ways to check your progress, my supraclavicular fossa for example.
We’ll be following my supraclavicular fossa very closely! J
Now for some plain old frivolity:
Wendy, do you remember my bright orange vintage VW?? That was my favorite car I ever owned in my life!
Tracy: While we’re telling Hagglund family Cape Cod vacation stories, do you remember: “If you didn’t know me would you think I was tan?” Ramona and Beezus and the thankfully not so cute lifeguard, spaghetti fights, Huey Lewis and the News, endless games of Trivial Pursuit (my Dad and his pushups) and my all time favorite: the night Kerry, who was all of 9 years old, told my parents off at the dinner table and stormed out of the cottage. We all sat there quietly until you said, “I’ve always wanted to do that. I’m 16 and I’d still never do that because Pudge would kill me.”
Thank you all for your continued prayers and well wishes!
Love,
Kim


Wednesday, March 14, 2007 9:13 AM, CDT
Give Greg a break on the Scrabble - he is much better with drinking games. You should change the rules to have a drink for any triple letter scores and shotgun a beer if you win. I am sure he would do better then.
It sounds like you and Mackenzie are enjoying similar symptons - you can compare notes with her. I don't think she has found a solution but has adjusted to it. And yes, my use of the word "enjoying" was sarcastic.
I hope today is a better day!
Mike & Mackenzie
Michael SullivanNew York, NY
Wednesday, March 14, 2007 5:34 PM, CDT
Kim,
All the 80's talk is bringing back a lot of funny memories..I'm all for bringing back the tight "tuck and roll" at the bottom of pant legs (with either multiple socks, or unlaced Keds, either is a bold fashion statement). If you're going to do the 80's thing, I really think you'll need to trade in the mini-van for a classic VW bug to complete the transformation!
Wendy DionHolden, MA
Wednesday, March 14, 2007 8:32 PM, CDT
Haggsie,
I was laughing so hard I was crying while reading the Hagglund family Cape Cod vacation stories...Bob had no idea what was going on and Timmy was looking a bit concerned that his Mommy had finally lost her mind (good thing Molly was sleeping...at least one member of my family still believes I am sane!!). How could I ever forget any of those stories? Kerry still has a cult following here in Medford (don't tell Pudge!)...your Dad is perhaps the most obnoxious person in the world to play Trivial Pursuit with...one more pushup and I am sure I will magically know the middle name of the first cousin of the Duke of Upper Silesia...love you Mr. Hagglund!! :)
One more thought...do you think everyone who went for a walk on the Cape decided to turn around when they actually wanted their walk to end or was that just us...somehow the walk back to the cottage was never quite as enjoyable!!
I'm so happy you had a great day today -
Love,
Tracy
Tracy Corcoran
Wednesday, March 14, 2007 8:38 PM, CDT
I was always the more outspoken one! I will never forget "Smoking in the boys' room" when you would taunt me when were playing cards. I do believe I got you in trouble for that :)
Kerry Berry