<p>So happy for this good news. Hoping that this latest chemo does the trick and keeps you in comfort for a long time to come.</p>
<p>Hurray for pain management that works! Thanks for checking in. I hope you have a great week.</p>
<p>Such good news! We all share your hope that this regimen will be the one that does the trick, sunrise!</p>
<p>So happy that you are more comfortable. What a difference that can make in both progress and outlook. All the best with your treatment.</p>
<p>Sunrise, I rarely post but I think of you often. You are one strong, gracious and eloquent woman! I am so pleased to hear this good news. Thank you for posting.</p>
<p>So glad to hear they are managing your pain. It sounds like you are surrounded by a great group of medical professionals. </p>
<p>You are in my thoughts. Heal well.</p>
<p>Have a nice evening, Sunrise. I am so happy you had a successful appointment with pain management and have a break from the pain. Sending warm thoughts to you and your dear husband and the entire Sunrise clan.</p>
<p>Thinking of you, Sunrise! How are you feeling?</p>
<p>Good morning, Sunrise! I hope that you have remained more comfortable this week.</p>
<p>Hello Sunrise. I’m thinking of you and Mr. Sunrise; sending healing thoughts your way.</p>
<p>Sunrise-- Wishing you a restful, healing weekend. Sending you sunshine from CA.</p>
<p>Hey Sunrise…I hope you are enjoying another pain-free day! So glad to hear you are doing well with the more aggressive chemo too!</p>
<p>Wishing you a comfortable week ahead</p>
<p>thank you everybody for kind words and caring encouragement.</p>
<p>Pain is almost completely under control but I am tired a lot with this new chemo.</p>
<p>Today, I would like to share a cute story. Even since this whole thing started, I was so profoundly grateful for friends who came forward with such kindness and generosity. There is a friend from CT who drives 2.5 hours for a weekly visit. There is a friend who is doing most of my shopping for mundane things. There is a friend who provides Reiki (energy therapy) on a regular basis. There is a friend who lives an hour north from me, and drives me to the city for a treatment now and then by simply showing up in the morning - thus giving me no choice but to accept her offer (she knows me well enough that if she calls me first I would say no). And then there is a friend from my college days 30 years ago who flew 16 hours to spend 3 day with me though we lost touch for several decades. The list goes on and on. I don’t have 1000 friends on the facebook, but what friends I have are all amazing people. I feel quite unworthy of such a magnitude of selfless kindness and generosity. This is why I never felt that my cancer was just a calamity. With it came such positive things that I never though I had…</p>
<p>Anyway, regarding unexpected kindness, what I am going to describe below tops the cake.</p>
<p>My S1 is a fourth year at Univ. of Chicago. He has been living in an apartment with three room mates. One girl and three boys. Shortly after I was discharged from my hospital stay after the big surgery, the female room mate (I will call her J) came to visit. What makes this visit interesting is the fact that she flew in all the way from LA where she is from. That was september, and since U Chicago has a quarter system, they were still in their summer break. Initially, I thought she was visiting NYC and stopping by in NJ to see S1. J is from a very wealthy family in Beverly Hills and her parents have a condo in Manhattan. </p>
<p>What I found instead was, she came to NJ to stay for a few days at our home to help me and S1. So, this young lady, a princess from Beverly Hills, came to our home, slept in the spare bedroom, cooked, cleaned, did dish washing, kept me company, waited on me, and helped D1 keep his spirit high while dealing with his mother who just went through a life and death situation. </p>
<p>By the way, J is NOT S1’s girlfriend - just a good friend. He has a girl friend and J has a boy friend. So, it does not have any real or potential romantic angle. I was so astonished by what unfolded I actually asked her what motivated her to do this. Her answer - “I live with three boys. It can be challenging at times. (S1) has always been so attentive to my needs and sensitive about my feelings that I felt I should be there for him when he is going through a hard time” </p>
<p>When I see young people like her, I feel that my optimism and hope for our next generation is amply reinforced.</p>
<p>BTW: she came in a limo from the airport and left in a limo to the airport. There is such in-congruence between the manner in which she came and went and what she actually ended up doing for a few days at our home that it puts a smile on my face when I think about her visit. I also give her parents a lot of credit for raising such an amazing young lady (and also for financing her whole trip, which couldn’t have been cheap).</p>
<p>what do you think? this is a good story, isn’t it?</p>
<p>Yes. It is a wonderful story! And I’m in my little d’s school parking lot reading this and crying! :). Have a beautiful day, sunrise!</p>
<p>That’s a beautiful story, and she sounds like a wonderful young woman. Her parents should indeed be proud–you can tell them I said so. 
And this also shows your son has good taste in friends!</p>
<p>And I’m glad to hear your pain is getting under control!</p>
<p>That is a great story, sunrise. Birds of a feather flock together. So, obviously, your S rooms with someone like himself. And, you get credit for raising him. </p>
<p>I hope your chemo continues without incident and your fatigue subsides quickly. :)</p>
<p>What Buenavista said plus it also shows what a great young man you raised since she was paying back his kindnesses to her. Lovely all around.</p>
<p>Wonderful, Sunrise. Your son’s friends have circled around him much the way your friends circle around you. It is no wonder that she wanted to come and help. Kindness doesn’t have a socioeconomic cap. Good hearted people are attracted to other good hearted people. I would be so proud if my child had such wonderful friends. I think the younger generation knows how to care.</p>
<p>I often feel from your writings that you would be exactly the type of friend I would treasure. You are smart, deep, compassionate, analytical and wise. I know that J must truly value your son’s friendship. In his case, it sounds like the apple didn’t fall far from the Mr. and Mrs. Sunrise tree.</p>
<p>It is so nice to read your post. Wishing you a wonderful week, filled with more lovely stories and surprises and pain-free days!</p>
<p>One thing I have learned in my lifetime is that when people want to reach out and help - let them. Many times they end up benefitting tremendously. So many times people feel helpless and don’t know what to do, but want to do something, anything. </p>
<p>I used to think reiki was just a bunch of hokum, until I experienced it myself. I’m happy to hear you are surrounded by love and compassion.</p>