A Bonus Week - and Other Updates

What's a Bonus Week, You Might Ask?

A bonus week, at least in my definition, is an extra free week between chemotherapy treatments!  An extra week to feel a bit more normal.

In my case, I have chemotherapy every three weeks - and with each treatment, I don't feel too well.  Initially, fatigue sets in, stomach upset and GI stuff, and I'm slow and groggy for a week.  I slowly climb out of it - a little more energy every day.  Some days I over do it and pay for it later that day or the next.  Usually I feel normal-ish mid way through the second week and the third week, I'm pretty ok.  I never feel like I did in the before times, but the third week is the best!

I've never experienced a 4th week until last week.  I had what I'd consider a pretty good energy level.  I still had some of the daily side effects from the daily pills I take, but all in all - it was pretty good.

How did I get a bonus week.  Sometimes there are important things on your calendar.  This time, my sister and I help to host my Dad's side - the Salay family reunion at our family's farm in West Salem, Ohio.  It's always the second weekend in August and I didn't want to travel far and go into it completely depleted or feeling terrible - so my oncologist pushed chemo out a week - BONUS!

I'll talk more about the reunion later - and for now, I'll catch you up on all the rest of the news.  

A Little More Time Between Updates

Initially when this whole thing started, there was so much to tell.  The diagnosis, the test results, radiation, chemotherapy - everything was happening at such a fast pace and I was learning new things every day.   Then came my adjustment to my new reality.  Everyone was so concerned and these blog updates became the most efficient way to keep everyone posted.  I was also simply overwhelmed by everyone's thoughtfulness and caring.  I am truly grateful for the outpouring of love you have all shown me, and continue to show!  Thank you so much.

As the months have gone by, we've descended into more of a daily routine, which is also kind of weird after the initial flurry of events.  I'm glad to be settling in to more normal things.  There's less to tell - which is a good thing.  It means that things are going well for me and that I'm adding more of the normal - everyday things back into my life.  So for now - that's why there are less updates.  My goal is to update about once a month or so.  It'll probably be more of the fun stuff - which I'm embracing with a vengeance!

Madison's Three's Company - Mrs. Roper Romp?

My friend Tricia is a fan of the late 1970's, early 1980's sitcom, Three's Company!   The show was packed with all of the silly high-jinx and of course the animated Mrs. Roper with her curly red hair, HUGE jewelry, and flamboyantly colored mumu's!  She was such a character.  And here we are - in 2025! 40-50 years later.  

Tricia came upon an event in Madison called the Roper Romp.  All of the participants dress up like Mrs. Roper and walk together to 3 locations around downtown Madison.  They started at Woof's bar (which they affectionately called the "Regal Beagle") - then off to Square Wine and I forgot the 3rd.

Anyway - Tricia and I did not dress up, but instead decided to grab a table at the wine bar and watch it all unfold.  It was pretty hysterical.  Just look at the pictures!

My Bonus Week

As I said earlier, my bonus week was spent in Ohio.  That's where I'm from.

OHIO - high in the middle and rounded on the edges....and yes that's an official oHIo joke.

I'm not from IOWA, as many people here seem to think, because IOWA is just next door.  I quickly have to say "NO - the other 4 letter, 3 vowel  state,"  - they usually don't get it.

When I would leave for a visit home and come back to work, everyone used to ask me "How was IOWA?"  I got so tired of it that I just started to say "I'm from OHIOWA"

How did I spend my time?

I spent one day just with my mom and dad in my childhood home.  It's always good to be there - I miss them both!

I stayed with my sister and brother in law - Erika and Joe - and all of their super cute and fun pets.  Chief the chihuahua mix, Rascal, Binx and Brinn the cats.  We had so much fun visiting with ALL of them.  

I stopped by Black Locust Yarn Shop in Lodi, Ohio to visit with my dear friend Cathy and her  yarn lovin gang.  This yarn shop is only 5 miles from our family's farm.   It was wonderful to say hello.  We also went to the farm that day - to set up and cook.

And the last day - was the Salay family reunion on our family's farm.  The farm is one of my favorite places on the planet.  I have the best memories of family and time spent there. 

The Salay family reunion is such a fun gathering.  Lots of family.  Cousins, Aunts and Uncles.  Fishing at the lake.  Riding through the woods on 4 wheelers or the Gator.  Great food and lots of catching up.  It was a fun to see everyone.

Some Statistics

I've been running across some interesting statistics.

• Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the US.
• Lung Cancer accounts for more cancer deaths than breast, prostate, colorectal and liver cancers combined.
• Last year, lung cancer accounted for about 13% of all new cancer cases.
• Smoking is the single largest risk factor for developing lung cancer, but about 10-20% of lung cancer diagnosis are with people, like me,  that have never smoked or even been around smokers.
• One of the leading causes of non-smoker lung cancer is radon gas - an naturally occurring odorless, invisible radioactive gas that is prevalent in the Midwest.  (If you haven't had your house tested - you might want to)
• The lung cancer 5 year survival rate is 18%
• Targeted therapy / precision medicine targets the specific genetic mutations found in each tumor type - I am receiving one of these treatments based on an EGFR mutation found in my tumors.
• These targeted therapies are helping patients live longer - as if living with a chronic illness. A lot of them are so new that there is no long term data on them. On August 17, 2025 the Wall Street Journal ran a story - "A New Reality for Terminal Cancer:  Longer Lives, with Chronic Uncertainty"  about a woman who is 10 years out, living with stage 4 lung cancer.  I've only been able to read the synopsis (darn pay wall!) but it's encouraging to hear about these outlier stories of people living longer.  It gives me hope, but it's important to recognise that statistically, she's a lucky outlier.   https://www.wsj.com/health/terminal-cancer-treatments-lifespan-acde24cf?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=ASWzDAh_Wlqz0XPGOb0FFFXD9Om54DJLEg5vLOyGk-T2YjA9AkjiGKTc05F_5XdDajs%3D&gaa_ts=68a87469&gaa_sig=DP-B53oAofXbx5K8woGaCzu9HvaNzzHtcmhK275c2GkX7Yn9cD2xuS15YabqyOqJueuZRwqUlFZGwyYGbQ_jgA%3D%3D
• About 44% of the people diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer are already at Stage 4 in the US.

I'm hopeful, as always, and have an incredible amount of trust and respect for my oncology team.  They are following the most up to date studies on my specific type of cancer - and having spent most of my career in the medical field - I believe in data driven medical decision making.

Ultimately  - You never know what lies ahead - I try really hard to maintain some optimism, in the face of the sobering statistics above.  It's a weird space to live in - one foot in reality, making analytical decisions - one foot deliriously hoping for the absolute best.

So - I signed up for a 5K run/walk for Gilda's Club.  They've been a really helpful support through all of this.  With the timing near a chemotherapy treatment,  I'll most likely be walking.  This is so different from my "before times" when I was a runner.  Anyway - our team is named the "Swiss Cheese Heads" from my joke about me after radiation.  I'm looking forward to it!

Big Moves

Before all of my news, we had decided that we would give Sybil (Paul's mom) the option to move in with us.  As the year went on, we asked multiple times if she was sure- and she said she was. 

Well the time arrived.  We've been working hard cleaning, packing, unpacking and unboxing.  Unfortunately she still decided to pack and lift boxes after we asked her not to.  This aggravated a couple of old compression fractures in her spine and has also created a new one. She's been in a lot of pain and hasn't been very mobile.  We had to take her to the hospital after the first week of living here because she could no longer walk.  She'll most likely be sent to rehab later this week.    We're working through it - slowly but surely. 

Looking Forward - Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival

Well folks - I'm finally back in the dye studio.  I'm starting out slllllooooooowwwwly!  I just don't have the stamina that I once had - but I'm enjoying it so much!

I'm in crunch mode!  It's less than a week until Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival.  My dear friend Karen Anderson, who formerly had the Kaleidoscope Yarn Shop in Cambridge, WI has invited me to share her double booth.   She currently makes these great laser cut knitting accessories that are to die for! Kaleidoscope Fibers - 

I'm so excited to be a part of this show.  It's only 30 minutes from home and  is coming up quickly.  I've been a part of some very large shows in the country - and always seem to be on the road.  But the luxury of sleeping in my own bed and finally being in my home state show is priceless.

It does come with a few caveats though.  I have chemotherapy scheduled on Wednesday that week, booth set up is Thursday, and the show is Friday through Sunday.  Lately the fatigue from chemo has been knocking me down further and for longer, but I have family in town and friends that are willing to help.  I'm so grateful!

I'm very much looking forward to it!  There's something about wool people.  They're all such kind and amazing people - and so happy to all be together sharing their love of yarny crafts!  (Maybe we are all just getting high on the wool fumes"   Hopefully I'll see you there!

Take care and spread some love in the world!

-Laura