Cycle 1 complete.

It's been 36 days since my last post.  So much has happened.

I'll try to be brief.

Feb 1 - I signed up for a Support Group for women 45+ with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC).  Me and one other were new to the group.  We both looked a little shell shocked.

Turns out yes, this is terminal, there was a woman in the group who got her MBC diagnosis 30+ years ago.  This was the first hope we'd had since Jan 20th.

Feb 7 - I met with my former Surgeon and my Dermatologist. The Surgeon, although direct, gave us some hope, she'll talk with the oncologist.  The Dermatologist suggested a biopsy of the site, and so finally some forward progress with the rash....that a dermatologist said was scar tissue.  The outcome of this meeting was -- no surgery until I can handle a potential infection and that rash that was 'scar tissue', is actually breast cancer, although Doctors are still fighting over whether it is shingles and breast cancer.

Feb 14 - Kent and I met with the oncologist -- and we started treatment immediately.  He said, we should have started this yesterday. So injections in my butt -- that had to happen at the same time, over 2 minutes....so I said, It's like getting your ears pierced, but in your butt....?  They laughed.  I took some pills that I will be taking every day for 3 weeks....and so it begins.

I requested the official letter from my Dr for my absence from work.  It was official.  I am at the losing end of this treatment. Loss of health, routine, work I love, loss, loss, loss.

Feb 17 - Melissa, Jon and the kids arrived -- they bring such joy to the house!! I also completed a bone scan.  Great news from that scan -- there are no bone mets, the cancer hasn't spread.  

Feb 18 - Max arrived!  The joy is complete!!

Feb 26 - My Dad and his super cute fiancée arrived for a visit.  It was so good to have them here in Nanaimo, We got to have some good family time, and so the house (and Sister's boat) was packed, so much so we left the back door cracked.... ;)

https://open.spotify.com/track/5Zh89Y0ldv7BikFZ2nyFXQ?si=c_FbjT8EScmOJQc_CcYoVA

After a couple very scary trips to the ER this month, getting my own "VIP Pass" to NRGH's ER, (seeing the inside of a trauma room....) and too may thoracenteses to mention, the month is over AND I survived the first round of treatment.  

Today is day 1 of my week off and I feel actually really, really good -- in comparison to the balance of the month.

That'll be a hard NO

Kent and I met with a surgeon on Wednesday last week, for the sake of his reputation, I won't post his name.

He saw us at the end of a very busy day -- he had spent in the Endoscopy Clinic.  I assume he went from one patient to another to another....

When we met him he seemed hurried and stressed.

He got me to change came in and used terms like advanced disease, metastisized disease, you get the picture....but we had never heard that from ANYONE else.....like physicians we have relationship with!

We left the office feeling bleak, hopeless, I can't even form the words to describe what we were feeling.  I started to cry, and cry hard, so much so my face contorted into a cramp and I looked like some crazy Jim Carrey character, (think 'the mask').  That in turn made us laugh because I couldn't get my face to stop cramping....

That night we slept very little.

Thursday, I had a day of training in Victoria, so I hopped in my car at 7.30, bleary eyed and set for the Capitol.  Let me tell you, it was probably not the best time to drive, but I work with some of the most amazing women, they are incredibly encouraging...so there was no way I wasn't going to go.  I did have trouble staying awake as I drove.

On my way through Duncan, I called my oncologists office.  I knew that this would be a long shot that he would call me back, but I had to know.  I left a message with his MOA and wondered if I would hear back from him.

At lunch.  Driving with 2 coworkers to pick up lunch, I got the call back.  He told me, we don't have a plan yet, as we don't have your tumour markers back yet.  So the plan that the surgeon came up with the day before wasn't THE PLAN.

Dr. Poonja, talked me off my ledge, but left me with one thing:  the cancer has moved.  It's in my lungs.  The plain facts are this, you can't cure metastasized breast cancer.  I'm looking at the end -- but not yet.

I was encouraged well by my coworkers and at the end of the day, driving home, I updated Kent.  That night, I dreamed I was laying in bed, saying my goodbyes to my kids.  I woke and said not yet.  I'm not ready to go, I'm not ready to give in.  I am going to fight.

I've made a call to go back to the surgeons I had for Fred and for the original Earl.  They remembered me when I called in -- and that was so comforting. I have called my GP here in Nanaimo to turn the referral back to Dr. Alison Ross, she was amazing, comforting and kind.  That's what I need right now.

Patricia Diane Fricker

For the past number of weeks, while Earl was showing back up in our lives...I have been in almost daily conversations with my Sister Danielle.

Our (biological) mother Patricia Fricker has been in decline.  She would have a bad day, followed by a good day and be up and talking to her coffin maker (I am not kidding), she'd make plans with the Doctors, then the next day decline and Danielle would have to step in as her Power of Attorney and Executor.

It was nuts.  I was feeling TERRIBLE for Danielle, this pattern is how I remember Pat in life.  She'd pull me in, just to push me away.  

This morning at 1.30 am, she passed into her eternal reward...Can I say that?  

Let me tell you about the Pat that I knew:

She had 4 children.  Randy a pedophile, Mike a loving older brother to me, but outside of that relationship he could be really mean and violent.  I came next, with all my faults....and then 6 years later Danielle, she was pure sweetness.

Pat LOVED Randy.  I don't know if the words will translate here, but she loved, loved, loved Randy and Mike.  Far more than my sister and I.  She would say I had middle child syndrome and I couldn't see that she was a fair and loving Mum.... um ok.

Pat loved the beach, although she disliked heat and water.  

Pat could knit faster than anyone I have ever known, she sold Cowichan 'Indian' Sweaters in Kitimat to make extra money.  

Pat didn't like that I liked sports and if I signed up, she'd show up and un-sign me up, so I learned quickly to ask Dad and he always said yes.  

As a child I remember Pat as a woman who liked to drink, when I was growing up, she used it as a way to medicate herself to sleep.  

Pat loved my Dad Al, but I think it was a relationship that was built in a trauma attachment.  

Pat started doing therapy that I was aware of in 1990.  She seemed to be very moderated at that time, but as with most things with her it didn't last.

Pat'isms - when I was 12/13, she leaned out the dining room window on 79th Avenue in Surrey and screamed that I was a two faced, hypocrite, bitch.  I was walking up the street with my Best Friends, Rhoda and Craig.  Craig put his arm around me and then she called me a slut.

One of her sons got into some trouble and she ran to his defense, ordering me to make sandwiches and she packed him up.  She then drove through the night a couple hours to a Aboriginal Band Office and dropped him off where he could 'hide in plain sight'.

She lined up her kids one day when I was about 10-12 and asked if Dad and I split up, who do you want to live with, Randy and Danielle said her, and I said Dad, she slapped me and walked out of the room.

When I told Pat about the abuse in our house, it was Christmas time, I remember looking at the tree as Randy pleaded for mercy from Pat, and of course he got it. She looked at my brother Randy and slapped him across the face with her slipper.  She said, "I will do the disciplining in this house." I was 9, and I was rocked with fear. I knew he was going to come for me.

Later that night, we helped Pat dig out the car and get her off to her night shift, and Randy turned to me and the look...pure evil.  He walked me into the house and let me walk up the stairs to the living room, he then grabbed me by my hair and pulled me into my room where he beat me with a wooden spoon.  You might think, that's not so bad.  He hit me where my clothes would hide the marks.  He started with the top of my head....I had a friend who was beaten with a broken kettle cord, she taught me to wait a couple days until the bruises were the worst, then talk to your parents.  So I did.  I waited until Pat was sitting at the table and Randy was across from her, they were having coffee/smokes.  I walked into the dining room and stripped down...the bruises were from my head to my knees, all down the front and back of me.  She looked at Randy and once again, said, I will discipline the girls.  I don't have a recollection of what happened after that, but I remember the next night shift.  He went from just molesting me to trying to rape me.  Fortunately, I was a very small 9 year old and I am a scrapper.  When that was unsuccessful, he pulled out a piece of wood from under my bed and beat me. I remember being unable to walk to school the next day, knowing Pat would be sleeping off her night shift, I stayed home from school.  This time, there were other bruises and swellings that were more obvious, my face, arms. I don't remember what the outcome was for Randy, but I would bet that he had beat both Pat and I into submission....I wasn't going to tattle again until, the final time.

The last time Pat and I were face to face, we met for Breakfast in the mid-90s.  We had a really pleasant breakfast, then as we were leaving, Pat just couldn't leave something good -- so she picked a fight, I fell for it. 

About 15 years ago, my sweet Grandma Biddlecombe asked for me to call Danielle for her birthday.  So, we debated it I thought she would tell me to leave her alone and she would cut off all relationship with her Step Mom for about 9 months.

I called, Danielle and Pat told me to stay out of their lives, I then called Grandma and her line was already busy.  I think Pat was dialing a phone while she was telling me off.  Again, she cut off her mom from any relationship.  So I decided to honour her in that -- I would stay out of her life.

I am not sure where Pat is right now, I hope she got to see her life in review and saw the torment she put people through.  I don't remember a kindness from Pat ever as a child or adult.  Not one, except for this: When the abuse was really found out -- she told Al, either you chose her (Kim) or me, we won't both live in the same house.  Al said that Randy was no longer allowed in the house, then they chose each other and I got a new loving family and a peaceful life.

What I know is, she gave me life, she gave me the opportunity for a second life and for that I am grateful.

So, where are we now?

 Where are we now....

We have told our kids, our family and some friends.  I find repeating this story over and over again exhausting, so the blog is the best way for you to hear from me.

We are still making plans.

We have asked friends to take Libby for the time I'm in treatment.  We have found a great home for Lewis, he will be picked up tonight.  The couple drives for BC Cancer, so I might be catching a ride with him some day.  They fell in love with Lewis and I think this is the best for everyone involved.  

I will be talking with my Manager about taking a leave and setting up the new Research Admin Coordinator (temp position) well. I had talked to her about it last week, that regardless of the outcome of the biopsies, I was going to take at least a month leave of absence.  Life has been too stressful for too long.

I run a successful Airbnb from our home and I have bookings straight through to the Fall, so we looked at our calendar to see if we could keep those bookings, block parts of the calendar for respite and be really realistic as to what we really CAN do in these upcoming months.

We talked about downsizing.  We could definitely live in a smaller place with less work to do, we also don't NEED the Airbnb.  We won't be leaping into that decision too quickly.  There is still time to process what our future will look like...

We went looking for a new couch.  This may seem like an odd plan to make, but last times I have been through this, a recliner has been a lifesaver for sleep and recuperation.  In 2017 - I slept in the recliner for more than 10 weeks. (I wasn't supposed to sleep on my side for a minimum of 6 weeks)

There are some bright sides to this and it is in my nature to try to find the good:

• I could have the summer off.
• The puppies stress me out -- having them fostered/rehomed hrough care is a relief for me.
• I have a second (or third) chance to recuperate well.  I haven't done that in the past, I have rushed back to work, this time will be different.  I'm taking care of me first.
• Kent and I were able to find a way back to each other, and our relationship isn't going to look the same as before.
• I have a great house to convalesce. And a short walk to the beach.
• I'm looking forward to what God is going to do, I'm not ready to leave my kids, my grandbugs, Kent or my family.  So, God, it's up to you, let's see what you can do through me, through Doctors and Oncologists, Nurses...and other allied staff. I'm ready to witness your greatness.

The tears have stopped for now, I'm sure they'll be back, today I have found some peace in this process.

Gladys is actually Earl.

After coming home from all the travel, I went back to the Dr. as my cough hadn't subsided and the pain in my kidneys was bad.  I got a chest x-ray that revealed fluid on my lungs (pleural effusion).  I was booked for January 20th for a CT/ and a thoracentesis (to remove the fluid).  I wasn't looking forward to a needle in the back, but you do what you have to.

January 12, I had a regular mammogram and an ultrasound booked.  Since the breast cancer was dealt with in 2016/2017, I have been regularly asking for a scan of some sort, or an ultrasound to check the area, I have heard the following:

We caught it early

You are fine....

it would be unnecessary radiation

January 12 as the exams were being taken, I asked if I could watch, if you read this blog you will understand I need to see it -- and I like to see it.  Very quickly I saw every lymph node but one looking like this:

😐😐😒😑😏😚😙😐😐😗😌😊😉

Happy, engaged, perfectly round and open.  Except one.  So, Dr. Matsua decided to do a couple biopsies, that turned into 6.  I laid there an took it like a woman....

January 20th we were still waiting on results when Kent and I made our way to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.  Again, I was ushered in by the nicest staff and I got Dr. Matsua again, that was comforting.  He told me there was enough fluid to put in a chest tube and let it drain.  They pulled 80 ccs for pathology and 1.8L came off my lungs by the time my CT was booked.  A little lab work and I was in pain but headed for home!

I came home and slept -- it was a higher priority than food, or bathroom, for first time in almost 2 months, the relief was amazing, although still feeling pain from the thoracentesis and the biopsies, it was a way better feeling than the 2 Ls on my chest!

I woke from my nap to the phone ringing, it was my family Doctor, She said, both biopsies came back with breast cancer, the lymph and the breast tissue.  So Gladys is actually Earl the Boob Guy, 2.0.

Tears. And quite frankly they haven't stopped.  She immediately sent out the referral to the general surgeon (who will remove the lumps and send them to BC Cancer for evaluation) and to the Medical Oncologist that I had previously that said, you're fine, you don't need that extra radiation....Can't wait to see him again.

So Kent and I talked.  Made some immediate plans:  To move back in together.  Kent said, through a veil of tears, we need each other, and I agree, as cheesy as this sounds, we are better together.

So we made dinner in a fog, sat on the couch after dinner, (I play jeopardy every night)...when I said to Kent, somethings not right....

I had developed a rash, which is part of this story, since last spring I have had a weird rash right across my reconstructed chest.  I went to a dermatologist in the late summer who glanced at me and said, it's scar tissue.....(that looks like a pre-pimple??)  I was disgusted with his treatment of me, so I left his office.

Now, this new rash was getting painful, like stinging nettle..... Shingles.  So, we packed up and headed to the emergency room, knowing that the earlier I can get on the meds, the better the outcome is, or at least the shorter the shingles will be around....We were seen just about midnight, the ER was very quiet, but there were some sick kids ahead of us....got the first 2 doses and prescription for the rest and some morphine to take home.

Once again, sleep was tough, it was really painful.  I would freeze it, cold compress and try to sleep.

I have spent the balance of the weekend sleeping every afternoon and sleeping as long at night (or into the morning) as my body needs.

There are more plans to make, but we have been down this road before, we know what to expect, although I have had the feeling that this one is going to be much, much tougher.

Year in Review - 2022

It's time, to resurrect the blog.  It's been some time since I actually made a post, so I'll start with the 2022 Year in Review.

 JANUARY

I couldn’t agree more.  I’m exhausted.

Since moving to the Island, I have booked a ‘post Christmas recovery weekend’ in Tofino.  This year was no exception, I was so grateful for the time to sleep, recover, walk, eat tacos and have a chill weekend.

 I also finished a crocheted throw for my niece and her new home with her husband.  Very happy with the way it turned out. 

 January 30^th also marked the 10^th anniversary of the day I found Fred, the useless lump in my leg.  I’m so thankful he’s gone.

 

FEBRUARY

February 7^th, I got a call from the oncologist from BC Cancer stating I was free – no more appointments, no more need for drugs.  I. Was. Done!  I’ve waited 10 years for this call. You would think we would celebrate this day, but it ended up being a normal day in our house...might blog more about that later.

February 14^th, just a week later, Kent and I started marriage counseling in earnest.   We met with out counselor, Kent and I were hopeful that we would be able with help to overcome some of the hurdles we have.

We were tasked with reading a book, taking a course and monthly meetings with our counselor together and monthly meetings 1:1 with our counselor.  My initial reaction was...he's going to get rich.  The reality is, I have gained so much in this process.  I highly recommend them.  Don't wait until you are in crisis. Best Marriages

Melissa turned 30.  How on earth did that happen??  You blink and it really does just zip by.

February I brought home our replacement Maine Coon.  Probably one dumb thing to do – especially in the state our house is in – but it was a free cat….How can someone turn down a freebie that's fluffy?

 MARCH

Max turned 28.   I miss the days of having Melissa and Max as little ones, tottering around and snuggling. It’s amazing though to watch your children do well in life.  It’s truly an honour.

This month was all about work.  I either worked around the house, worked for Island Health or worked on me.  It was exhausting.  I had read the book our counselor had asked us to – and it turned me right off reading.  I did end up re-reading it in the summer....so it wasn't ALL that bad.  I also started a course that the counselor had asked us to do, it was AWFUL and good.  It was SO long and on a topic I was really not into….I know it’s good for Kent and me, but seriously it has sucked the very life out of me!

 Oh and Canada made it into the FIFA World Cup!

 APRIL

Theia turned 1 -- we were able to be in Kelowna for her birthday.  It was good to be 'home' and to be near family.

The month to fight back.  April is Cancer fundraising month, and awareness and I had found a great way to fight back.  I had partnered with Save On Foods, and I would crochet items to donate.  My dishcloths sold for $7 each, because they were thick and amazing.  I also donated scarves, hats, and a frilly toddler dress.  All totaled in April, Save On Foods sold my stuffs for $300.00.

 

MAY

May brought a day that I didn’t want to have to face.  We gathered at Glad Tidings to celebrate the life of my cousin Debbie, who really was the best and brightest of all of us.  She was a gem and I was so grateful to have known her.

 JUNE

I celebrated Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee – really wished I had planned our trip to the UK sooner in the year….It would have been amazing to be there to witness this occasion!

I actually started the work of planning our trip in the Fall in June.  Every train, hotel, car, place we’d plan to stop, alternate plans were completed by me.  All of plans for Germany were completed by my beautiful friend, Petra Max, and I’m forever grateful to her!

In June, Kent brought me a little gift while he had been out running around town:

The quote says, Who says romance is dead after 30+ years of marriage?  Not his girl!

Kent: look what I got from Home Depot for you, they were giving them away for free!

Kim: Butterflies

Here's a hint #homedepot give flowers away.

 JULY

I learned 2 things in July that Pakistan looks like a running dinosaur.  And we can see the Symphony of Fire from our house.  Really not much to report for this month! 

AUGUST

August we had Max, Melissa, Jon and grandbugs for a couple days.  It was so great to have them all home.

 I finished a crochet project for Chantiel and Clays’ wedding….now, I had to get it to her, and currently it’s still in my dining room…(for those of you wondering, it’s January 15^th, 2023). Sigh.

We took a weekend away this summer to go to Bard on the Beach in Vancouver.  (Romeo and Juliet and Midsommer Nights Dream). We  stayed in the cutest old hotel in English Bay and brought our bikes – so that we could circumnavigate Stanley Park.

SEPTEMBER

The beginning of September found us in Kelowna, I got to celebrate my birthday with Jon, Melissa and the grandbugs.

September 6 we said goodbye to my sweet daughter and family, and we headed for home.

I was saddened by the death of Queen Elizabeth, stayed up for the funeral – I had really hoped she’d hang on for our trip later in the month. She was at times the only woman I looked up to – as a child.  I still think she was a trailblazer in 2” heels.  She’ll always be a giant to me.

September 29^th we headed to the ferry terminal for our trip to the UK, France, Belguim, and Germany.

 

OCTOBER

October 1 is our anniversary.  'Some years are bliss and some you spend a fortune on marriage counseling' was my quote that day.  We spent the day in London, we did a tour of Tower Bridge, (interesting) Lunch at the Prospect of Whitby Pub, (we got soaked by the Thames....) and a Football game at London Stadium. (West Ham United v Wolves)

On the 2nd, the kids and I gifted Kent time in a 737 Flight Sim at the West London University.  He seemed incredibly nervous going in, but I think he had fun.

We took the Caledonian Sleeper (I don't recommend it) to Inverness and picked up Leon, our car for the week. 

We went to Culloden for the day and them out to our place in the Kyle of Lochalsh were we'd be rooted for a week. We toured the Isle of Skye, Eilean Donan Castle.  We then spent time in Oban and did a tour of Staffa, Iona and Mull.  I highly recommend it -- the boat was fun, although the seas a little rough for my liking....

We were back in London for a night, to take the train to Germany.  We stayed across from St. Pancras Station in a hotel with more stairs going every which way -- I think I prayed all night we'd be safe and there would be no fire...

Deutsche zug sind fatastisch! (German trains are fantastic!) Although not always on time, they didn't smell like pee....like our previous trains did.  We met up with our friends Petra and Kai, we toured Hamburg and took in the symphony -- it was amazing.  We then went to Berlin, for a number of days, but I have to say, my most favourite times was time with the Max family.  We had dinner together in a beautiful Greek restaurant, we got to see Reike, met Pia, Jordan's girlfriend I have missed Jordan, (a foreign high school student that stayed with us in Victoria--became a cherished part of our family.

We toured Potsdam and Luneburg to see Josias the only Max family member we had not seen yet.

We left Hamburg for a week of relaxing -- we needed it after the busyness of the past couple weeks.  We landed in Dunkirk and walked, sat on the beach, read books, got in the ocean.  It was so great.

My entry from our last day in Dunkirk:

I have removed fear and found some real peace in my life on this trip. There is something so amazing about spending time with great friends, beach, rest and Europe that has fed my soul.

I'm actually ready to return home and continue the work started in my heart in Oct 2020.

#thingsaregoingtolookdifferent #malolesbains #dunkirk #restoration #healing 

We made our way back to London, then Vancouver to Kelowna - where  I spent a week working remotely from a hotel room.

Reality check: Kent and I separated October 5th, while we were in Scotland. We had a good vacation as the 'marriage' stress was removed and I could just be with a friend. We are still working on our marriage, by working on ourselves with counseling and we both don't see this as the 'end', but rather, things that we had not dealt with for years, had stacked until I couldn't bear it up any longer. It is January 15, 2023 and we are still living apart.

NOVEMBER

November 1 started with missing our friends Petra and Kai and their family -- in Germany.  So I did a traditional German breakfast of meats, cheeses and buns -- some other condiments and sat in that space of missing our great friends.

I was still at Melissa and Jon's in Kelowna, Melissa had a day surgery and so I stayed, worked and took care of her and her family.  I had officially experienced EVERY season on this trip....

I also learned a very good Scottish word, Dumfungled...to be mentally and physically worn out. Very accurately what I was feeling. As well, my body didn't know what season it was -- I had experienced it all in the past 6 weeks.

On November 6, I attempted to fly back to Nanaimo.  Westjet had some tech failure the day before and so it seemed 2 days worth of people were trying to make it somewhere AND winter weather started.  I ended up flying from Kelowna to Calgary and getting stranded.  I booked myself a flight to Victoria, rented a car and drove the balance of the way home.  Got home at 3, up at 7 for work -- started work at 7.30.  Dedicated or stupid, who can tell. 

So when you finally get home after 6 weeks away you have to wonder a few things:

1.   Are my plants still alive

2.  Will my pets remember me.

3.  Why do I have a shower head for a kitchen faucet?

I added to the pets with Libby joining Lewis and Stirling in November, she's the cutest and sweetest Yorkie Puppy.

FIFA World Cup started in November, so I was a tad distracted, would play games behind me while working, just peeking at goals scored.  I promise.

End of November brought both Kent and I back to Kelowna for Isaac's birthday -- He turned 4.  

He had a felt crown that Melissa had made, we had a houseful of preschoolers and a cardboard house to play in. As we made our way home -- the ferries were canceled.  Kent turned the car around and I started looking for a hotel near by -- because we were both supposed to be at work the next day.  

We found a lovely place near by, they helped us with the pets, gave us a big discount on dinner and we sat it out....while watching the England/Wales match. Kudos to the Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier, they were our saviour.  We were up at 4.30 and back to the ferry terminal, on the first ferry and barely late for work!

DECEMBER

I was chosen to attend the Canadian Association of Research Administrators Conference (CARA) in Whistler and I was so, so sick.  I didn't sleep well, and when it came time to leave, I arrived at the ferry terminal at 2.30 for the 3.45 ferry only to get home at 9.30. Hungry, tired...I was getting really tired of traveling!

Christmas with children, is just the best.  Isaac and Theia didn't really have an idea of what was up, but when the gift opening started, they were right in there!

At one point, Kent read to Isaac, what does this say:  T-O: G-I-G-I?  ISAAC!  he said.

I loved seeing my kids and grandkids, but the real truth is, I was tired of travel, I was just tired.  Over the past number of weeks, the BC Ferries had been an issue, I had pneumonia....and the reality is I have been carrying a great deal of physical pain over the last several years and also emotional and mental strains.

We went out on day to skate at Stuart park, as I was still feeling wheezy from the pneumonia I watched from the sidelines....as the time wore on, I looked at Max and said, I think I've frozen my kidneys  ...because well, that's exactly what it felt like.

It's now January 13th and that feeling hasn't subsided....You met Fred the Useless Lymphoma Lump.  You met Earl the Boob Guy that had to die….and now, we have Gladys.  I see her as  "the church lady" character who has sat behind the scenes, tricked me into thinking the pain I had was just ‘post operative’ or my ‘new normal'.  Well, isn't that special. Not.