Oh no, she didn't! (Henna Tattoos on her head, that is)

She said she was going to do it, and... well, if you know Kris...


Background info: Henna has been used for body art for centuries. The people of India use this form of temporary tattoo for religious ceremonies, wedding festivals, and for simple body adornment. It lasts about three weeks. Kris got hers done the day before Christmas locally. Next time she's going to "Little India" in Queens.

Kris visited the office today

Kris stopped in to the office and was greeted by co-workers Fabian and Dan, who wore bald caps in her honor.

Happy Holidays

Kris on December 17, 2014 in her new hat, a festive gift from her good friend Inez made by Amy Downs, formerly of Amy Downs Hats at 151 Ludlow Street, NYC. First in a series of hat pictures.

Kris' seventh round of chemo is this Tuesday. After nine rounds they will reassess her treatment.  Happy Holidays. 

Official Benson Weissman Holiday Photo

Abby's brother and our nephew Greg, who just got in from his Peace Corps post in Cameroon, at the Brooklyn Flea on Saturday afternoon December 13, 2014. Clockwise from top left: Keith Weissman, Abby Weissman, Kris and Greg Weissman. This was Kris' first social local outing in weeks, beside chemo and doctor's appointments.

Kris is having her annual holiday sale

This weekend. 718.522.6670. By appointment. 

Happy Holidays, Kris

The Fifth Chemo (and Murray, of course)

After her 5th chemo, Kris, now with a full Lex Luthor hairstyle (or lack of), is relaxing and making more ornaments for the Christmas sales. Kris seems to be handling the chemo really well; she's more active than I am at this point. My electric body groomer has come in handy. Her new work table was custom-made for Kris from an old grammar school desk by John Billingham. She is sitting with Murray the dog and Desi the cat in the foreground. The two have become good buddies. 

We recently discovered Murray hates cold rainy days and is afraid of snow - which I think he never saw before. It makes it difficult when he has to go out. He still only goes in the backyard. We sometimes have to go out there with him to keep him company. Poor guy. He is getting a little better every day though and now is relaxed enough in the house to really play, like a puppy. His throws his toys up the air and jumps and catches them, and runs around like a maniac. His excited tail wagging has broken two coffee cups already.

The Fourth Chemo, and Oncologist appointment

Today Kris had her 4th chemo infusion and met with her oncology "team." They were very encouraged by her progress, with her blood work all on track. And she's looking healthier than she has. Her oxygen levels without the breathing tube are around 98% now, which means she only has to use the oxygen "when needed" (this right after we just ordered a bunch of extension tubes and connectors online, DOH!) Her main chemo meds are PARAPLATIN and TAXOL - along with sedatives, anti-nausea and other pre-Chemo meds. A whole double-dose visit takes over 4 hours, not including transportation and wait time. The specific name of the type of cancer she has is Primary Peritoneal Gynecological Cancer (it even has a medical acronym, PPC).

Afternoon Nap Time

Nap Time with Murray

Kris has been doing as good as one could on chemo. She is eating as much as she can handle of whatever foods she can tolerate and is still tired and dizzy at times. Her hair is starting to really fall out. She is going for her 4th round of chemo Tuesday Dec. 2, which is a combo of two drugs rather than the usual one. We stayed home and had takeout Turkey dinner for Thanksgiving but had relatives over on Friday instead. Kris' sister Karin brought the delicious food. 

Sorry for not posting in a week. Sometimes no news is good news. If anyone has any questions feel free to email me.

First non-medical excursion in a month

From l. to r.: Karin, Aunt Scottie, Murray, Eric, Kris,
and Uncle Dan (Kris' dad's brother.)

Today we went to a Benson family gathering at Kris' sister Karin's house; with husband Steve, Uncle Dan and Aunt Scottie, brother Eric and wife Lisa, me, and Murray, who wouldn't leave Kris' side all day, and ended up in the middle of every picture. It was also Murray's first extended excursion in a car with us, which, unfortunately, did not go as well. Upon arrival at Karin's we had to wash the back seat cover, among other things. 

Keeping Kris' seat warm at work

Basil is doing her best filling in for Kris at Alouette.
She has difficulty aswering the phone, but she is real good at letting us know when somebody is at the door.
Feel better, Dolly!

Resting with Murray.

Kris has been resting mostly. The chemo has made her nauseous, tired and she is not eating much. Am trying to buy foods she will eat, like soups, crackers and soft foods. Murray has been a great asset, a real sweetie. He still has some fear issues but not when he's with his mom, Kris.

Second chemo session today

Kris reading her boook... she's been nauseous and not very hungry, but she just ate a whole take-out order of pierogies from Velselka in East Village, where we stopped on our way home from NYU Infusion Center. The Infusion Center has very nice staff, very well run. Also got some Vegetable Soup for dinner (my favorite since 1977). I finally got approval for the anti-clotting drug from Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, should arrive tomorrow.

Who's that girl?

Trying a wig on for size, with oxygen.

Kris is starting to feel ill from the chemo

She has felt nauseous since yesterday, feels very weak and is not eating much. Everything makes her queasy. We are still waiting to get approval from our insurance company for the blood clotting injections. It is DAY 3 and I am going in circles, stuck in a loop of responsibility shirking, going from Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy to the prescribing doctor to the insurance company and back again.

Kris cut off all her hair

Kris wanted to cut it before it started to fall out and get brittle. Using my electric trimmer, it is now 1/4" long. John and Sandy assisted. I now call her Sinead O'Benson. She saved all her hair in order to have a custom wig made from her own hair. If anyone knows where to do this and how much it costs please email me (abbyw@abbyw.com).

Meet Murray, our new doggie

Our sweet new dog, Murray is a godsend.  He is a two-year old rescue dog from Tennessee who we adopted over a month ago. Turns out he is a wonderful comfort dog who will spend hours in bed cuddling at Kris' side.

Kris has a blood clot in her arm

Another day another complication. Kris is doing OK after her first Chemo treatment. She's got a headache and is achy but otherwise fairly normal, besides the breathing issues. There are many other drugs and supplements she has to take with the chemo, like Glutamine powder, vitamins, anti-nausea pills etc... Furthermore, Kris developed an infection and then a blood clot from the IV in the hospital. We were really upset at them but then found out that this is not that abnormal. Cancer patients are 7 times more likely to develop dangerous clots. So she had to start on ANOTHER DRUG - a once daily injection of LOVENOX (enoxaparin) which she will need daily for the entire course of treatment. After visiting our regular local pharmacy, Greene Pharmacy, we learned we had no choice but to order from Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy and they would send it FedEx overnight. Yet despite having a written prescription from a doctor within our plan and having our Encologist call in and confirm the script, Walgreens called me at 5:15 PM to tell me that because it is a specialty drug they needed an additional approval from the insurance company -- after most people have already gone home for the day. We still have not gotten anything. So I had to buy a 7-day supply at Greene Pharmacy at the retail price of $30 a syringe. I am tired of playing Pharmacy Roulette - where one has to physically go to numerous pharmacies to get our sometimes-life saving prescribed drugs. Great system we have here.  

Started 9 weeks of chemotherapy today

Got a ton of forms, instructions, brochures and a free tote bag to carry them with. Nice place. A bit inconvenient - infusion center is on a street with access to midtown tunnel entrance. Parked in wrong lot where it was $43 instead of $21. Next time. Appointment was 11:30 AM, got home by 6:15 PM. She feels tired and nauseous but otherwise OK. The worst side effects should come within first three days after an infusion. 

Her hospital x-ray shows one lung 2/3 filled with fluid. Kris still has shortness of breath and is using her rented oxygen machines (r). The top machine fills a "portable" canister which lasts two hours. Met with social worker and nutritionist. We are trying to rent a better portable unit with wheels.