A new Hook from an Old Friend, LOVE IT!

Just wanted to say a quick good morning.

It's hard to get my energy up to blog everyday.

Well, I got something in the mail yesterday that could not have went any better, One of my old friends decided to get me a hook.

Have a look see...

Isn't it gorgeous?

Its make from the sugar skulls an I am in love with it all ready. I hope to start collecting the hooks and yarn bowls. 

It was such a nice surprise on a sick day, wonder how she new? 

Anyway, I am so blessed, and I ADORE the hook.

Thank You!

I hope to be back with you ladies soon, I am still crocheting but its its slow going, 

Until Next Time, 

I am home, but I am soooo tired. Just a quick update :-)

Good Morning :-)

Finally I am up long enough to update the blog. 

Those of you that follow or have been keeping up with the little tid-bits of my journey.

Here is my story....

In June I noticed that I could not breathe well at all.

I made me a Dr.Apt with the only clinic in town, and with only a PA. The first apt he gave me all new med's for bronchitis. I took all those med's, nothing worked.

He took a couple X-Rays and actually told me that my lungs were to long for the x-ray so they took a few more. (my lungs are too long? lol) Now its July. A month later.

My left lung is filled with fluid, the right side about half.

He immediately sent me to our nearest hospital, and once my tests came back they just blurted out,"you have Lymphoma". My mom and I were sitting in the ER room an you could have knocked us both off our chair. Not the best bedside manner when you think you have a chest cold or pneumonia.

So, once I got a tentative diagnosis, they put me in the ambulance and whisked me off to Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC). I went through a multitude of tests, and ended up with a Stage 3 Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Tomorrow I go back to Charleston to the new cancer for the first time. I am so tired of traveling because this mass is right in the way of getting any kind of relief.

I was on the cancer floor for 2 weeks. I just got home on Saturday. I am just not doing well.

I am so tired, there are so many things to do here but I cant move.

The Lymphoma has wrapped itself around my heart and lung and is squeezing my air off. If I would have waited I may not of had any air to breathe at all.

The Lymphoma isn't the only part, I have several "spots" on my kidneys, and I have a spot on my brain. Scary.

The good thing is my Oncologist says that this is very treatable, about 80%. I am supposed to be drinking lots of water to make the mass move, it can be peeded out. So, I cant lay down or get comfy because it feels like I have a foot behind my rib cage and I am holding back Niagara Falls. Its going on 3 weeks with no sleep.

I have a mess of medicine, lots of instructions and have no clue. Babe in the woods.

I don't know if I could handle it if it were not for my partner and my mom. She has really went above and beyond to help me.

I have decided to hire me a housekeeper one day a week, just to catch up because I just cant do it.

No crochet lately, but I am working on a gorgeous wrap (it cold at the cancer center) in Boutique Unforgettable in Berry.

My concentration is not the best so its slow going.

Plans for today? Another trip to Summersville for my white blood cell count and shot.

So, that is my update. 6 rounds of Chemo every 21 days. Say a prayer.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am still here. The blog wont be up and running to much, I still feel to out of sorts to make sense of it all.

Pretty much, my life just went sideways but I am going to continue with the positive outlook no matter how much I hurt.

I would love to hear you, leave me a message, I am slow but I will get to you. If you can cheer me up I am all for it! 

Thanks for supporting me.

I will update when I can or if I news.

Hopefully I will have a gorgeous wrap to share soon.

Have a great day!

~Crystal

Cancer Diagnosos, NOT Broncitis

I have recently gotten a cancer diagnosis, so I 

will not be on much and Ill update often if you follow me on my A Day In My Life Crochet & Reviews on FB or KRYSTLEWVSCROCHET ON INSTAGRAM.

Happy Hookin!

~Crystal

#MandalasForMarinke and a Spoke Mandala In Her Memory

Hi Everyone!

I am really sorry about not updating the blog like I should but I have been very ill. A bout with bronchitis has turned into walking pneumonia and after almost a month I still can not breathe. Its very scary not to be able to have an air flow, something I took for granted that I will never do again.

Another Dr. Appt on the 6th of July. Wish me luck. The steroids mess with my system. The make me an emotional wreck with some head rushes and spots behind my eyes. I have not been out of the house since June 3rd. I am afraid to go anywhere for fear of passing out. I am sure the light-headedness is my brain not getting enough oxygen. I just hope this round of meds will do the trick. If not its going to be a serious trip to the ER.

My reason for posting today is to pass on the Creative Being blog written by Marinke (Wink). Sadly, she is no long with us because of her long standing issues with depression. She took her own life. 

That hit home with me.

As someone who crochets for stress relief, and suffers from mild depression I can say I have never been in a head space that propelled me to think about taking my own life.

I am grateful for that.

Winks blog was the first blog I found when I started crocheting. I was immediately drawn to her fat bottom granny bags. They were the most gorgeous of all the bags I found. 

I decided yesterday, after reading online all the posts and what was going to be done in her honor, that I would go to her site and crochet one of her much loved mandalas. If you have ever been to the blog Creative Being, you know how Wink felt about her mandala crochet.

I plan to send this one in to be a part of the book that is being put together. 

I made her Spoke Mandala.

It turned out lovely. I had never worked with an elongated double crochet so in her passing she was still teaching what she loved. That is comforting to me.

Using the hashtag #MandalasForMarinke I posted the picture online.

Sadly, I loved making that mandala and I am sad and sorry that there will be no more lovely patterns from her heart. 

Sorry, this is such a short post but I just don't have the energy to go on. I am not crocheting at all at the moment because of the sickness but I will be back on track before long, I hope.

Thanks for being here with me today. If you made a mandala for Wink, leave me a message I would love to hear how they touched you.

Until next time....

~Crystal