Author: Robin Hinnen

  • 26 January

    Things I’m grateful for: 1. My in-laws. Little firebrand prayer warrior Kathy and big lovable Mike, who says that I’m now one of his heroes, never mind that he’s a retired first responder and should be one of ours.❤️❤️ 2. More of my nursing staff, especially Alyssa, Claire, Angela and MaryGrace. Angels all. 3. I’m…

  • 25 January – day #6, post-chemo

    Things I’m grateful for: 1. Texas storms. Yes, they can sometimes be devastating, but what incredible power! Nature kicks some serious butt. 2. Texas springs. Fleeting, short, but incredibly beautiful, with wide swaths of bluebonnets and other wildflowers coming up almost at once. Then the big trees in the park begin to leaf out and…

  • 24 January – day #5, post-chemo

    Things I’m grateful for: 1. Home-cooked meals prepared with love and care. 2. My daughter’s little teddy bear, that she wanted me to take to the hospital. It reminds me of her gentle, sweet spirit every time I look at him. 3. My resilience and sense of the ridiculous over this bizarre turn of events.…

  • 23 January – day #4, post-chemo

    Things I’m grateful for: 1. The fact that our home is situated within fairly easy walking distance of Comal Springs, a natural spring that comes bubbling cool and clear from the ground and forms our little Comal River. Just sitting and listening to all that beautiful water rushing from the earth is magic. 2.Modern medical…

  • 22 January – day #3, post-chemo

    Things I’m grateful for: 1. That this ordeal will eventually pass. 2. My girls laughing and joking with me via FaceTime every night. Omg, I love those little twirps so much. 3. My body’s continued relative strength, despite the rigors of medical treatment it’s undergone. I’ve officially gone for more than 24 hours without any…

  • 21 January – day #2, post-chemo

    Things I’m grateful for: 1. My oncologist, Dr. Santiago. Gentle, patient, caring, but will definitely call you out for whining, as I found out yesterday. He gave me a straight-up pep talk that I think I really needed. 2. The sound of big green tree leaves rustling in the breeze and the way the late…

  • 20 January – day #1, post-chemo

    Things I’m grateful for: 1. I finished my first round of chemo! WOO-HOO!!! 2. My caring neighbor Amy. She’ll be coming to visit on Wednesday bearing gifts of soup. YUM. 3. My circle of family and friends who have my back, no matter what. Bleeeeeccchhhhh…. I’m feeling the effects of the chemo big-time today. The…

  • 19 January – 5th day of chemo

    The things I’m grateful for today: 1. Another day of life, another chance to slay the beast. 2. The way the late afternoon sun turns the outside walls of the hospital such a beautiful pink gold. 3. My kind, compassionate and sometimes really fun to talk to nurses. 4. The sound of water. Last night…

  • 18 January – 4th day of chemo

    I’m going to try something different. I need to keep my mind and heart focused on the positive during this journey, so I’m going to start off my posts with a small list of things that I’m grateful for. Forgive me in advance if some of them seem a bit maudlin! 1. My wonderful, kind,…

  • 17 January – 3rd day of chemo

    Oof. Extremely rough night. Not due to nausea, but to the fact that every time I would relax and begin to snooze, my heart rate would drop into the low 50s and I think once or twice touched 49 bpm. Before I got sick, a resting heartbeat in the low 50s wasn’t uncommon for me…