The Clee Family

Well, it's been awhile since I've entered an Update. I had a 4 hr surgery on January 18th, and all the Cancer was removed, that can be seen with the naked eye. I'm feeling quite good, and I  am so thankful to my doctor, because things are going in a positive direction. My dilemma at present, is whether I will undergo Radiation treatments, as it is advisable to discourage cancer cells from growing back. but it is not a guarantee, that, there will not be a reoccurrence.   I will be talking with my doctor, soon, to weigh the positive effects, and get more clarification, of what to expect in the future., as far as posssible, & probable treatments, which will include  infusions, every 3 weeks for at least a year.  All, in all, I'm feeling pretty good, and am now able to visit my 95 yr. old mom. But, the decisions are weighing on me, quite heavily, at the moment. Decision making is quite intense!  We shall see, what materializes. In the meantime, I am living, on day at a time, & cherishing each precious moment. Not sure, what I will decide, yet. I will be discussing my options, with my doctor, very soon.  I am singing, practicing at home again. It feels great! And I am enjoying all the simple joys of life. Taking a short walk,  and looking up at a heavenly blue sky, & feeling the cool breeze upon my cheek. Going to my favorite Donut shop, inhaling the sweet aroma of freshly baked donuts, and anticipating how yummy they will be.  I don't take anything for granted anymore. I enjoy talking with my friends, and I am thankful for each & every one of them. And family, is so more appreciated these days. To hear a familiar voice, embrace a warm smile, as the brilliant warmth of sunshine, touches my heart, & lifts my spirit to new heights.  Look for the positive, & you'll  surely catch a glimpse, even through the clouds, that sometime hover above, through life. Touch a heart, embrace the light, Let go, Let God. For he is there beside you, every step of the way, on this Journey, called "Life." When the time is right, I believe I will receive some Financial assistance, that I am in need of, to cover additional expenses, that have incurred along the way, because of my illness. But, most important, I am on the Road to recovery, in health, & spirit. God Bless everyone. Keep the Faith!  Believe in yourself, 'cause God believes in you. May sunshine & rainbows, follow you, along the path of your life. Never give up, keep going, be strong, with God holding your hand. Remember, he left his "footprints in the sand", when he carried you through life's challenges, and "He is the Way, the Truth, and the Light." God Bless.

Just had major surgery last Thursday, January 18th, to attempt to get rid of, whatever cancer remains. Not sure at this point, if they removed all traces, and got it all.  I am waiting for some pathology results, and then my doctor will review with me,  and plan the best strategy, for my well being. So, at least, I'm done with 6 Chemo-treatments, 2 procedures, and major surgery, This is what I have come through so far, and left behind. And now, I look to the future. What lies ahead? Only time can tell. It has been almost 8 months, since first being diagnosed with Cancer, last June. But, I am once again, getting out in the world, trying to be as productive, as I can be, at this stage of the game. Trying to be supportive, to my sister, caring for my precious mom, who is now, 95 yrs. old. She is such a blessing, and so very dear to us.  Trying to stay strong, and rise above the turbulent waters. I have met such caring, compassionate people, who I will never forget, because, they have truly made a difference in my life, and have touched my heart, leaving a deep imprint on my heart. So forward I go, into the vast unknown frontier, called, Life!  Right now, I am recovering from the surgery, and I get a bit worn out, but my spirit is always willing, to venture to the best of my ability. with the God given strength, that heaven has bestowed upon me. I am thankful for the many blessings of life. Precious, and golden, is every  moment of life, we share with family, friends, and the good people we meet, on this Journey, throught our lives. I hope that you can find it, in your hearts, to help me out, during these challenging days, in which my money belt, to pay bills, is lighter than usual, due to over-the-counter medications ( needed after surgeries, & treatments), transportation, & essential items needed, which are necessary to healing. I have required a lot of rest  in the past, due to being so ill,  but now,  I am eager to resume  a more productive, and healthy life, in which I can achieve my goal, of inspiring others, through my experience, and music. I will keep you updated, as far as surgery results, and what's on the agenda, on the road, to a full recovery. God Bless everyone, in whatever you may face, and know that God is right beside you. It is now, that he is carrying you, through the tough terrain, and he will place you steadily on the ground, when you are ready, to stand strong, equipped for life, with Hope, Faith, & God Almighty, by your side.  So, know now, that Angels are watching us, everywhere we go, every place we roam. God Bless.

Well, here we go again, wth Christmas behind us, and the New Year ahead. We're apprehensive, of what lies ahead, in the vast horizon, the mysterious unknown...What will we encounter, in the year ahead, which has yet to unravel, our lives. But, I am optimistic, about myself, & the future ahead, especially; when I have met so many kind, hard-working dedicated people, who, day in, & day out, try to help, & heal others. With this reality in mind, there is hope ahead, for a brighter future, a more humane, kinder thoughtful society, where caring about others is a priority, that exists in the minds, and heart & souls, of a present population, in a complicated world. We must continue to keep marching forward,  with optimistic & hopeful eyes, and lean on God Almighty to guide us, through a troubled world, which can be saved,with love, & strength, of a true & honest character,that ventures ahead, never waivering, trudging through tumultuous terrain, while keeping your eyes on the Lord above. Keep your eyes on a heavenly reward, and you'll never lose sight of your direction, your destiny, as a human being, try to improve, where improvement is needed, lend a helping hand, when your fellow man or woman, is off balance, and above all, keep your spirit vibrant, to carry on, and keep marchin' strong, for the good of man. I may seem a bit philosophical, but I have learned, that you must work hard,  at  whatever you want to achieve, for yourself, and for others. Nothing worthwhile is gained, without tremendous effort, and a strong embedded faith, that goes beyond this earthly existence. Everybody needs some kind of help, guidance, & moral support along the way, in this life, but we must also do our best to stand tall, above the chaos. Keep the faith, & believe that you can do it, whatever it may be, and seize the day! Onward, brave soldier, as we face the challenges of life, yet enjoy the many blessings, that God has bestowed upon us. Never give up, and keep your eye on the heavens, because, believe me, heaven is  watching over you.  God bless all of you, as you journey through, the maze of life, with God at your side. I will update you, as I get closer  to my surgery date in mid- January. So, whatever you face in your life, of  changing colors, keep the Faith. Don't leave home without it.! It is the coat of warmth, a shield of strength, & a guide to a better life. Happy Holidays! Enjoy the precious moments, that bring sunshine, & light into your life, and the world around you. God Bless.

I am posting my maternal grandmother ( Emma Rubio Escalante's) picture, because I admire her so much. Not only was she a famous Solo Opera singer, who performed in Paris, but she was a true humanitarian, who contributed greatly, in helping women & children. She founded organizations, and fought to defend women's & children's rights.  I also  wish to help others, in standing strong, and living full, & meaningful lives. I hope to recover completely, & bounce back on my feet, and sing for others once again. Since my last update, I had my 6th Chemo-treatment, and various Scan tests, to measure my progress, on the road to being Cancer free. Well, I am happy to say, that my doctor said the tests show that almost all the cancer is gone. And whatever trace was shown, to be left, could be taken away with surgery. So, that's where I stand now, looking in from the wings, ready to embark in Act  II, where I will continue the healing process. I am so thankful to God, & all that have helped me so far, and given me emotional support. The financial aspect of my journey, has been extremely challenging, and I have taken advantage of resources that have been available, but I am falling behind in my bills.  I wish to bounce back on my feet, especially now, so I can be much calmer, about facing the surgery that awaits me in January. I will remain positive,  and look forward to a future, where I can make a difference in making other people 's lives happier, possibly through my music, and give them hope for a brighter future. But right now, I will also be seeing another doctor, because although, most of the cancer, has gone, I still have problems walking. They are hoping to find out, why this lack of mobility prevails. I have faith, that God will help the doctors to discover what is the cause, and eventually, all will be well. In the meantime, I have turned to my music, and have begun singing at home, and it feels so good! I am looking at a few songs I wrote a few years back, and hope to share with the world someday. P.S. I wanted to mention again, about my artistic grandmother, EMMA RUBIO ESCALANTE, stage name ( Carmen Navarro), that she was honored a couple of years  ago, for her artistry, and humanitarian deeds. I am so  very proud of her, and what she accomplished. She was chosen as Woman of the year, for International Woman's Day, Dia de mujeres, for her  contributions as a gifted artist, but mostly for her contributions, in helping women & children. Her life was well spent,in helping others have a life of improved quality. I hope I can follow in her footsteps, in achieving to help others to grow, & achieve confidence, and happiness. Hopefully, I can do benefit shows.  In leading others to a happy place, our hearts find Peace & happiness. God bless my Grandma Emma, and those who have a giving heart, that spread kindness, throughout the world. Stay tuned for updates on procedure, scheduled tomorrow, & future surgery. God bless the world.  HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Last time, I updated with recent news, I was scheduled for a PETSCAN/CTSCAN. Well, that didn't happen. After fasting, and not sleeping for practically the  entire night to prepare for tests super early in the morning, there were complications pertaining to the intravenous procedure (preparing for Scans). So, it had to be postponed until November 30th. I was not a happy camper. But, last Thursday, after having a special IV placement, which was successful this time, the 4 Scans were finally done.

I am anxiously waiting  the Test results to determine how successful the chemo-treatments have been. My doctor had already told me, after the 3rd treatment, it indeed was working. But what about now, after the 6th treatment?  How much cancer is left? And just exactly where is it located. Could it be gone? I hope so. These tests are super important, in  revealing this information. So now, I am anxiously waiting for the RESULTS! That same day. I also had an Ultra-sound of my legs done, because I have extensive swelling, and it is somewhat challenging to walk. And finally, a CEA blood test had to be done. This test also helps, to discover, if cancer lurks inside. So far, it's been quite a journey. And I now have the utmost admiration & respect, for all of the medical staff, & administration. They have been the most caring, hard working, dedicated, incredible professionals, I have ever seen. Truly, angels from heaven above. God Bless each and every one of them. I will update, when I get further information.

On the lighter side, I have included a picture of my mom, with my cousin's doggie. You can see, by the warm smile on my mom's face, how delighted she was to share some precious moments, with man's best friend. This is Cheri, who is sitting on my mom's lap. Hope you like the picture. It shows you, that we can find great pleasure, in enjoying the simple things, as a little adorable creature, like the cute little dog, my mother bonded with that day. It touched my heart, to know that my mother''s spirit was touched, by  the companionship, of one of God's sweet, & loving creatures. God Bless. I will update, as  soon as possible. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

These two cute little doggies, are an important part of the family. They are always amusing, and often put a smile on my face. They actually belong to my daughter.  As you can see here, they are wearing their best  Halloween costumes, and seem to enjoy having their picture taken. I believe, they would have taken a selfie together,  if they could have managed it, because they love showing off their Holiday outfits. But everyone, or should I say, every dog, has their limit. I just wanted to share this picture, because animals bring such joy to the Universe, and touch our hearts., and lift our spirits. P.S. Next week, I will be taking 3 Scans, to  check my progress, as far as how well the chemo-treatments have been working. My doctor told me that the treatments had been working, up through the 3rd treatments, but now, that I have completed the 6th chemo-treatment, the tests will really measure the progress up to date. I am optimistic, that  the results will be good. I hope & pray. I also pray for everyone else, who is on their journey to healing. I also recommend listening to music, to soothe the soul, and calm a restless spirit. Heal your mind with beautiful music, and restore your health, to a Peaceful place, where  Hope  lives, & Harmony survives. We must have faith. for Nothing is impossible with God. When there's a will, there's a way. God Bless.