My, haven’t the last 6 months of my life been a whirlwind?!
It has been almost 6 months (lacking by only a few days) that I discovered a
lump in my breast on one normal Friday night. Since then I have been to over 50
doctor’s appointments with my own team of a breast surgeon, medical oncologist,
plastic surgeon, geneticist, cardiologist, and a number of nurses and lab
techs. They aren’t really all my own, but I feel like they have been. God
placed me in the very capable and loving hands of a wonderful group of people.
I was scheduled to complete my last chemo treatment on
Thursday, 2.13.14…then we got 6 inches of snow and my appointment was
cancelled. I was bummed, but knew that God would not let me down. My
appointment was rescheduled and on Valentine’s Day, with my sweet husband by my
side as always, I completed my last treatment. It was one of the most amazing
accomplishments that I have in my book and will always feel like such an
amazing victory. You would think that the reason would be because chemo was so
hard, or because I was so sick, but it wasn’t…and I wasn’t. Chemo wasn’t the
most fun thing I’ve ever done and I had my less that wonderful days, but it was
because I got to witness for myself the miracles that God performs each and
every day. He has held my hand, walked beside me, and completely carried me
through every minute of every day. I know without a doubt that this journey
could’ve been a much different story than the one I am so blessed to tell you.
Some of my dearest friends from my church small group came
to visit me during my last treatment with beautiful flowers in tow. This group
has been so wonderful to me and my family through all of this and I was so glad
to have them celebrate with me…to know that they love me is a blessed feeling.
I have had such an outpour of love and support since day one
and I wish that there was some significant speech or song or any compilation of
words to express how grateful that I am. My family has been A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! My
parents have dragged my kids everywhere; my brother went to Boston just to buy
me a hat straight out of Fenway; my sisters in law have brought me medicine,
food, gifts, thrown me parties, researched the entire internet for information;
my cousin started prayer chains through hundreds of people I’ve never met;
several of my family members have sent us gifts or food. My friends have been
just as amazing taking care of us. I just pray that you all know how very
appreciative we are and that I will one day have the chance to repay you or pay
it forward.
To my dearest Greg- you will never know what it meant to
have you by my side through all of this. You continue to say “It’s not me who
has the hard part.” But I know it couldn’t have always been easy putting up
with me. From day one you have kept my spirits up, showered me, fed me, driven
me, served me, waited on me, worried about me, prayed for me. I know that you
may consider these things just part of it, but God has shown through you like a
blinding beam of light to me. Never once have you complained, been aggravated
or short with me, or made me feel like a burden. In fact, you have made me feel more important and more beautiful than ever. Your encouraging words, loving smiles, and soft touch are always just what I need. There are definitely not
enough words to thank you. Having cancer is tough, but so is being a caregiver
to someone with cancer. And baby- you did one heck of a job!!
To my beautiful daughters- you have shown such admirable
strength. I cannot imagine what it feels like at 10 and 13 years of age to find
out that your mom has cancer. It’s scary enough for an adult, but you two have
been so very brave. You jumped in there and fought right along with me showing
me all of the love and support that I could ever ask for. I pray that you have
been an example for anyone around you showing that holding onto God’s grace
will always get you through.
My journey is not over yet. I still have a few more
surgeries ahead of me and will continue to receive immunotherapy through
October of this year. But…the hardest parts are over and I can’t wait to have
my hair back! It may be overrated, but a bald head is a cold head! J
