Wow

March 28th

How do I follow a post like Steve’s…I do it by putting my arms around the man that I am so fortunate to have had enter my life on June 27, 2004. A man who has loved me, stood by me and well let’s be honest, put up with me for the last 13 years! A man who has embraced not only me but my family…my sissies and my Mom with a bond so tight that few men can understand and he loves each and everyone of them with all his heart.

What a fun group of women that cared for me last week when I got home. This also represents a 51 year of friendship with my dear friend Tish, whose bonds have been strengthened through the years by the support and the love we have for each other. That is why we are “my stand by me friend” we are always there for each other and our families!

We had a very busy weekend with “Missy’s Victory Garden” being designed and built and ready to begin planting on Good Friday, with many seeds and plants received over the last week by my wonderful friends and family! Mom and Beth were here to help and cook meals and do laundry while I rested. I had a few visitors this weekend which was awesome and made me feel human. On Sunday I walked a full 1/2 mile and on Monday a trip to the surgeon to have my staples removed was a huge success – I even drove to the appointment…they were not too happy about that but oh well! I hope they realize who they are dealing with here – I know I will push myself but I also know I have to remember I am still healing. And if I didn’t remember Tuesday reminded me of that as I was completely wiped out all day.

We saw the oncologist and got the pathology report – great news! The 20 lymph nodes removed during surgery showed NO cancer, the tumor proved to be stage 1 and the depth of the tumor into the tissue was a t2 which is basically on the surface – huge news. There are positive margins due to the tentacles but that was to be expected – they feel the IRE to kill these was perfect and it will take weeks for the cancer to die off and we will know more at the next scan! The next phase will be six months of chemo and radiation and the treatment will not be anything like the previous – thank you God! We are not sure yet what it will be but he assured me I will be riding the JDRF Ride to Cure in Sept and running my half marathon in Kiawah in December.

So life continues to challenge us – after surgery I noticed my hair was falling out – so I can tell you this I was COMPLETELY freaked out, I love my hair, but they have assured me that is normal with the stress of this invasive surgery and it also happens when you give birth…yet again another reference to birthing a child name Lucifer. With Lucifer gone I do know that he is still out there reminding me he was around and I will continue to fight this fight till he is in the ground and the scans show No Evidence of Disease (NED) – see you are learning medical terms too!

Thank you to everyone who has stopped by, sent flowers, cards and prayers – my house looks beautiful and I love all the love that I am reminded that surrounds me in this battle. I am such a lucky lucky girl and I can’t wait to blog again this weekend when my niece Alex and nephew Will come to spend Easter with us and Mom too – how loved are we that they want to come be with the old aunts, uncles and grandmothers for Easter – I can’t wait to be with them.