Time to Reflect

It's been a few weeks since I wrote and many things have happened.  Summer is always a time filled with new and old events.  The things you do every summer as a tradition and a time of new exploration.
I am excited that this summer I am not having chemo treatments.  I do not have to plan my weeks around when I need to be at chemo.  If you haven't reached this point you will.  People who know me realize that I am one who can't stay still.   I am always on the go.  This summer I am enjoying time at home.  Time when I can catch up on all the things I let go last summer when I was too tired to do them.  This is not to say I haven't been on the go.  I just returned from a full week of technology training in Vermont.  It was a wonderful, exhausting and uplifting trip.  The week was with Discovery Education.  I have been a member of this wonderful group since 2006. This week in the summer always motivates me.  It gets me ready for school in the fall. This summer it inspired me to make a website.  It is currently under construction and hopefully I can show it soon.  The week also shows me the power of friendship.  There were 125 educators from North America at the conference.  Many I have known from past years, but 60 were brand new to the summer institute. It is great to make new friends.  Don't let cancer keep you from that.  As you go to chemo or drs. appts.  make friends.  Many of the nurses etc. that I have met through this journey are considered friends to me.  Friends can be on many different levels.

Hope to write more soon

Keep fighting,


Cathy

My Port is Gone!!!!

Yesterday, I had my port removed.  It is a day to celebrate!  I was very nervous about the procedure.  The Drs. wanted me to do it without sedation.  I am not sure I would do that again, although it was not painful after the lidocaine worked.   I am sore today, but am port free!  This is one more step I have taken.

Keep Fighting

Cathy

Big Week

This week will be another milestone.  I am scheduled to get my port out on Thursday.  This is exciting and scary at the same time.  When I was told I would need a port for chemo, I didn't think I wanted one.  I learned that it would be a good friend.  All the blood test and chemo went through the port and it was mostly painless.  I learned early on to use lidocaine to numb the site a half hour before.  It was funny because I would put the lidocaine on and then cover it with plastic wrap.  This meant I literally walked into the clinic with plastic on my port.  It was the best.  I barely would feel the needle.  I waited to get the port out until school was out and I wanted a year free from treatments.  It has worked good for blood draws.  It has flipped or something and now does not work.
It is exciting to think that I am cancer free and don't need the port.  It was a security blanket for me, but now I will have a scar of honor.  That scar will remind me of the miracles that have happend and the journey of my cancer recovery.
I am awake when they take this out on Thursday which scares me some.   They tell me it is not a big deal, but it is not their juggler vein that is being stitched.  I know that all will go well and it will just be another jog on this road.
Have a great week



Keep Fighting

Cathy

Graduation

Two years and one week after my cancer surgery, I was able to watch my son graduate from high school!   After finding out that I had cancer, that was one thing that bothered me. Will I be here for the important moments in my families life? I was there and it was exciting.  I plan on being around for more  family events.  Of course, one never knows when life will end.  There could be a car accident etc.  that takes our life.  I do know that I want to live my life to the fullest while I can.  The Lord has promised that he will not ask us to do more than we are able.   We often wonder, why me?  It is because we can handle the situation and will better for going through it.  Don't dispare over things, conquer them!  We need to count ourselves privileged and special.  Everyday is special too!

Keep Fighting,

Cathy

Survivors

June 2 is National Cancer Survivor Day!  Congratulations to all you out there!  Last week I passed my 2 year milestone.  Am I a different person from 2 years ago?  You bet!  I am better.  They say that there is a BC an a AC (Before Cancer and After Cancer).  This is so true.  We are all better for what we have accomplished by beating this disease.  Everyday is a milestone.  This morning in church a song was sung talking about how trials are God's blessing in disguise.  He uses them to mold and make us better. I cried through the whole song.  I could relate to the entire song.  God has molded me all along the way these past two years.  It has help mold my family too!  I am excited to see my youngest son graduate from high school Saturday.  Two years ago I wondered if I would be here to see this day.  In 1993 my father was diagnosed with cancer and 30% chance of living.  He took experimental chemo and he will also be here to see his grandchild graduate.  We are survivors and also fighters.  Don't give up the fight.  Remember there is a purpose for everything, we just don't always know what it is.  When you can't see the forest from the trees....keep going.

Keep fighting,

Cathy

Ups and Downs

It was a beautiful day today here in Wisconsin. After weeks of rain, we finally had a few dry days.  I began planting my porch box flowers until storm warnings came in again.  A bird flew over and left his droppings on my pants!!!!  I didn't even see any birds in the sky and all of the sudden my pants had a white dropping.   This is how life after cancer can be.  You have good days and bad.  Just like planting flowers on a beautiful sunny day, you can be feeling great.  Then, a bird flies over and some droppings of bad days appear.   We all can try to rise over the bad.  I laughed off the bird .  I know it is harder to laugh off the days of feeling tired or the aches and pains.  A positive attitude goes a long way.  I am still battling fatigue.   The CPAP machine is helping me sleep better, but I am still tired.  I am dreaming, which is something that I was not doing.   I still am very tired and yawning during the day.  The cause will be found, but patience needs to be learned.  The Lord never promised a life without ups and downs.  I believe it is how we react to those "downs" is important.  The Lord reminds us that we need his help and can't do this on our own.   Have a great week!


Keep Fighting!


Cathy

2 Years and Hanging Tough

It looks like a month almost flew by without a post.  I am sorry about that.  The good news is last week it was 2 years from that phone call that changed everything. Those two years were full of ups and downs.  I plan on writing 3years next year. Even with chemo-brain somethings will not be forgot.  Hearing the word Cancer is one of them.  In many ways it has made me a much stronger person.  I have learned so much about myself, my family , my friends and those I have contact with.  I have met wonderful caring doctors ,nurses and technicians.  My faith has grown and the Lord has blessed me so much.  You learn to say I'l  try not I can't.  You learn to treasure each moment.
Today I had a visit with my breast surgeon.  I think she is the best. We did mention that priorities are put in the correct order with cancer.  I even think that pain is relative. What might have "hurt" two years  ago is just a little "pinch" now.  I used to not be able to look at blood draws and now I watch to see if the blood will come.
I know that 2 years ago I wondered if I would live to see my son graduate from high school and in 7 weeks I will be there to cheer.  My hair is gray and I don't care.  At least I have some.  Do I have aches and pains?  Sure!  But I am glad to be here.
Don't give up!  Be thankful for what you have and those around you.   Hopefully you will be able to read my post on the 3 years since that phone call. Don't walk this path alone.  You have fellow survivors to help and the Lord is on our side.


Keep Fighting


Cathy