Health Update
Hey friends!! I just realized I did not blog the whole month of November. Time is flying by and I haven't had a lot to report, which is good. We have been plugging along with treatment. Due to Thanksgiving and how the holiday fell, I was unable to receive treatment the week of Thanksgiving, so I have 2 treatments left. Just 2 stand between me and ringing that bell!! As of right now, my last chemo treatment will be on December 19th. Just in time for Christmas. Overall, I am doing well. The only new symptom I have had is tingling / numbness in the feet. This just started the week before Thanksgiving. It's not all day everyday, so we have not had to adjust the dose of chemo. The doctor was thankful, we had to give me a week off, so hopefully my body would adjust on it's on to be able to push thru these last 2 treatments. Also, on December 19th, I will be meeting with the surgeon to schedule my surgery. Surgery should be around mid January. They want my body to have at least 4 weeks off of chemo prior to surgery. Please continue to pray that I can stay well to finish out these last 2 treatments so we can move along to surgery to have this cancer out of my body. That's the latest as far as my health goes.
Season of Thankfulness
When I sit back and think about almost being done with chemo, it's hard not to get emotional. I remember being so scared to start that first drip of RED DEVIL and here we are almost at the finish line. The days have been long, some hard, some not so bad, but overall I have just been tremendously blessed. To be so close to the end and only have had fatigue, bone pain, tingling/numbness in the feet. My blood levels have dangled just slightly over the number of needing a blood transfusion the entire time, but never actually needing it, thus far. It's just simply been a GOD thing. I have missed 25 days of work since I started Chemo back in August. 20 of those days were actual CHEMO days, and 5 of those days were from the first week I received red devil that I made myself stay at home to see how my body would react to the drug. Remind you, I was told to prepare myself to stay at home the first 8 weeks. I have not missed a single activity of the kids, and being able to remain present was one of my biggest fears. Thankful, thankful, thankful that GOD has been with me, carried me, gave me the strength and endurance to finish out this season of chemo. Weekly as I enter the chemo bay, I'm reminded at how bad it could be. You see the oxygen tanks with some patients, the ones that get sent home because their numbers are to low for treatment and the list just goes on and on. I'm just sooo sooo blessed!! I have no doubt that your prayers have brought me thru this tough journey.
During this time of thankfulness, after God comes my sweet husband. He has not left my side. He has been at every chemo treatment, changed every cold cap, chased down 50 lbs of dry ice each week and the list goes on. I do have to tell you a little funny. About 2 weeks ago, we got almost in Greenville, and he realized he grabbed the cooler of dry ice but not the cold caps. He was so mad with himself. He dropped me off at the door and while I visited with the doctor and did blood work, he headed back toward the house to meet Mama part of the way to get the caps. I told him it was ok, we could just skip it, but he was determined to see this cold capping thru to the very end. While I get bloodwork done each week, he is in the chemo bay setting up to be ready to go. He has my heated blanket warm, my hard candy readily available, along with my ear protectors / headpiece / cold caps laid out and ready to go. All I have to do is sit in the chair. He has listened to my frustrations, gave me stern talks when I needed them, made me laugh when I needed a good laugh, let me cry when I needed to get it out, and most importantly let me nap when my body said to do so. I'm just so thankful for his love and support thru this season and all there is still to come.
My family, co-workers, friends, church members, teampink4britt followers and prayer warriors, I can never thank you enough. Your prayers, support, cards, calls, texts, pictures in teampink4britt shirts and encouragement have been such a god sent to me and my family. I have been able to stay so positive because of you!!
As we approach the Christmas season, I want to remind you to soak up every single moment with your family. Tell them you love them. It's not about the presents.... Gifts fade, new things will come out and they will be thrown to the side, but MEMORIES, will last for ever. My family has asked me this year what I want for Christmas, like they do every year and honestly I have struggled coming up with a list. When you ask a cancer patient what they want for Christmas, all that comes to my mind is to be Cancer Free. I want renewed health. I just want the gift of TIME... MORE TIME with my loved ones. If I haven't learned anything else this year it's that LIFE IS SHORT and can change in a INSTANT.
Most of all remember the real reason for the season. JESUS BIRTH! How he came to give us hope, love and joy. So, don't forget to pause amongst the rush, to reflect on God's great love he has for us in the wonderful gift of his son. Give Jesus the gift of your time. No matter what your circumstances are, take a moment to reflect on who Jesus is and what he has done for you. JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!!
