Accomplishments We Celebrate and Other Events

 

Video is a bit blurry...it lost some resolution in transfer but hopefully it does reflect my excitement at this milestone moment of my journey.  I realize I still have a ways to go which will hopefully be better and less traumatic going forward.  Here is your's truly ringing the bell that signifies the end of my chemo treatments.  Now to get through the post treatment side effects and a return to function for my hands and feet.

I didn't post pictures of some of my favorite new friends in the Infusion Suite because I didn't get their permission to do so but they were there clapping and helping me celebrate.  These people won't mind me sharing their pictures.  Just a small part of my great support unit.

My wonderful friends Clay and Susan Pruitt.  Susan is also a cancer survivor and has been a great source of inspiration and advice.  Clay is simply Clay...Johnny on the spot with help of any kind.  Grateful for them!

And my little sister to whom has fallen the task of dealing with me for the last two chemo treatment's post week stress.  Super thankful for her....she's put her whole life on hold to help.

I've learned a lot over the course of this treatment.  About myself, about other people, about this illness and treatment and how to manage all of it.  I can honestly say, I did this exactly the way I wanted to.  I took other people's advice and suggestions on board and thought on them and ultimately did what I believed was right for me, my cancer and my treatment and hopefully my recovery long term.  I am grateful I chose Highland in NWA for this portion of my path....they were universally kind, compassionate and loving toward everyone I saw in treatment.  They truly were 100% positive experiences from beginning to end.

I maintained my desire to always show up for appointments and treatments looking the best I possibly could.  I wanted to hopefully offer a gentler picture of what we were all struggling with because frankly, my first appointment scared me stupid.  People just looked so very very sick, so hopeless and frail.  I hope by greeting people with a cheery greeting, bright clothing, and a smiling face wearing makeup it took me forever to apply, someone's day was made a little better.

With you all, I've been more real.  I showed you the misery of post treatment days, I've been honest with you about the ups and downs and I've hopefully shown you than leaning into God was pivotal in my journey.  I know the strength to carry through to the end came solely from his Divine Mercy and Eternal Love for this miserable child of His.....I can do nothing without Him.  And I am drawing ever nearer because this next month is going to be a personal hell for me.  Reliving the events of a year ago when I lost my heart beat that walked through life with me is going to be very tough.  I am going to try to spend the days from October 2 through October 23 reliving happy moments in my marriage to Roger.  So this blog will be a twofer going forward.  It will update on the cancer journey and it will also talk about my magnificent husband and things we experienced in our journey together.  I hope you don't mind.

In closing, I spent the first half of today doing a follow up fluid infusion and will likely do another on Monday if I can make the trip up the mountain.  But this was today, I'm not as excited as I was yesterday....because I'm tired.  I ran on sheer adrenaline all yesterday and couldn't sleep last night.  But it's been a good day today and I think for dinner I'm getting hot dogs and ice cream.  A girl can ask for little else.

Things I've learned: Never set your purse in a sink that has a sensor to activate the water flow.  I've done this twice now and flooded my purse.  But do I learn?  Apparently.....no.

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy" - Psalm 126:3