Author: Hope Through Facing Adversity

The year 2015 began as a renewal for me...renewal in body, mind and spirit. After being 150 pounds overweight, I made the decision to have bariatric weight loss surgery. Six months nutrition counseling, psychological counseling, and a myriad of tests culminated in surgery on August 18, 2015. Little did I realize at that time, God had additional renewal plans for me. October 3, 2015, while recovering from bariatric surgery, I was ejected 30 feet from a Cessna 172 airplane upon emergency landing. This resulted in fractures of all but two left ribs, one right rib, left clavicle, left scapula, punctured left lung, degloving of my head and scalp with subarachnoid (brain) hemorrhage. A CT scan taken that day revealed evidence of lymphadenopathy in the right axilla requiring further evaluation when I was stable from my injuries. March 18, 2016, mammogram and ultrasound were suspicious for right breast cancer with lymph node involvement, which was confirmed by biopsy on March 25, 2016. April 18, 2016, right breast lumpectomy and lymph node dissection was performed, of which 7 of 15 lymph nodes were positive for cancer. I was staged at IIIA. This is my story. Through unbelievable adversity, God has been faithful to me. I hope you find this blog to be inspirational to and for you.

Hindsight

Knowing what I know now, I wish I chose Monday as my chemo day instead of Wednesday. This would have made my “down sleepy days” as Tuesday and Wednesday and part of Thursday, and my best days over the weekend. As such, Thursday, Friday and part of Saturday are my sleepy days. Rejoicing I’m feeling pretty well today. The end is in sight. Five more treatments to go. 

Keeping It Real

Today I had my first follow up mammogram and ultrasound since surgery. I was nervous. I have a lump at my lumpectomy site which I’ve been told was a seroma… a sac filled with blood and fluid, which is not uncommon after a lumpectomy. This was confirmed today and no treatment is needed for it. Everything else looked great. I’m so relieved! Thanks be to God! 

Counseling Session 

I had a great session with my counselor this morning. Talk therapy does wonders, especially when you find a counselor you can connect with, which I have. I’m blessed she is a person of faith and we have that in common. 

I have had some down days, which is expected, but I’ve also had some inspiring “up” days. I went to the Breast Cancer Survivors Tea on Sunday which honors survivors and those currently going through breast cancer treatment. It was just what I needed! Such a fun day connecting and bonding with women who have gone through or are going through the same journey. 

The journey, for me, seems long. Tomorrow I will have my 5th of 12 Taxol chemo treatments. The good news is this is Nov 1st, so I can say I will be done with chemo next month! My toughest day during the week is Friday. That is when neuropathy is at its worst, I’m very tired, and nothing tastes good. Sundays thru Tuesdays are my better days, with Tuesdays being my best. Then I get to start the process over again. 

I’m leaning on my faith, family and friends, and could not get through this without the three “F’s”. I have a friend visiting this afternoon who is going through the same journey. 

May God richly bless you and keep you in His care. 

Happy

My infusion nurse shared with me today my labs all looked “beautiful”, and since they didn’t take a dive this trend should continue with my future labs. December 21st will be a day of celebration, but continuing to take one day at a time. God has been so good and gracious to me.