I'll never capitalize cancer
I have alot going on in my life, more than just cancer and chemo. Sure it's a big part of my life right now, but it's not the most important part of my life. You will never see me spell it with a capital "c".
I'm a Wife and Mom. I love my Family. I have good Friends. We do fun stuff and dumb stuff and sometimes we argue and then we laugh again. We go to work and to the grocery store and we go swimming and have birthday parties and get ready for the first day of school.
I keep saying that I don't want ovarian cancer to define me, but sometimes I just can't help it.
A good friend put it this way for me "cancer may be defining your life for the moment, but it is not your entire life. You seem to just make time for it." That made me feel better.
If you want to see it from the beginning, my cancer story begins in March.
The rest of my story is happening now.
Abby had her first airplane ride, we went skiing, visited with longtime friends, I spent a week in the hospital and all the time kept up with work & school activities.
Advocare has been busy, too. Getting a few fresh new items for Spring, and getting ready for swimsuit weather!
The latest new product is Strawberry Slam! We still have LemonAid, Power Punch and Octane Orange available.
Also, the current special - buy 2 bottles of ThermoPlus for just $54.
All the other stuff? Gotta download some pics, then I'll tell that story.
It happened again - while I was talking with a woman who was telling me about a great salad that is part of her new weight loss & fitness plan. She wants to lose about 50 pounds. "Oh but you're so fit," she says, "you don't need to worry about this stuff." I just smiled and said "Thank you."
Should I have told her? That I lost 35 pounds the hard way. That I have cancer, started chemo and was so sick that I couldn't eat and when I did it just came right back up.
I've gained alot of it back. I am really conscious of what I eat and work hard at putting the weight back on with healthy calories.
At times, there's a brief moment there when I want to be offended. But then I realize how crazy that is and this person, bless her heart, is just trying to be nice and is really proud of being able to accomplish her weight loss goals and I don't need to bring her down by launching into my story.
So I just say "Thank you." It's kinda like when people ask how I'm doing and I say "Fine, thanks for asking."
Cutting off my hair!
It wasn't as traumatic as I thought.
Having Brian and Abby cut it, and having cousin Kimmee and Sarah there actually made it fun.
Have been wonderful. They have kept my garden lovely. Actually, it looks better than ever. They bring me homemade soups and casseroles and watch Abby when I have to run a quick errand. One woman even cut my hair so that it will not be so weird when it starts to fall out.
Today, a couple of them showed up with a fabulous card that had been signed by just about everyone in our complex. In the envelope with the card was an incredible amount of cash.
Where will I ever find the words to say "Thank You" or express how that makes me feel. Brian & I are just blown away by the genuine good spirit and generosity of the people around us.
Keeping this blog updated is not easy for me. I love to write, but it comes in spurts. My wonderful husband on the other hand is a fabulous writer - everyday. I have gotten replies to some of the email updates that he has sent out. Interesting to see what he has sent. It's his perspective on this whole thing. He's a journalist, so the facts are of course accurate, but at the same time personal.
This is the email he sent out after my chemo:
Teresa went to the Ben & Julie Rogers Cancer Center in Beaumont on Thursday. Our doctor told us some disturbing news. Teresa has Stage 4 advanced ovarian cancer. He told us the cancer has spread beyond the uterus and is serious. However, it is treatable and the prognosis is still positive. To underscore the diagnosis, they started her on chemo immediately after the consultation so we spent the day with Teresa undergoing an IV drip. We return tomorrow for a bone marrow injection to stimulate good cell production. She will undergo two more 6 - 8 hour IV drips, one every 21 days and then the doctors here and at MD Anderson in Houston will consider doing her hysterectomy. They may decide to further delay it depending on her response to the chemo treatment. Please feel free to call Teresa. Your prayers and stories have done her attitude wonders and we both appreciate you all more than we can say. Abby is fine and just knows mommie is sick but the doctor will make her better. I was doing fine until trying to tell this to family members on the phone but other than that, I'm ok.
I hope to talk to you all soon. Brian
Here's the lastest:
Thanks for all your phone calls and emails... and don't stop... I think messages from all of you have meant the world to her. After her chemo treatment on Thursday, she went through everything we were warned of... Vomiting every waking moment, and horrible weakness and exhaustion. Teresa did have a friend cut her hair on Sunday. She didn't want to go through watching it fall out. And we didn't want Abby to watch that either. Many of you have asked... and yes Abby knows Teresa is sick and that she's going to the doctor to get better. A couple of our good friends here in Beaumont have included Abby in their family for a day or two at a time and it's been very much appreciated. But we're keeping her close most of the time and she's a trooper... just like her mom. I'm fine... just tired... She has answered the phone a couple of times... Our home number is at the bottom of this email. And she does check her email several times a day... I have forwarded all you have sent. It's teresa@getadvocareonline.com That's Get Advocare Online . com For those of you who don't know, she's a distribtor for that line of vitamins and supplements. Her next chemo is scheduled for Thursday, April 23. And then again 3 weeks later. That is when her doctors will decide if it's time for her hysterectomy.
Thanks for your good thoughts and prayers, Brian
See what I mean.
My Friend Kevin called me today. Kevin was on the way to the Fair and he just had to call to let me know that He is going to make sure that I get through this. Kevin told me that he's been praying for me, and this is the Message that he was supposed to deliver.
I've said it before and I'll say it over and over again, I am so thankful to have people around me who are not afraid to pray OUT LOUD.
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