Five Years Cancer Free!

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  – Philippians 4:6.

It is hard to believe it has been five years since I received the news that I had stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer.  Some days it seems like a lifetime ago and some days a memory will remind me of something from that year of treatments and surgeries and it seems like yesterday.   

For those of you who are new to my blog, a quick recap:  

• In February 2020, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, had numerous tests, and surgery to put in a port.
• March started the first of 16 rounds of chemo
• August completed my chemo, the 16th and final round
• September brought a double mastectomy
• October started months and countless hours of physical therapy so I could raise my arm up in the air (I had a condition that can occur after surgery called cording).
• November and December brought 30 rounds of radiation
• December brought surgery to remove the port
• March 2021 brought reconstruction surgery
• Then, more physical therapy, until…
• September 2021 – I was finally released from physical therapy with almost full mobility.   

Also complicating all of this was the fact that it happened during the COVID pandemic, meaning all my treatments and surgeries were done in a mask, and all alone.  

But God is so Good!   The team that helped with every step of my treatment was so committed during such an uncertain time in the world, making so many sacrifices, all so I and many others could get the treatment and care we needed.  I am forever grateful to them and their selfless giving.   Chemo really knocked me down and it did take about 2 years to return to full health – oh, and grow my hair back to a good length.   (side note: when all your unhealthy overprocessed hair falls out, the new hair that grows back is SO healthy)

Once everything got back to normal, life has been great!  My health is great!  My family is great!    

I just ran (well, now I mostly walk) my 13th princess half marathon.  This is so special, because three days after the initial phone call that I had cancer in my breast and lymph nodes I ran in the Princess Half Marathon.  It was a race filled with many emotions and a definite fear that I might not be around to run at 5 years.  But here I am, and it was a fun celebration of how amazing it is to be alive.   

My family is doing great.  Chris is still the rock that holds us all together and supports me in all I do. 

Our daughter graduated from college!  Being a 2020 high school graduate, this was her first graduation ceremony.  It was a great celebration for the graduates, with firework and everything.  She is working at Disney now and is doing great.  Our middle son graduated from High School and is in college in The Big Apple – NYC.  He is living his best life!  Our youngest is a junior in high school and does marching band, plays the drums and lacrosse along with many other things.  He is loving life as the only child at home.   

It is funny how things go sometimes.  5 years ago, I thought at 5 years we would have a big party, or go on a big vacation, or maybe a cruise.  Now that it is here life is too busy right now to do any of those things and I am so grateful it is!  We will go out to dinner to celebrate when our son comes home for Spring Break next week.  But until then I am just grateful that life is so full that cancer is just a distant memory.   

While I was at Disney, I was reminded of how precious life is. I went over and met a large family that was wearing matching t shirts with yellow ribbons on them.   I talked with the mother, whose daughter had terminal cancer and they were on possibly their last trip together as a family.  The daughter looked to be a teenager and was in a wheelchair with her leg amputated.  I gave the mother a hug, prayed with her and told her I was so sad for her, and that as a mom I feel her heart.  It was a reminder of how fleeting life can be and to live it to the fullest.  Cancer takes so many beautiful people.  I am so grateful to be here today.  

My health is great, and my family is great, but there is an air of uncertainty here in the DC area with so many worried about losing their jobs.  It is a stress looming over our family as well.  So, it is a great time to bring back the verse that my family put up all over our house in 2020.  We all memorized it and at times repeated it over and over.  At other times we clung to it like a lifeline.  The amazing thing about scripture is that the message is the same today as it was 5 years ago, and as it was when it was first written.  If your or your family are going through a tough time, I hope this verse can be one of comfort like it was and continues to be for us.   

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  – Philippians 4:6.

I love this verse because it does not say God will take it all away.   It says He will give you peace and guard your hearts and minds.  As we all know, guarding our minds is so hard, especially in the middle of the night.  So when you get overwhelmed, say this verse, thank God for all you have, pray for peace, and give your problems over to God.  He loves you and wants to give you peace, that is one of the reasons He sent His son to die on the cross for us.   

God is Good… All the time.   

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog – we love you all.  Thank you for the friendships and support over the years.  We are so grateful for you all!