I'm free!!!!!

This is a long overdue update for everyone.  I tried not to post over the last several weeks because there really wasn't much to post.  But....

An exciting day in my world, June 14th.  My last day of chemo, intravenous and oral.  It was a looonnnggg time coming.  A year and a half of active treatment ended that day.

Since that day I have decided to drop all

medication.  That's right, no depression/anxiety pills (although if you ask my husband.....), no neuropathy pills, no chemo pills, no nothin'.  For the first time in over two years I'm only on supplements, vitamins and the like.

This is not to say all is right in my world, not quite.  The gabapentin was doing nothing to resolve my neuropathy.  I still have chemo brain, and I suffer from occassional horrible stomach pains.  I also have episodes of feeling like I'm in a dream world or high.  While that might be fun......I don't control when it hits so sometimes driving or doing anything becomes interesting if you can imagine ;)  A brain scan was all clear so that's not it, and a plus.  We continue to hope these will all subside as my body recovers from the year and a half assault.

July 18, another very exciting and significant day.  I had a CT scan done for the finish of active treatment.  This day I officially learned it was all clear!!  NO sign of any cancer in my body!!   As a matter of fact, the spot in my lung is getting smaller.  I was about as happy as I could be sitting in the appointment room making my 3 month checkup appointment, when I heard one of the schedulers next to me giving instruction to a woman and her husband that sounded very familiar.  She was just diagnosed and starting her battle.  I had to interject when they were near done by tell her that she will be alright.  I told her it was my graduation day after a year and a half and I am well.  I gave her a hug and wished her luck.  A bittersweet day.

Now the fun stuff.  Bob and I are going to travel!!!  We are both semi retire, so we are starting what we envisioned for our retired life, just a few years early.  Doing what we can, when we can.  We are headed out to Sturgis, Florida, Las Vegas and back to Florida.  2 bike rallys, one Jason Aldean concert, and a little (very little for me) gambling.  We also decided to purchase an enclosed trailer to haul our bike (and Lola), which is also set for sleeping.  Our camping adventure begins :)

Somewhere in there we are celebrating a

wedding.  My older daughter Sydney gets married to her main man, Shawn, on September 30th.  We are excited to officially welcome him to our family!  I look forward to being a grandma some day, just NO rush.  ;)

I have also embarked on a new opportunity by becoming an Independent Consultant for L'BRI.  This is a line of Pure and Natural aloe based products that saved my skin during its worse time from chemo, especially my hands and feet.  I thank those of you that introduced me to these products.  My hope is to share them with other cancer patients (everyone else too) that are going through what I did.  The difference is amazing.  I wish I had known about them sooner, especially during radiation.  You want to gather a few friends and have mini facials call me ;)  I just spent the weekend at convention learning and learning, and a slight case of food poisoning (thanks Poto). www.lbri.com/pkuspa. Check them out!! End of pitch 😄

To try to thank all of those that have helped and supported me along the way is impossible.  But your thoughts, prayers and friendship mean the world to Bob and me.  We are going to be having a gathering at DeMarinis Denoon Saloon the end of August (between travels) to have some pizza, beverages, and laughter with whomever would like to come.  I will post the date on my Facebook when it is finalized.  A small token of appreciation to you all.

I will update this blog on a three month basis as I continue to be checked on closely by my oncology group.  One day I look forward to the yearly checkups.  My oncologist gave me target dates.  After three years from diagnosis with no reoccurrence I am put on the yearly plan, I'm at 1 year 7 months.  After 5 years from final treatment my chances of reoccurrence drop to a point of anyone elses chance of getting cancer.  4 years, 11 months to go!

For the Franklin peeps, I have read that the Franklin High School Cheerleaders are holding a car wash on August 19th, 9 am to 1 pm, at Root River with the proceeds going to one of the Franklin family, Linda and Jim Noyes, who are fighting the good fight against breast cancer.  Her fourth bout with her fourth cancer. Please take some time to stop and make the girls work a little for a very good cause.  If you can't make the carwash the contact to donate is amyweber4710@gmail.com.

And please continue to keep little Jackson in your prayers.  What a little fighter.  www.gofundme.com/anarmyforjackson

That's it folks!  We did it!!!

....and don't forget to check those boobies!!!!!