The fourth treatment is over...

Hi, there.  Quite honestly, I thought I would post sooner than today, but it's been a really hard couple of weeks for us here.  After my last post, I had my third chemo treatment and then the really hard time with family as we celebrated the life of Connie!  What a really hard weekend that was for us all.  I still cannot even start to talk about her without coming to tears!  No part of me can really bear having her gone from us.

Her visitation and funeral were well attended.  So many showed their love for her and for us.  Add to the sadness of that my worst days of my chemo and it was really a hard time for me.  I am truly trying to dwell on the happy times we had and picture her laughing and having fun with us.  I am so very glad we four sisters went on the riverboat trip with Dad last fall.  What wonderful memories we have of that!  Look at us laughing here!  We always said we'd be heartbroken when one of the four of us passed, we just never thought it would be so soon!  I've come to realize that you are never ready to give up one you love!

So I haven't posted to this blog since loosing Connie!

I did have a good week after that, physically.  I was able to go to three Christmas lunches/suppers with friends.  My wonderful friend Ginny knitted me this beautiful toboggan and I found a scarf that just matches to wrap around it.  I will enjoy the toboggan all winter!

                                     
This past week my sister-in-law Mary Ann came to be with me and to take me to my last "ugly" treatment.  I call these first four treatments that because they are supposed to be the roughest ones!  I got that over on Thursday and had my follow-up shot on Friday.  I hated to see Mary Ann leave on Saturday!!  I always enjoy having her with us!  But Saturday and Sunday were my "hard" days when I just wanted to rest, so I took it easy.  Today (Monday) I am feeling somewhat stronger.

I get a three week break and start on the next drug Taxol on 1/2/15.  That happens to be Frank's and my anniversary, so not the way of choice to spend our anniversary.  I will have 12 these treatments, one each week.  Am not looking forward to that except that it moves me along on the journey of healing to the end of all this.

Again with our loss, our church family and friends have been remarkable and have covered us with love and caring.  I continue to be amazed at how wonderfully people are there to comfort us.  Frank and I could not do this alone!  So thank you to all of you for your many ways you surround us with love!

Have the merriest of Christmases this year.  Ours will surely be different and not as merry, but we will think happy thoughts.  I will be back with you at New Years!
Love to all, Laura

Devastated....

I had hoped to post a happy message about my trip with Dad and Cynthia to Pigeon Forge last week.  But life has a way of changing our plans sometimes.

My sweet, sweet older sister Connie Fowler passed away suddenly yesterday and the whole world changed.  We remaining 3 sisters and our whole family, her children, Dad, all of us are just devastated.  It was so sudden!  Connie had a heart attack on Saturday and was in the hospital until Monday afternoon when they let her go home.  She had 100% blockage in one small vein/artery and they said most people do fine with that one as it was in an inoperable spot.  I talked to her about 1:00 yesterday and she seemed fine, and sounded so much better than she had on Monday.  I am not sure what happened, but she had an episode and they called the rescue squad and apparently they were unable to revive her.  Connie was only 70 years old!

I don't know alot of plans yet and will find out more today.  My heart goes out to her two daughters and her son and to her husband. Connie was the sole caregiver to Billy and he is unable to live/stay alone.  All of our hearts are broken!!  How can we go on without her???  This has sure been a fall with so much for us to endure in our family.

I have my third chemo treatment today and have my white blood cell shot on Friday, so I am unable to go be with my family for comfort until Friday afternoon.  I am just glad they moved my treatment up to today from Friday!  God's hand in things, I suppose.

I did find out yesterday the results of Monday's ultrasound on my thyroids.  I have several small growths on my parathyroids and they are referring me to a endocrinologist but we will not do anything (biopsy, etc.) until after my chemo ends in March.

Oh, me, life has dealt us some hard times to endure this fall.  With the love and support of friends, my family will get through this, but life as we knowit will NEVER bet the same.  Everytime my three sisters and I have gotten together since our mom died in 1981, Connie has insisted we take a "sisters picture."  Every Christmas the children had to wait to open their gifts until we took "the sisters picture."  At every child's wedding, the professional photographer had to take a "sisters picture."   It became a family joke, but still we set aside time to take that shot.  Now we treasure those wonderful pictures of us!  One Christmas Connie gave us all a "sisters photo album" and we all keep our sisters pictures in that.  Well, I started mine with pictures of when there were just the two of us, me and her, then added a shot of Becky with us and my third picture in my book is one when Cynthia joined us.  I wish I had time and room to post some of those MANY pictures in my collection.  Maybe in another entry.  We sisters have always said we did not know what we would do when one of us passed and there were just 3 of us.  Well, that time has come and we cannot believe it. We cannot bear it!

I pray for Connie's children and grandchildren.  She has had so much fun this fall shopping for their Christmas gifts, trying to select just the perfect gift for each one.  She's written to us sisters each time she got another gift that she felt was just right for one of her grandchildren.  Theirs will be such a sad Christmas this year as they open those gifts. 

Thank you for your prayers for my family during this time, and for me as I have yet another chemo treatment today.
Love to you all, Laura

It's all gone!

Just as Linda, our nurse practitioner, predicted, my hair started coming out in earnest Saturday and yesterday, days 17 and 18.  Today I was so bothered by all the hair falling out when I washed and dried my hair, that I told Frank it was TIME to do the buzz cut.  We decided not to shave my head, as I am supposed to avoid any nicks and cuts to my body (for fear of bacteria entering and settling in my port).  Frank used our clippers we use on our little Gabby and he did a good job of cutting me to the scalp!  I do not have a picture to share (didn't want to scare you!) but I'm OK with the almost bald head.  Frank says I have a "pretty head".  Me, I'm not to sure, but it is what it is.  It had to be done and would all go eventually anyway.

I have been wearing hats all morning around the house, to get used to a hat on my head.  These of course do not match my top, but here are two hats I am trying to get used to wearing.

 This one is my favorite.  I will have to learn how to shape it when I wear it, but I love the tweed color.

Honestly I think I'll probably go around here bald a lot of the time unless my head gets cold.   I slept in my Survivor buff and really liked the feel of it, so I'll probably use that a lot, too.

So the story goes on.  Was I upset to clip off all my hair?  No, not really.  Did I cry? Definitely not.  I know that is part of what these drugs to when they are healing my body.

Oh, on another note:  Linda (NP) found in my last blood test that my parathyroid hormone was almost triple what it should be.  So next Monday, I am going in for an ultrasound of my throat to see if there is something there.  Linda predicted I could have a benign tumor, but you never know.  I am glad they are checking everything about me to get it all fixed at one time!!  Will keep you posted on what that ultrasounds shows (or does not show).
Smiles, Laura

I felt yucky!

Well, the second treatment is over and I'm sorry I did not post sooner.  I was busy Friday morning and after that I just felt to yucky to write up an entry! 

My wonderful friend Mimi drove me to the second treatment and stayed with me. This one took longer as they were busy and the nurse could not get to us for almost an hour!!  I did not like having to sit and wait so long!

Here are Mimi and I during the treatment:
All hooked up and starting the saline in this shot.

 Here I am taking the red medication.  You can see if in the line going into me.  It's one of the "bad" drugs, but hopefully will kill the cancer cells.

 Here's friend Mimi keeping me company and cheered up during the treatment. We had a great time talking and catching up!

 I decided I would make little "thank you" boxes for those friends who drive me to treatments.  This is the first one and Mimi got it!  (I need to make sister Becky one, too, since she also drove me.) 

 Here is a side view with a little HOPE ribbon and Thank you on the tag.  I have some special candies I love inside. 

Our wonderful friends Dave and Susan brought over delicious lasagna for supper the night of my treatment.  We have so many friends who are caring for us and it means the world to us. 

I have two more of the treatments with these "heavy duty" drugs to go, then I'll have 12 weekly treatments with another drug.  But I am learning that I need to plan on having day 2 and 3 be "down days" for me.  Saturday all I did was lay on the bed and watch Hallmark Christmas movies.  They are so sweet and a nice way to pass time when one feels yucky!

This morning I feel better and will probably be 100% tomorrow.  I am going to Pigeon Forge on Tuesday - Thursday this week with my 94-year-old dad and my sister Cynthia, so I am looking forward to that.  Glad I'll be feeling better!
Smiles, Laura

Ready for Round 2

In a few minutes I leave for round 2 of my chemo treatments.  I know what to expect this time and am again ready for this.  The last two weeks have been good ones for me, for us.  Our "chemo coach" Linda said, "as the first treatment goes, so goes the rest of them" and she thought it was a good sign that I have not gotten nauseated nor had any bone pains.  We are delighted that I have only had a couple of days of feeling "wilted" and lacked energy.  The other days have been good ones, so I pray that continues, although I realize the treatments are cumulative and the fatigue could increase.  For now, I'm enjoying the good days. 

Tomorrow is day 15 and my hair is beginning to fall out.  No, not in big clumps yet, but many, many individual hairs as I wash and brush my hair--50 or so this morning dropped in my lap as I dried my hair.  I am enjoying this shorter "do."  I'll wear it like it is while there is enough there. Then Frank will give me a "buzz" cut with Gabby's clippers.  He sort of waiting to do that.  Humm...  Could it be that he's TOO eager to buzz me?  Ha!  He said if losing my hair is the worst thing we have to endure, that's gravy.  (Easy for him to say, he has all his hair.  Ha!  But honestly I don't think I'm worried about it.)

Our friends and family continue to surround us with their prayers, cards, love and devotion!  I have had 3 couples offer to bring dinner to us tonight.  Dave and Susan are bringing us lasagna.  Yummy!  What a wonderful blessing our friends are!!!  The only tears I shed now are when friends send me such sweet, sweet messages in emails or in cards and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for these wonderful people surrounding us with their love!

My friend Mimi is driving me to chemo today.  So many other friends says they "want to take a turn" that I guess we will have to set up a schedule.  I look forward to the times to visit with them each individually while the chemo drains in. 

I'll post again tonight or after my shot tomorrow afternoon.   I'm ready for Round 2 and can handle it!!!
Smiles, Laura

Hair and contemplating the lack of it....

Just like Dr. H. and his nurse told me earlier, our Nurse Practitioner Linda has told me I WILL loose my hair and I am OK with that.  I want my life saved, who cares if the hair is saved or not!!  All my friends who love me will just have to get used to seeing me with shorter or no hair or in a hat or cap.

I had a regularly schedule hair trim on October 17 and decided to let Shelly go ahead and cut my hair very short, so folks at church could start getting used to seeing me like that.  Here I am before that cut:

Here are Shelly and I right before she cut it.  (We aren't too good at selfies, but you get the idea.)  I know, I know, Frank says it is not that much shorter than before, but to me it was a big change, but you know, I like it shorter. 

This shot is of me the next day when I fixed the shorter "do" myself.  I kind of like it. Even after my hair comes back, I might keep it rather short.

Linda (NP) says I WILL loose my hair by day 15.  She's done her job for 30 years and with these drugs I'm taking, you always loose your hair.  Do I worry about that?  Honestly, no.  But you may hear differently from me after I have lost it all.  But I feel my hair does not define me. We'll see when the time comes.

One of the things I wanted Becky and I to do while she was here was to try on some hats and decide which I'd wear. I had some winter hats on hand from when I had my hair short once before years ago.  Shelly also sent me to a local store where they had some hats deep enough to cover all of a bald head.  And I had ordered some online from a place that specializes in hats for cancer patients  So Saturday morning, Becky and I spent the morning trying on and deciding which to return, which I'd keep, etc.  Here are some shots:

 My great Forest Service friend Kris Connor made this toboggan (below) and mailed it to me and I LOVE it!!  Isn't it the cutest!  Just matches my eyes.  She's such a jewel of a friend!  (I could never make it without my friends!!)  I will wear this one ALOT!!

 Here are a couple more hats:

Becky even got in the act with me and tried one herself. She liked it and said she might start wearing hats too.

There is some hair sticking out around the sides of the hat that will not be there eventually.  I tried to select hats in different colors to go with different color outfits I will wear.  I have some other hats I plan to wear scarves with.  One thing you do notice when you contemplate losing your hair and see these pictures is that a SMILE is very necessary for any look!!  I hope a smile will detract others from the hats and help them focus on ME. 
Smiles, Laura

The First Chemo treatment....

I am late writing this entry because Becky was here with me and I didn't want to stay on the computer writing it; nor did I really have time to download pictures for the entry.  I think it is better when you can see pictures to go with the entry. 

Here are shots of me as we entered the Hope Center on October 30 for the first chemo treatment. Becky and I could not resist taking a selfie! 

Becky liked seeing the Hope Center and it helped her to deal with my cancer.  The unknown is the hardest part of anything, so she had been so worried and sad about me and my cancer.  Her being there with me helped me and her.  

Here is a shot of the room and other ladies having treatments.  One girl was having her last one and they celebrated that.  It is a large, bright, airy room and the nurses are SOOO nice to you.

OK, time to start my treatment.  Here is one nurse putting in the first line into my port.

I guess the mask was to insure we did not get any infection into the port.  After bags of saline, anti-nausea drugs, and a couple of other things, they started my first of two chemo medications.  This one was red, so since it was Halloween-eve, I called it Dracula Blood. Figured I might as well have some fun with this. 

 I don't know what I expected it to "feel" like.  I thought it might be very warm, almost hot.  Or it could be very cold, I just didn't know.  Well, it was neither.  It just ran in.  I thought it might make you sleepy as it went in because you have to have a driver to drive you home.  It did not.  Becky and I were able to talk and visit or read mails, etc. while I had the treatment.  Here I am just sitting while the drugs enter my body.  You can see the port and line going it.

 So the day was different from what I expected.  I felt good afterwards and Becky and I went to lunch and then stopped at a local shoe store to try on some shoes.  There it is; the first treatment is over!!  Three of these to go, then I start on another medication.  Whew!  We are still standing!
Laura

Buckle your seat belts---today's the day....

Well the day is here for my first chemo treatment.  I am trying to catch this blog up to today, since I started it late.  I did notice my other entries say I posted them at 2:00 am, so I need to adjust the time zone being used.  I did not wake up at 2:00!  It is 5:00 when I am writing this.  And I slept good, worry free, knowing I'm ready for today, safe in God's hands---and those of the wonderful people He has sent me to for care.

I am aware that just as things for me have been changing the last few weeks, they change dramatically today with this first treatment.  I am anxious to see how my body reacts.  Many people are having chemo and working full time, so I am sure "I've got this!"  Frank has decided not to go with us and that's fine with me.  He will have many more times.  I am so comforted that Becky, my other sister, is here with me.  She's so upbeat and talkative and cheerful.  I'll post back this afternoon to document how it went today.

I continue to get so many sweet, sweet cards in the mail and very caring emails and texts sending prayers and warm and loving thoughts.  Just before I went to sleep last night, i got emails from friends Al and Ellen, Lee and Margaret, and Linda and Larry, all telling me they are with me in spirit today.  My pastor Ann called to check on me and I got a text from my son---all very comforting.  My niece Leigh started a prayer chain on Facebook last night and so MANY folks were joining in prayers for me.  My niece Carol sent me the sweetest book in yesterday's mail that I just peeped into and it will be so good to read.  I can't wait to get started.  My niece Jean and her 4 precious children are wearing pink bracelets for me.  So much love and support!

I sent Jessica, Dillon, and Meg bracelets to wear and Dillon's is blue, rather than pink, and says, Fight Like a Girl.  Ha!  I figured even a high school junior boy can wear a bracelet like that.  I sent my sweet 94-year-old dad a pink bracelet asking him to wear it today and then if he wanted he could lay it up on his chest.  He said he put it on immediately upon opening the package and will wear it through this battle.  His only complaint was it is coming up on winter and with wearing long sleeves, others will not see it to also support me.  What an absolute treasure it has been to have my dad with us for all these years.  He is one of the most positive people you will ever meet!  How can you be so upbeat and positive at 94!!!  What a role model he is for us.

Well, buckle your seat belts---we're in for a long and bumpy ride and it starts today!  Whoa, Nellie!  I'm in the saddle, ready to go!  (I know, seat belts and saddles do not really go together, but it reads well,  Ha!)
Laura

I'm I making too big a deal of this?

You know, some days I wonder if I am making too big a deal of this cancer thing.  SO MANY others have gone through this, worse cancer than I have.  Did it seem such a big deal to them?  I cannot guess what others feel or think.  I just know that to me it was a BLOW that I am still coming to terms with.

I have always been a strong woman, able to handle just about anything.  We have had troubles in our lives--I've been through a divorce and had to learn to live alone, take care of my self and my son.  I moved to a new town/new job alone and did not know anyone and did fine.  Frank and I lost two babies through miscarriages--two precious children we wanted.  I've had broken bones from falls and emergency surgeries to repair me.  Three years ago Frank had a sub-arachnoid hemorrhage and we dealt with that.  You all have had troubles, health issues, too, I know an we deal with them.  I have always felt that I could deal with anything. 

So why does this cancer seem like such a big deal to me?  Because all those other things (except for Frank's hemorrhage) I knew we'd get through--to me they were not life-threatening.  But to me this one (and Frank's hemorrhage) were life threatening.

Background:  my mother died of breast cancer at age 57--when I was a young woman.  Her cancer came up suddenly like this seems to have in me, and she too had chemo and radiation, and passed away after only 15 months.  I am 10 years older than she was, but gee, I guess I'm worrying what it that happens to me.  I'm not ready yet!  God, I'm not ready yet.  So seeing what happened to Mother has made me worry more and make a bigger deal of this.

But then we KNOW they have made huge advances in cancer treatment since 1981!  So I have faith that this will be cured and I will have MANY more years to come.  But you can see why I think this is a big deal!  I am ready for the chemo this week!! Ready to be sure no tumors grow anywhere else in my body.  Ready for the rest of my life!

After my echo cardiogram yesterday, Frank and I met with a Nurse Practitioner yesterday at Hope and she told us so much about my upcoming treatments and what to expect.  It was mind boggling.  She also gave me 4 or 5 prescriptions to take at various times and for various things.  She told me what to eat, what NOT to eat, how much water I had to drink each day, how frequently to wash out my mouth to avoid mouth sores, and much more.  When I got home, it was such a blur to try to remember it all and keep it straight.  I hope I have taken the right medications I am supposed to before my treatment today!!

The port is in...

I say that almost like the jury is in.  Gee, Tuesday's was another surgery to implant the port that will be used to deliver my "chemo cocktail" each time.  I am choosing that name for my meds because I want to be positive about it.  My mother used to call her chemo her "poison" and I never liked that term.  While it does poison the cancer cells, it is a life giver to me, healing me of those awful cells.  So I will call it my chemo cocktail.

Back to the port--I had heard from two people that this surgery was a "piece if cake".  Well maybe for some and maybe after it heals, but for today, this baby hurts and is very uncomfortable!  It is under the skin on your chest where a pacemaker goes.  It will be great for drawing blood and giving meds or delivering chemo.  Maybe it will feel better when the swelling goes down, then it might be fine.  But today I think it is a big adjustment for me.  It hurts!

Here are Frank and I before the surgery.  I suggested another "selfie" like we did last surgery, but he didn't want to do one.  So there's one of me (they let you wear NO makeup so you may never see me like this again!) and one of him contemplating the upcoming surgery.

This surgery was an easier transition for me from the operating room to the recovery room.  Maybe because I was not into so deep a sleep with this one.  Maybe because it was not so busy and noisy in the recovery room.  I can't say I remember a lot of the recovery room but was most aware that  she brought Frank to me and he was with me as she took me down to the discharge area.  But I remember crying as she took me on the elevator and wheeled me down.  The nurse asked me if I was all right, and I was, and honestly do not know why I was crying, except that I was so sad that all of this was happening to me--that it happens to so many of us.  How can your life be just clicking along one day, with you doing what you want, living the happy life, and suddenly be derailed by something in your body that you basically did nothing to cause!

I think about all the expense of this cancer battle and praise God I have wonderful insurance---but what do people do who don't have any or not very good  insurance. I so wish every person could have peace of mind about medical bills when they are going through a traumatic illness that occupies their minds.  I also think of all the people it takes to wage this cancer war with you.  And I am just starting.   So I cried for whatever reason as I was taken to dress and be released.

I was melancholy for the rest if the day, uncomfortable with the new port, and wondering how I will stand it in my body for 6 or so months.  But I am blessed to have it.  Mixed emotions.

Friends hold lanterns of love...

From the moment I was scheduled for my biopsy, friends and family have been with me all the way.  Friends were asking, what were the biopsy results?  Have you heard anything yet?  From the moment my doctor called to tell me it was indeed cancer, my friends and family have surrounded me with love and good thoughts. Friends Meg, Margaret and Lee sat so many hours with Frank during my surgery and waited to see me afterwards.  It was such a comfort to him.

I have received so many cards you would not believe it!!  Since I make cards myself,  I am aware how it cheers a person to get a card in the mail.  Daily my mailbox has been filled with cards from so many loving friends.  They write the sweetest messages to me that I sometimes sit and cry as I read them, but I feel the love they carry with them and it's a cleansing cry. 

Friends check with me to see how I'm doing--from the moment of my lumpectomy surgery to the present--I get so many calls and emails.  I've heard from co-workers that I haven't seen since I retired but they are emailing to see how I'm doing.  My friend Mimi has emailed me a Bible verse every week and has called so faithfully. 

Friends have brought so many delicious meals to us!  Great soups, casseroles, pot roasts!  Our wonderful flock brought a huge, delicious meal to us, enough to share and have several meals. Now Frank can cook and at first he'd tell folks, no, don't bring us food.  But I reminded him our friends are dealing with this cancer diagnosis, too.  When a friend hurts, you hurt, too, and want to do SOMETHING to help them and you deal with it--and to show the person how much you love them.  Our friends are dealing with this by ministering to us.    I honestly don't know what I'd do without our friends!!

My family-- my 94-year-old dad and two of my sisters and one BIL--came up from SC to visit after my surgery and to offer support.  My other sister is coming up to go to my first chemo treatment with me and Frank.  How comforting to have family caring for you.

Flowers, my goodness, friends have brought flowers.  My lovely step-MIL Edna even had a miniature rose bush mailed to me (she's in CA) to cheer me and it really does--every day.

My friend Ginny stepped up and taught my stamp class for me two days after my surgery. She has never done it, but she did that day and did a GREAT job.  Then she brought lunch to Frank and me.  What a special friend to take the weight of my stamping classes off me at that time.  And many of my other stampers also have offered to help prepare for classes and to hold classes.  We will get through this together. 

I've received two books to read from a friend and from my sister Connie.  And my sisters have searched online for me to find becoming hats I can wear when I loose my hair.  Ah, sisters are wonderful.

I could go on reciting ways our friends are in this with us.  In so many ways, I am reminded that none of us is in this world alone! And we do not have to handle troubles alone.  We have to be open to share when we are afraid or down so these friends can pick us up.   To me, it's like Frank and I are starting into this tunnel.  We do not know the way, how it will affect us, what to expect, and we cannot see the end yet.  I feel our friends and family are with us, holding up lanterns of love to light our way.  We are not alone; you are all with us on this journey.

And so we begin....

On September 16, I got the call from my doctor that no one ever wants to get.  It was to tell me I had breast cancer.  It had shown up on a recent routine annual mammogram and again on a recheck mammogram and ultra sound and he had sent me for a biopsy.  The pathology report was in and it was definitely cancer.   What a BLOW to get this news.  If you have had breast cancer, you know what I mean.  If you have not, I hope you never feel this impact.  It was like a blow to the stomach with a big fist!!     My doctor referred me to the Hope Center in Asheville and they scheduled surgery for a lumpectomy.  They thought the lump was small and they had caught it fairly soon, so we were all hopeful.  Maybe I would not even have to have chemo!!  Not!

The lumpectomy was on September 30--the day before Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) begins on October 1.  How ironic that this all began for me during BCAM!  Here is a selfie I took of Frank and me right before they took me in to surgery.  Note the lovely gown and cap I'm wearing!  We are smiling but actually we were scared to death.

After surgery the doctor told Frank he had to take many more lymph nodes than he had expected and that told me the news would not be good.  And my much-larger-than-expected incision also told me not to expect good news.

When the pathology report was in, we found the tumor mass was much larger than anticipated and of the 22 nodes removed, 15 were "involved" so I knew we were in for a big battle.  It is Stage 3C cancer!  Before we start chemo, the oncologist (my very nice doctor Blair Harkness who I will probably refer to as "Dr. H.") wanted to do a CT scan to see if I had tumors anywhere else in my body.  WHAT???  This really had me worried.  I guess I had never thought other places and organs might be affected.  I have been coughing alot more lately, have pain under my left shoulder blade frequently in recent months, and was worried sick they'd find more cancer.   The nurse said the doctor might also want to do more surgery on my breast to remove more tissue!  Again, WHAT!!!

So before our meeting with Dr. H., I had a CT scan.  When Frank and I met with Dr. H., we were holding our breaths to see what he'd tell us.  The good news was no more surgery.  And the other good news was that there were no tumors in other areas of my body.  Who ever thought one would be happy to hear you have Stage 3C cancer--but so much better than Stage 4!!

Dr. H. said I will have 5 months of chemo, followed by 3 or 4 months of radiation, followed by hormone therapy.  A long haul ahead of us--almost a year of treatments!  I have my first chemo treatment on Thursday, October 30.  But I'm ready for it now--mentally ready to start this battle we HAVE to win!

All this background to say where we are today.  I'll fill in more blanks with subsequent entries.

But I want to explain the name I chose for this blog---Safe on the Mountains.   I grew up in SC, but have spent all my adult life in the mountains of western NC.   If you know me, you know Frank and I  live on Silver Creek, in a little cove which we enjoy, and we live with nature all around us-trees, wild turkeys in the spring, deer in the fall and winter.  It is a really special place and one that makes us happy with your life. 

 If you've visited my other stamping blog, Smileslaura, you have heard me talk about our mountains and seen pictures of things around our house. I love the mountains!!

Recently in Sunday School at our church, one of the scriptures referenced was Habakkuk 3:16-18.  In the Good News Bible, it reads like this:
"I will still be joyful and glad, because the Lord God is my savior.  The Sovereign Lord gives me strength.  He makes me sure-footed as a deer and keeps me safe on the mountains."
I have always felt safe on the mountain where we live, even thought we are back off the state road with only one way in and out.  So this verse just spoke to me.  I know I have cancer in my body, but I KNOW God will give me strength for the journey ahead.  He will keep me safe on the mountain until He is ready for me to be with him.

I hope you will follow my journey.  I will try to post as often as I can and will write updates after various treatments and stages I go through.  I have had several friends say I should journal or post to Caring Bridge, but this blog will be my journal.  You can sign up to have messages delivered to your inbox whenever I post an entry, so you won't have to check it every day. 

Come walk this treatment journey with me....