For those of you who have been following me on my journey through surviving Breast Cancer, thank you. For those of you who are here for the first time, welcome !
In an attempt to bring awareness to the importance of early detection, my goal is to post something about Breast Cancer every day the month of October. This post is near and dear to me because the faces above are just a few of the people who made up my support group.
The photos were taken after I had just returned from Tulsa for my last, my very last radiation treatment of which there were FORTY-FIVE and my four chemotherapy treatments prior to that during the summer. This Hat Party was a total surprise for me. I walked into my house to find it full of friends and family all wearing my hats and wigs. The party was hosted by my next-door-neighbor, Jodi, who had 'broken into' my house, (she actually had a key). All the guests had donned an array of my head gear and greeted me at the door.
Let me identify the Madhatters: (bottom row left to right)
1. Peg - fellow middle school teacher
2. Bill - one of my middle school principals
3. Karole - parent of former student
4. Me
5. June - my daughter's 4th grade teacher (She showed up everyday to my classroom in case I couldn't make it through the day.)
Top Row left to right
6. Jodi - the next door neighbor who had a key to my house. Let everyone in and handed out my hats and wigs for everyone to wear.
7. MarshaMarshaMarsha - fellow middle school teacher
8. Gee - Yes, that's Pioneer Woman's mom
9. Margaret - fellow elementary school teacher
10. Virginia - good friend and also a teacher in a different school district
Several of my nurses and techs drove up from Tulsa to be a part of the celebration. Not everyone who was there is pictured, but this should give an idea of how much fun we had that day.
A quick synopsis in fragmented sentences:
Diagnosed in March with aggressive Breast Cancer just before spring break during divorce proceedings. Surgery and chemotherapy immediately. Spent the summer in a chemical comatose state. My last chemo was administered in the hospital just a few weeks before school started. I remember Dr. Schneitzer saying as I lay on the bed with tubes and wires radiating out of my body, "We are taking you to the edge of death." Those words still reverberate in my head. Lost all my hair and about fifteen pounds. When I say all my hair, I mean ALL my hair including eyelashes and eyebrows! The ones you see in the picture are painted on. Never lost my spirit or will to live. Was pushed and pulled through this by a wonderful support system. My two daughters were the bright light of m.y.e.v.e.r.y.d.a.y. Sometimes I learned that the light at the end of my tunnel was a train. Found that laughing was the best medicine. Began the school year in a very weakened state. Classroom was on third floor. Many mornings a fellow teacher, Mr. Forrest, would carry me up them. We laughed all the way to the top. My students would cheer when he sat me in my chair. My radiation treatments would also be in Tulsa. About a 50 minute drive to the hospital. That meant I needed to leave my last hour class about 20 minutes early. My principal scheduled someone to come in every day to cover for me. (June, the lady pictured above, came every morning just to make sure I made it through the morning classes.) My youngest daughter would leave school with me. When we arrived at the house, someone would be waiting in the driveway to take us to Tulsa. I really wasn't in any condition to drive that far. Upon arriving home, my oldest daughter would have things in order on the days she didn't have a tennis match, tennis practice or was working.
After my last, very last radiation treatment, I walked into my house and found it full of friends and family. All donning my hats and wigs. They were there to celebrate with me the end of a very long bout of treatments. There were hills and valleys. Smiles and tears and fears.
I guess this post is just to say, "THANK YOU," to all those who were a part of my support system which includes all my docs, nurses, techs, etc. I don't know where they all are these days but the love they bestowed upon me still glows in my heart.
A special, "THANK YOU," to my two aunts, Lena and Sue, and their families who never let go of me.
A very special, "THANK YOU," to my two daughters who played such a significant part of my survival. They provided me my will to live. They are my heroes. They are still my rock. I learn from them everyday.
This post is to reach out with a hug to all of you who have been touched in some way by Breast Cancer.
This post is to also stress the importance of EARLY DETECTION. One of my doctors said, "Three months later, and there would have not been much of a chance to save you." I found the b-b-sized lump during a self-exam.
I enjoy sunrise skies like this one. . .
. . . the light at the end of my tunnel...and I am thankful for it everyday, because of Early Detection and a wonderful Support Group of family and friends.
