I'm on the home stretch now

Hello there to all my breast friends. It was a beautiful day today and I spent most of my afternoon outside setting up for this summer and feeling ALIVE for the first time in months. It is hard to believe that almost a full year has passed since I had my annual mammogram and a lump was discovered. And what a year it has been!. I had my last chemo 10 days ago and am SO GLAD to have all that behind me. But hey I made it ( even though there were many days over the past 5 months when I thought I wasn’t going to get through it) and on Tuesday I will embark on the second step of this journey- Radiation. I will go to cancer clinic to get my markings for the 25 radiation treatments that will begin on June 11 and end on July 13 ( by the way that’s Friday the13 and a lucky day for me!!!!).

I was so excited on the morning of my last chem and was up bright and early & ready to go. I tell you there was a spring in my step like never before. I had a great day at the hospital and all the nurses who helped me since the start dropped by to see me... it was my graduation day they said and I was touched by their genuine well wishes. My doctor wished me well and I hope I don’t ever have to be his patient on the 6^th floor again!!! I hear people complaining about the health care system all the time but I can honestly say the nurses that are in Carbonear are second to none. They never stopped for the 5-6 hours I was there each time for chemo. There were many days when they would not even stop to have a cup of tea or lunch until well after 2 in the afternoon. I hope that they all realize how much they are appreciated!!!

Well I had quite the surprise when I got home. First I found a lilac bush on my door step compliments of Denise and Yvette. Its name was "Miss Kim" and they bought to help me celebrate my last treatment.... now how sweet is that. Then when I got inside my friend Kellie had been here and dropped off a homemade chocolate cake with her mom’s butter cream and custard icing on it. Now you thinks that wasn’t delicious. Kellie is a nurse as well and has been pretty much on call for me 24-7. Like a lot of my good friends she has laughed and cried with me over the past few months. Next, all the ladies from my card club showed up with a beautiful pink rose potted plant and a pkg of my favourite squares. It was so good to have them here with me and let me tell you I am looking forward to getting back to my regular Tuesday night game of 120's with these girls. They are all grandmothers but are so young at heart and a group that have been so supportive of me & my family not just through these past few months but for the past few years....each one of them are always just a phone call away.

On Saturday Colleen came to give me my last needle that is designed to boost my immune system..... now I got to tell you I’m even more glad to have that over with....and I am pretty sure Colleen was too. Friends are priceless gifts indeed and Colleen will never really know how much it meant tome to know that she was doing this and that I never had to go back to the hospital for that each time.

The remainder of the week was a little rough on times but I kept thinking this is the LAST TIME you have to do this. On Wednesday Glenn took me out for a little drive since it was such a beautiful day. I had the window down and it was so nice to have the sun and wind in my face. For a brief moment it felt like my hair was blowing in the wind but as I put my hand up I was quickly reminded that I was bald..... a shot of reality again. But then I told myself your hair is growing back and before you know you will have a full head of hair again and you’ll be grumbling because you can’t get it to go right. In fact, it is starting to grow back and Luke keeps teasing me that it is going to grow back all grey .... but you know what there are no secrets here... it was grey before I lost it...Shelly just did a good job of covering it up. See I’m not afraid to mention that!!! I’ve also lost my eyebrows. I never ever had them professionally done because I was a wimp but I think when they come back, I’ll have them perfectly done too.
I’ve managed to find a good mastectomy bra and prosthesis ( even though it took stuffing three into one to get the right size) and now have a perky left boob again. Some funny though.... brought back memories of stuffing my bra when I was in grade seven cause I had no boobs then but all my friends did. Now I know some of you are laughing simply because you did that too!!!! Tissues won't work anymore though..You got to have the proper stuffing!!! Just before you get to the end of the pics, there is a video for you to click on. I found this on youtube and it is of a woman singing a song that she wrote for her friend who has breast cancer. It is called my breast friends and I thought it would be nice to include it... it really sums up how I feel tonight..it's a funny song and I thought it would be most appropriate to include in this blog
Anyway it’s getting late I should go to bed , got a busy day tomorrow...so until next time here’s a little laugh for you:     An older lady decided to give herself a big treat for her significant 70th birthday by staying overnight in an expensive hotel. When she checked out next morning, the desk clerk handed her a bill for$250.00. She exploded and demanded to know why the charge was so high. "It's a nice hotel but the rooms certainly aren't worth $250.00 for just an overnight stay! I didn't even have breakfast."The clerk told her that $250.00 is the 'standard rate', so she insisted on speaking to the Manager. The Manager appeared and, forewarned by the desk clerk, announced: "This hotel has an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference centre which are available for use."But I didn't use them," she said. ''Well, they are here, and you could have," explained the Manager. He went on to explain that she could also have seen one of the
in-hotel shows for which the hotel is famous. "We have the best entertainers from the world over performing here," the Manager said. "But I didn't go to any of those shows," she said. "Well, we have them, and you could have," the Manager replied. No matter what amenity the Manager mentioned, she replied, "But I didn't use it!" and the Manager countered with his standard response.
After several minutes discussion with the Manager unmoved, she decided to pay, wrote a check and gave it to him. The Manager was surprised when he looked at the check. "But madam, this check is for only $50.00." "That's correct. I charged you $200.00 for sleeping with me," she replied.
"But I didn't!" exclaims the very surprised Manager. "Well, too bad, I was here, and you could have."

My beautiful mom & me

Wearing my breast cancer necklace from Carletta
( thanks my friend)

Do I look ready for the last one

Here for the first and there for the last



Arlene & Me ( Cough & Pump your arm...hahahah)

Sisters came to visit me ... Lovely time!!

Cake from Picked out by emily from her and Luke

Me and my two treasures on Mother's Day

My daily prayer

Jaya came to visit since I couldnt make it to the prom

A philosophy we all need to live by

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The ring Luke bought me for Mother's Day... nice pink stone to represent a Breast Cancer Survivor ( now you knows I  never cried wehnI opened this... big surprise for sure)