In the past two months I have had several people reach out to me for support, insight or advice regarding cancer and treatment. It occurred to me, as I sent them a link to this blog that I haven’t provided an update in a long time. I’m happy to share that I am now 6 1/2 years cancer free and alive and doing well!
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| 40th Birthday trip to Playa Del Carmen!!! |
This past year of life has been one of finally breathing and continuing to focus on health and enjoying each day! My word for 2017 was “abundant” - I wanted to focus on being able to live fully and appreciating the daily motions as a mom and wife. With breast cancer 6+ years behind me, and a perfectly clear breast MRI last year, I have finally found myself not thinking about cancer as much as I used to and not dwelling on the fears that have trapped me in the past.
I have continued to focus on finding balance in my health - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. They all really do all go hand in hand and I continue to discover how important it is to care for the many dimensions of who the Lord created me uniquely to be. It can be a lot of work to nurture all sides of yourself... but it is certainly so well worth the effort.
With the help of a friend (free counseling session), I did have a breakthrough with my mental/emotional journey this year. She helped me realize that there was some suppressed grief from the cancer journey that had been sneaking up on me every once in a while. Grief of losing the option of having more children, grief of not enjoying my daughter when she was such a tiny, sweet baby and even grief for the loss of innocence and the reality of mortality. She also helped me process my survivors guilt… which is still something that I struggle with. Nobody ever told me that this side of treatment would be so intense… but I suppose one should expect a lifelong journey after you have had a life altering event that forever changes the way you look at the world and your purpose in it.
If you are reading this blog as a fellow patient/FIGHTER and are searching for hope in your cancer fight, it is my prayer that I can breathe a little bit of peace, hope and encouragement into your sails. My friend, we each have a unique journey, may you bloom and live an abundant life all of the rest of your days!
God Bless.
Here's some pics from a "Year of Abundance"... I'm thinking I knocked that goal out of the park!
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| My mom, who is also a TNBC survivor of 5 years, hiking the Donnor Pass. |
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| 6 1/2 year CLEAN mammogram result! |
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| Celebrating life in Maui, Hawaii July 2017 |
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| 15 year anniversary dinner in Maui |
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| Daddy baptized both of our children |
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| Bike ride with my unicorn |
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| Chaperoning 5th grade camp with my young man |
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| Week with my family at Donnor Lake, Tahoe National Park |