Let me begin today with an apology for taking so long to update my blog. It is hard for me to talk about myself especially when I don't feel so good. A lot has happened since my last post--there have been many bad days but even more good days. God has been with me through them all!


Let me see if I can summarize all that has happened since September 14.

Shortly after my treatment on September 23 I developed an infection in my medi port. I ended up in the ER taking antibiotics intravenously. That treatment did not work so I had to have surgery on September 29 to remove the port. I was sad to see it go because it had made chemo so easy as far as the actual injection of the chemo drugs. I now have to have my chemo treatments through an IV in my arm which is not pleasant because I hate needles. The surgery also delayed my chemo treatments about a week and a half because my wound from where the port had been had to heal. Mother, Daddy and Brenda(my sister) came to stay with me while I was recovering from surgery. And then a few days after they left, Steve's family, Scott and Linda Mack and Kelli Maynard(Steve's sister) came for a few days. It was so nice to have all of them here!! I love my family so much!!! You have been an incredible support to me and Steve and Ryan and Katie and Julieanne and Will!!!

After they all left it was time to start my fifth round of chemo which I did not want to do. Steve had to make me go. The last two rounds were incredibly hard. I guess the more accumulation of toxins in your body the sicker you get and I was pretty sick. I had my last 'big' chemo treatment on November 13 and we celebrated after it was over. I continued to get weekly treatments of Herceptin up until my surgery.

My surgery was on December 16. I went in to Methodist Hospital at 8:00 a.m., the surgery began at 10:00 a.m. and they were wheeling me out the door to go home at 3:30 p.m. I was not quite ready to go home when they told me I was not spending the night but after I got home I was so glad to be in my own bed.

Recovering from a Mastectomy has been hard. I have had a lot of pain and I had a drain coming out of the side of my body which had to be emptied twice a day. Katie was so helpful taking care of that disgusting task. I went in for my follow-up appointment with Dr. Tramer on December 23. He gave me an early Christmas present in the way of a wonderful pathology report which showed that there was no sign of cancer in the breast tissue or the lymph nodes. Isn't our God amazing!!!

Dr. Tramer also removed my drain-Yea!! He wasn't going to remove it but then I looked at him with really sad eyes and he said maybe it was time for it to come out. As it turned out, the drain probably should have stayed in a little while longer as I developed an infection around the incision. It had to be drained instead with a huge needle. Did I tell you before that I hate needles!?! After two different antibiotics, the infection is finally gone and I am ready for my next step in the treatment--Radiation!

I saw a new doctor, my Radiation Ocologist, last week. I then had to have a Planning CT where they map out exactly where I will be radiated. I had to be tatooed with three ugly blue spots. I tried to get them to at least make them into butterflies or flowers or something but they said no. Now my kids want to know why they can't have a tatoo! Anyway, I start my Radiation Therapy on Monday, February 2. I will go everyday except weekends for 28 days of treatment. It should not make me sick, just tired. We'll see. The good thing is that I can have these treatments at the new South Texas Oncology office in Boerne so I don't have to drive to San Antonio every day. Yea!!

I also had a MUGA Scan this week. This test determines how your heart is holding up with the Herceptin treatments. Herceptin is known to damage your heart and so far mine is holding up well. I will continue to get Herceptin treatments every three weeks until July.

I know this is a lot of information and I apologize again for taking so long to update you on my treatment. Thank you for all your prayers and cards and food and hugs,etc... God has touched me through each of you!!!

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him"
Lamentations 3:22-24

By the way, my hair is growing back o-h s-o-o s-l-o-w! It is only visible under microscopic inspection but I am hoping to have hair by Katie's wedding in June.