RING it LOUD and PROUD!!!

Today I FINALLY got to ring the bell at the cancer center. YIPEE!!! It signifies you are done w/ treatment. The plaque w/ the bell on states: " To celebrate this day, As I go on my way, I ring this bell, For I am well, My treatment is done, And I can say I've won." - Given in Honor of our Mother and all other survivors.-

My mother came that day with SUNFLOWERS in hand and was quite a surprise! I love sunflowers! Im so happy it's over. I get my infused pump taken off tomorrow and I just may ring the bell again! I'll be back at the center for lab work to keep an eye on my blood counts,follow up W/ my surgeon, PET scan in Oct. and Dr. apt to review results. So Im a busy girl still. I hope to get back into the pool and start exercising(...baby steps though:-) And continue living a more healthy life and watch what I consume in my body, and praise God for each and every day I have on HIS Earth!

To Treat or not to Treat ?...that is the Question...

Okay it's been like 6 months of the prevenative chemo regiment. Just on the past 3 treatments my platelets were low,like in the 90's count, then a week or two later they do "labs" to check kyour blood. then it went to 78, they treated me. So my labs were last week on Mon. and they were 57! UGGG. SO this MON, which happens to be my last treatment,they'll prick my finger and check again. If is lower they may not treat me. Maybe I can talk Dr."M" into letting me skip the last one:-) That would be awesome! But I would still ring the bell! I feel anxious not knowing what my body is doing inside and what Mon. will bring. So I go back a read my prayer book passage:

"Lord, my sense of timing is fallible and imperfect; Yours is not. Let me trust in Your timetable for my life,and give me the patience and the wisdom to trust Your plans, and not my own." Amen

(taken from Promises&Prayer for Friends book, Family Christian Press pg.61)

My Crazy Cancer Journey may be coming close to ending in a sense,but I know it will always be a journey and someday (well now and back a few months) to tell how I came through this journey with a powerful presence of God around me and Tusting him in all things...even to shake my fears. As I write this I always recall the Song "Never let Go" by David Crowder Band. (a song on myplaylist).I know in this journey he has never let go of me,from my 5 week of Chemo/radiadation,colonoscopy,major colon surgery, to starting my prevenative chemo for 6 months,to having my ileostomy and dealing with that,and then having my ileostomy reversed,and finding a "new normal" and having control over it. Im truly blessed. Thank you Jesus:-)

STAND UP 2 CANCER

Last night @ 8pm est. I watched Stand Up 2 Cancer . It was televised on 3 major networks, ABC,NBC,& CBS. The main point was to raise money for researchers and their collaboration in help finding a cure. I think if I was never diagnosed with cancer,I might not have sat infront of the TV last night.I never really thought about cancer before except when my cousin,Richard died of mesotheiloma(caused by asbestos)and when my aunt found out she had brest cancer. So last night was really emotional for me and Chad. I know how each and every survivor of cancer feels. I was really touch by a well known man, I guess who funds research trials, he donated 25 million dollars to Stand Up to Cancer. I was just blown away by that. And as they read stats,my mind wondered to 1 of 3 women will have cancer in their life.I thought to myself,I have 2 sisters and Im the one who got it...and then 1 in 2 men and then I looked at my boys and wondered, which one will get cancer,or will they dodge the cancer bullet. AS the program came to an end Chad and I just looked at each other and he said to me ," You're gonna make it Kendra" and he just held me and we both shed our tears of hope. I couldn't have picked a better person to marry ,to be there for me :for better or for worse and in sickness and in health...he's the best!
My hope is that reasearch for cancer will help future generations.

12 minus 11 = 1 !!!!!

It's getting close to that single digit Ive been waiting for since I had my ileostomy reversal. Only ONE treatment left! This time around wasn't as bad,thankfully since I had to get the kids to the bus stop at 7 AM!!! They changed the school start times from last year. What a change it has been! Bed time is now @ 8pm ! we were quite flexible last year...not this year cause they have to get up @ 6 ish. It's been going well ,so far:-)

AS for treatment,I didn't know I was going to be this emotional. At the beginning you know you're in it for the long haul and you just roll with the punches. And now it's just one left and the emotions of relief and fear are combined. wierd I know, the fear is the unknown...what will my future scan show. But through this past 6 months God has REALLY taught me how to TRUST Him and all things are possible with God. He's never let go of me and I will never let go of him! (I've got a firm grasp on Him like never before!) I thank him every day for another chance at life and getting me through this time with HIS STRENGTH,because I know my strength alone would not have gotten me far. I say this with happy tears"I have ONE more and Im DONE!!!" Rejoice in His Blessings!