Another Great Day...

We are all back to "normal life" with new perspective. My hair is starting to grow, I am feeling great, and my last CBC showed perfect blood levels. No more anemia! Our days are filled with school, work, play dates and family time...and less and less appointments with doctors. I am all cleared for my implant replacement surgery on 2/4 or 2/5...then after that I will hopefully have a reprieve from procedures for a long time.

For many years I have participated in the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure in honor of Satchel's mother in-law, who lost her battle to breast cancer. This year, I have decided to do the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on May 2-3. Together with six of my dear friends, we have created a team and we will walk at least 26.2 miles over two days. For the next few months we will be training and fundraising for the event. It will be a very emotional weekend, I'm sure, and I am so glad that I will have these ladies by my side. Together we will walk in celebration and memory all of the Bosom Buddies out there who have battled breast cancer. I know our fundraising will help make a difference in this cause. And the training will hopefully help get some of this unwelcomed chemo weight off. I will look at it as a great experience of remembrance, healing and most of all, closure. By now you know my team well...Satchel, Rose, Lew, Sid, SweetCheeks and Mimi. I am sure it will be a weekend of laughs and tears...and many memories to last a lifetime. Thanks to all of you who have supported our team. If our email is still sitting in your inbox, here's a little reminder to donate to our team! :-) If we all make a small contribution to this important cause, together we can make an enormous impact.

Yesterday, Sid and I met up for a walk. As we bundled up and hit the trail, we spent over two hours walking and talking. It was the best of both worlds--we got a training walk in and also got to catch up without interruption! I look forward to many more of those in the coming months as we prepare for the walk.

Last night, Satchel, Mel, and I went to the Birchmere to see the band Eddie From Ohio. Last time I saw them was in August, on the day I had my port placed, at the beginning of this journey. See the post Great Day... After the concert in August, I had emailed the band to them know how touched I had been by their concert. And how inspired I was by Julie, the lead singer, who was also a young breast cancer survivor. I adopted their song Great Day as my anthem, and listened to them faithfully over the last six months. Julie and I became email buddies, and she offered me comfort and inspiration throughout my journey.

As Satchel, Mel and I drank some delicious Blue Moons with orange slices and ate some tasty bar food, it was time for the show to begin. The three of us had the perfect seat, and sat back and enjoyed the show. Hearing EFO is like comfort food for my soul. I thought about how terrible I felt last time I saw them...how scared I felt. And here, six months later, I feel great and am cancer-free and done with my treatments. As they prepared to sing another song, Julie, the lead singer, started telling the audience a story...it was my story. Tears flooded from my eyes hearing her tell my story...and the story of our relationship. It was surreal that this woman whose voice has brought me so much joy and comfort for 17 years is now someone who I have shared something so personal with. And having her dedicate the song -- my healing anthem, Great Day-- to me and sing her heart out made the tears fall even harder. Satchel and Mel grabbed my hands, and as we sat there snuggled together on the bench listening and crying, it was one of those perfect moments in this journey that I won't soon forget.

After the concert, they sold copies of the CD of that evening's performance. So of course I had to buy it! The band came out to sign the CD, and as my eyes met hers, I said, "It's me, Scarlett." She got up out of her chair and we hugged so tightly. We spoke for a few minutes and hugged again. What a perfect night. And another Great Day...one I will never forget.

Ciao, Port...

Happy New Year! It's Saturday morning, and my husband and kids are downstairs eating breakfast as we get ready to start winter basketball. Yes, my 3 year old daughter is so excited to have basketball today as well as my 6 year old son. Should be interesting! I thought my blog would be done for a while, but to be honest, I miss writing. And today, I actually have cancer-related progress updates...so off we go. 

Since my doctor told me to start living my cancer-free life, I took her orders to heart, have found peace in my heart, and we all have resumed "normal" life. After an amazing two week break where the four of us were home as a family, eating, napping, visiting with friends and family, playing games, and sleeping in, we returned to our normal routines. School. Work. And as much fun as vacation and breaks are, once our batteries were recharged, it was kind of nice to get back to normal. I think the kids felt the same way.

When I asked my oncologist when I could have my port removed, she said, "As soon as we can get you scheduled...you don't need it anymore." That was the best news, because while I have been grateful for my mediport and the benefits it offered during chemo infusion, I hated the big bump that was on the left side of my chest. I hated feeling and seeing the catheter. I was ready to have it out. Plus, if the oncologist thinks I don't need my port, then that means I don't need chemo, and that means the cancer is gone. YEA!

My port removal surgery was scheduled for Friday morning. My husband had a busy work day and my mom had worked the night before, so guess who I called? Yes, my Satchel. To be honest, she is my perfect medical buddy. She is my rock, and after going through 5 chemo sessions with me, a port removal was just icing on the cake! And it also meant another morning to spend with her, which is always a treat.

She arrived right on time, and she came with me to the bus stop and the preschool drop off. It was great to catch up with her on the way to the hospital. As we found the Interventional Radiology department in the basement of Inova Fairfax Hospital, we checked in and did not have to wait long. 

I thought I'd get the port removed without sedation...just local anesthesia. However the doc had different plans and wanted me to do twilight sedation, where I am awake but don't feel anything. With that, I tend to turn in to a chatterbox. No shock. The procedure was quick and of course I didn't feel a thing. I asked the nurse if I could see the mediport, and before I knew it I was holding it and having my own Discovery Channel Interactive moment! Soon thereafter, I was back in recovery. They said I had to wait 1-2 hours to let the sedation wear off. At least Satchel was able to come back and keep me company. After 10 minutes, the mean nurse came over and said Satchel had to leave since it was getting crowded in there. We were not thrilled. I sat up in my hospital bed and beckoned the doctor over to my bed. "PLEASE can I go home? I am feeling great. PLEASE don't make me wait for 1-2 hours." I pleaded. He gave me the liability song and dance...and I even begged to sign a waiver. I suppose sitting around really sick, old people makes me crazy. I don't look sick. I don't feel sick. GET ME OUTTA HERE.

My bed was right across from the nurses station where the doc and nurses were sitting and working. I suppose me sitting up straight in my hospital bed with my arms crossed, staring at them, worked. Within 10 minutes, the nurse said I was cleared by the doctor to leave, and they sent Satchel to get the car. We headed to our ritual post-medical appointment lunch, and then it was time for me to go home and rest, and for her to fetch her kids from the bus. Another fun day with Satchel. And one step closer to having my cancer-related procedures done. Last night I went to bed early and simply crashed. I am feeling OK this morning, and while the incision is a little tender, I'm doing fine. 

Next step...implant exchange on February 5. That is a whole different post, so stay tuned. :-) 

As I have mentioned before, I believe you need to understand where you have been to appreciate how far you have come, and have goal for where you want to go. For now, however, I am finding the need to live for the present. Live for the day. Appreciate every moment. The past has formed me in to the person I am, and the future holds so many exciting and wonderful moments ahead. But today is where I am, and each day is such a gift. In a freaky way, which few would understand, my cancer diagnosis has been a blessing. I would not wish cancer on anyone, and the journey has had many moments of darkness, pain, and fear. However it has changed me as a person, and my perspective has changed dramatically...for the better. My family and friends have stood by my side and we have formed bonds that I could have never imagined. Yes, there have been a few disappointments along the way, but I have also realized that it is in your deepest time of need that you see things in a different light and appreciate true love.

My hair is starting to grow back and I'm starting to work out again. Me and 5 of my dear friends have formed a team for the Avon 2-Day walk in May. It is a great goal, and will no doubt be a weekend to remember. For now, I'm off to enjoy my normal cancer-free Saturday with my family! 

I hope you are having a great 2009, and a great day. Love to all!

xoxo