If you would like read Part 6 click here, or to start at the beginning, click here.
“God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain.” – C.S. Lewis
At the end of Part 6 I was waiting for Dr. B to let me know whether or not my blood levels were recovering from the Ribociclib. While we waited, we had a very cute visitor stay over at the house.
Babysitting Walter
My friend and her husband had movers boxing their household goods up for a move to Kansas. To make things easier on them during the packing and hotel stages, Little Bit got to babysit their bunny, Walter.
Walter was with us for a week. Hazel cat never got to where she enjoyed his company, but we sure did. He didn’t really do much, but when he would start running around he was so fun to watch. He would go right up to Hazel and try to sniff her. She did not like this new creature in her house. She would back away hissing and retreat to the sun room.
Incoming News
Friday, May 19th, Dr. B let me know that my blood was back into the “normal” range. My platelets and white blood cells recovered enough to start taking the Ribociclib again. I was happy to know that my blood was rebounding, but not excited to start taking the meds again. They are the ones with the side-effects.
Monday, the 22nd, I got a call from the genetics counselor. My expanded results had come in and they showed a PMS2 mutation. This mutation, called Lynch Syndrome, is an indicator that you are at a higher risk for colorectal, bladder, urinary tract, biliary tract, uterine and other cancers. This mutation has nothing to do with my breast cancer, it’s just another “fun fact” about my body.
Since this mutation is hereditary, the company that did the test gives free tests to relatives of anyone they find with the mutation. I have family on both sides that have had the cancers listed, so there was no way to know which side of the family I got it from. I contacted as many as I could (and to ask them to spread the news to others in the family) to let them know that they may also have it and if they wanted to do the test for themselves, I would send the paperwork.
Tuesday, May 23rd, the Ribociclib side effects started up again. I got a horrible headache during the night which led into the weird visual changes in the morning. No safe amount of ibuprofen or acetaminophen can touch these headaches. I usually have to leave work early on the days when these strike, but thankfully, the headaches have been less frequent so far this month.
Fun Run
About a month ago two of my coworkers, Dr. L and Capt G, came to my desk. They had been looking for ways for the office to show their support. They had come up with doing a 5K for cancer research. They asked if I was okay with the idea or if I was uncomfortable with it. My answer to both questions was “yes.” I was uncomfortable with the focus being on me, but since the money raised was going to a research center, I was okay with it.
Thursday, May 25th, was the day of the event. People that I had never even seen before came out for the run. There were coworkers that have survived breast cancer, those who had family members affected and those that were out to show support for me.
They had collected items to make me as comfortable as possible (a wearable fan!), journals to fill out to share my life story, gift cards to make Ben’s and my move back to Washington easy and so much more. The box with written prayers inside was all it took to make me start crying in front of everyone.
I had let them know before the run that due to the anemia, I would not be able to participate. I could have walked it, but I would have been way far behind. They let me know that it would not be a problem because…
…Mr. W would be chauffeuring me along the route in a golf cart! I cheered the runners/walkers on while he teased them to pick up the pace.
Back at the office Maj E had fired up the grill to make breakfast tacos. I have never been a big fan of breakfast tacos, but Maj E changed my mind. The man is a grill master.
People that didn’t participate in the 5K were more than happy to participate in the tacos.
I can’t even begin to tell you how great my coworkers are. They are an amazing group of people.
Graduation Day!
Sister graduated from high school!
She graduated with honors. Ben and I were to go up front, put her medal on her, pose for a picture, then return to our seats while she continued on to receive her diploma. Because of this, I didn’t get to watch her receive her diploma or get pictures of it. Brother was in charge of taking pictures, so this the best picture I took of the day.
One milestone down, many more to go in what I want to see and experience in this life.
Well, that was all the updates for these past two weeks. Thank you for sticking around.
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! – Psalm 103:2-5 NLT
Leave a Reply