Five years ago today, I was in surgery for what was supposed to be a benign fibroid and a routine TAH. That "fibroid" turned out to be a rare cancer, a sarcoma, Hemangiopericytoma. We really didn't get the definitive diagnosis until 2 weeks later, when the word came from Dr. Sharon Weiss of Emory, that is was indeed a Sarcoma. That's when the roller coaster ride of fighting cancer started for me...
Through the past five years I've had:
20+ CT scans of the abdomen, chest and pelvis
40+ barium shakes and 20+ contrast IV's
2 PET scans
countless blood draws and needle sticks
2 abdominal surgeries
2 VATS surgeries
1 hospitalization for an intestinal blockage
3 trips to Dana Farber in Boston for 2nd opinions on treatment
30 radiation treatments to the abdomen/pelvis
20 radiation treatments to the chest
2 different chemo protocols
2 different chemo protocols
nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, and the aches and pains of healing,
numerous tears spilled along the way from anxiety, confusion, and fear.
but... in the past five years I've also had the unrelenting support of family and friends
lifting me up in prayer, sending cards, letters, flowers, delivering meals...
In that time I've had the joy of a wedding for my oldest daughter, and the life-changing joy of two babies being born into the family, our grandsons.
Life is a challenge, life is good, life is full of joy making the hard times worth the fight.
I'm happy to be celebrating 5 years today!
