I'm Ready

Yesterday I turned 45,  It has been a challenging last couple of years  BUT GOD... I made it.  This is the first birthday in 4 years I didn't have to or have had any surgery.  I spent a quiet day except for part of it with my family.  Breakfast with my mom, lunch with my dad and daughter, early evening at Chuck E Cheese with all 3 of my kids and the evening with hubby.  And I loved every bit of it,  even Chuck E Cheese. Just watching how my 3 kids interact with each other made me so happy.  I know I have done my job right. Yesterday I got to be a child, mom and wife at separate times and I think I really needed that.  The love you get from each one is special and different and very much needed.  I feel like I was refueled yesterday.  Ready to take on this next stage in my life.  It's funny, for the first time in a long time I feel like Super Woman, I'm ready.. When I was younger I use to say... I am the Almighty Powerful Mommy, Friend and Wife,  I haven't felt that way in a very very long time .I am stronger physically, mentally and most  important spiritually.  God.. I'm Ready!!!!

WOW 1 year ago!!!!

Happy Craniversary to ME!!!!!!!!!!!!  One year ago today Mindy the Meningioma was evicted.  I was told I was going to loose hearing completely in my right ear,  I was going to have difficulty swallowing, I was going to have drooping on the right side of my face, and some other issues... BUT GOD!!!!!!!  I have none of that.  I woke up from surgery hearing again out of my right ear.  This is the longest I have gone with not having to need surgery.  I am so thankful  so so thankful.  Having 6 major surgeries in 3 years is rough on the body but God kept me.  I am in tears as I look at how far I have came during this year.  My head is still healing...barometer head when the weather changes..uggg but that is really the only issue I really have to deal with.  Other than that I am "normal"  I guess as normal as I can be..hehe,  my fibromyalgia is manageable again.  It is amazes me what God has done for me.  I know my faith in God is why I am where I am today.  Between gall bladder surgery,breast cancer, breast reconstruction (easiest surgery), bad hysterectomy surgery, hernia surgery and the brain tumor WOW I have been through a lot.  Thank you God for my healing!!!!

Jan 4th

I have been doing well.  Jan.4th was a weird day for me because it marked 3 years ago I got that call that changed my life. I have survived a lot in the past 3 years. It still makes me sad when I think of that call.  Even tho I am doing well now I can still hear those words "You have breast cancer"  The next month of my life was so crazy I wouldn't have remember much if it wasn't for this blog. I go back and read some of  my earlier post.......  I surprise myself with my strength.  When I think about it, it was either be strong or go crazy and I had kids depending on me so going crazy wasn't a choice.  Life is still challenging, still throwing me for a loop at time. BUT GOD!!!  I survived.  Survived breast cancer and a brain tumor.  I have gone longer than 6 months with out needing any kind of surgery **happy dance**    For those who don't know, I have had 6 surgeries in less than 3 years.  With 4 being pretty major.  My poor body have been thru a lot.  But I am able to take better care of myself and I am loosing weight. I'm just happy to be alive  Jan. 4 2012 will be a day I will never forget.

8 Months Post Op

Hello everybody,  8 months since I had "Mindy" removed.  She is not missed.  I am doing very well. I still get a weird squeezing sensation along my scar. Since I have been using Thrive I don't get pain in my head as bad as before.  I still get painful shocks like pains but nowhere as often( maybe a couple times a week not couple times a day) I have learned the hard way I can only push myself but so far before I start having problems.  But other than that I am doing well.  My 6 month check up went great.  My neurologist wants me to talk to new patients to help ease their fears of the surgery and recovery.  I feel and I'm doing better than I was before surgery.   It has really changed how I look at life and my purpose in this world.  Sometimes I have to remind myself I'm still healing.  I did get my head cut open...lol  I just want people to know there is life after a brain tumor. Everybody's tumor is different, everyone's recovery is different but we still need the same thing - Support.  This is not something you can go thru alone.  The support groups on Facebook are great because you see your not along.  There are people who understand exactly what you are thinking, feeling, and hoping for.  I thank God for them.  I feel I was better prepared for what was going to happen to me,so I didn't react with panic when weird things happen,  like not being able to taste anything because of the steroids.  They didn't tell me that in the hospital. I learned that from my groups.  I was pissed when my chick fil a nugget didn't taste right...lol   here is a list of groups that have helped and prayed for me

Meningioma Mommas   
Meningioma Support For Us
 Grey Matters
 Mind Over Meningioma

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This month is bittersweet for me.  I am a proud 2 1/2 years survivor.  I am doing well in all aspects of my health. For some reason this month leaves me with mix feelings. I'm happy that I am healthy and doing well.  I feel so bless that God has taken care for me and kept me.  I don't like my scars.  I don't like the changes in my body. I feel bad that others breast cancer journey has been tougher than mine.  I feel bad because some have even lost their battle. I guess it is what called survivor's guilt.  I am so thankful that I am doing well but my heart breaks for those who are not.  Seeing all the pink makes me happy and sad that there is so much pink around.  This disease is affecting young women at an alarming rate.  Plus they are getting the aggressive breast cancer.  I was blessed that my cancer was 1A.  Still treated with surgery but no chemo, no radiation. It is so important to get your mammograms on time.  I found 1 lump on my own but the mammogram for a 2nd. My cancer was found early.  These days it doesn't matter how old you are if you feel something different with your breast, Please, Please get checked out.  This disease is no joke and the earlier it is found the better.

The Breast Cancer Club is one I didn't want to join but proud I am a survivor, so I can help others.  So I am here for anybody who needs to talk and just want an ear to listen and someone who understands all the crazy feelings you are having. Or if you just need some info.  Did you know 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer?  Crazy isn't it!  I didn't have breast cancer in my family.  I am the first.  So don't think it won't happen to you.

Bittersweet it is.

God Has Spoken "LET THEM WATCH"

Interesting title huh?  Here some back story.  Yesterday was a good day for me.  I made some money for Jay's party doing a focus group in Hunt Valley and I was able to schedule an appointment with my plastic surgeon to finish my breast reconstruction.  See after my 1st reconstruction I needed 3 major surgeries, so she wanted to wait until I was doing well to finish up.  I called my oncologist's office to get the results from my blood work that was done last week.  **BIG SIGH**  Everything looks good except that darn alkaline phosphatase levels.  It has gone a little higher than it was in May. (raised alkaline phosphatase levels means the cancer is trying to come back)  The nurse told me that Dr. Couzi will call me later to talk to me.  That put me in a bad head space. I allowed myself to be there just for a moment.  I called my husband and being the wonderful person he is reminded me EVERYTHING else is good.  Even the PET scan I had a month ago came up with nothing.  So I decided that I will give it to God and have the same faith I did with my brain tumor.  Ok Dr. Couzi called me last night............She kept asking how I am feeling.  I told her I feel good and doing well.  I told her about my shoulder that didn't really concern her because I am getting physically therapy for it. She kept asking about my back.  I kept saying my back is fine.  She told me she is at a lost to why my levels are rising and everything else is normal.  She is going to talk to her colleagues and get back to me.  She thinking about doing another bone scan. So I should be hearing from her at the end of the week.  I also finally heard from my Neurologist about my 6 month MRI and check up.  I go in Aug for that.  So a lot of info thrown at me in 1 day...lol  But I can handle it.

So this morning during my quiet time I decided not to ask God for anything today.  I just sat saying THANK YOU.  Over and over just thanking Him.  Then I heard it loud and clear "LET THEM WATCH"  Now I know this word isn't just for me.  Someone reading this gets it and understands.  At first I was like "What do you mean?" Then I remember what He did during my brain surgery.  I had to start crying tears of joy.   I know I will be ok no matter what is coming my way.  God has always taken care of me. Always had me come out better than I was when I went in.  So if you don't believe......just WATCH

Wow What A Week!!!!

This week has been a true test of Faith and Thrive...lol Last Saturday I had did something to my shoulder in the shower to the point the pain was so bad I had to take some pain meds.  Now since I have been on Thrive I have had NO pain meds in my body. I ended going to the ER Sunday after church.  My loving and crazy husband takes a pic of me after the give me some Valium and post it on Facebook.  Well Heaven was flooded with so many prayers by Monday evening I was feeling better without meds.  Now I did still have some Thrive in my system but we ran out and our next order wasn't going to be here until Thursday.  Now on Thursday I went to an Orthopedic Specialist.  I asked him How do you get a pinch nerve just reaching to was your leg in the shower... Do you know he laugh at me and shook his head...lol   My shoulder was still sore by the time I went to see him.  He gave me a cortisone shot in my shoulder.  Well my nonhaving Thrive body did not like that.  My shoulder ached so much and I started to have a Fibromyalgia flare up.  I was feeling real bad that night.  I haven't felt that bad in a very long time.. I think since before my brain surgery.  Our order didn't get here until Thursday evening.  I think around 10pm ( I had fell asleep about 6 from pain meds)  I opened the box and put on a DFT Foam. By the next morning all the Fibromyalgia issues were gone!!!!!  Now my shoulder is still sore but I can function without feeling like I was hit by a truck. Now it is Sunday and I have had a couple of days full of Thrive and mannnnn I feel so much better.  I'm going to physical therapy for my shoulder.... I get a massage and heat packs  :)  :)  :).  But NO MORE PAIN MEDS.

Oh Guess who is a little lighter???   YES ME ME!!!.  At my last DR. appt I was 202lbs now I am 195lbs.  Only in a couple of weeks with me only walking some.. I can't wait to see my oncologist in Nov.  Well I got to get the family ready for church.  Everybody have a very Blessed Sunday!

www.candyb.le-vel.com
 TRY THRIVE