Lab visit

So tomorrow I go once again to have my blood drawn to check my CEA (cancer marker). That number has always been good, so it doesn't cause too much anxiety, save for the fact that I HATE needles!!! I do confess that I always call the morning after the blood draw to check on the number, and I do give a sigh of relief when I hear it's in the normal range.

I do pray for the less fortunate patients I see when I go to the cancer clinic. I know they would love to only be having a periodic blood draw. What a relief to not be lying there for hours as the dreaded chemo enters their bodies. I was given the gift of an early diagnosis. I know I can handle the needle!

Giving Back

It's been a busy summer for me, and I've been pretty tired the last couple of months. It's good, though, to know that the tired feeling is from doing important work and something that I enjoy (working with the children and youth from my church).

While I've been occupied with events and such, unfortunately too many of my friends have been consumed with worry about their health. And now one of the strongest ladies I know, my dear Kathryn, is in a very tough battle with a recurrence of her cancer. If anyone can beat it, I know she can. She is nearly fearless and totally persistent in her quest for freedom from "The Beast." Right now, though, there are many factors that are conspiring to test her spirit and her strength.

My prayers and my love are with Kathryn and her family. I pray that she will be free of this disease. I know God will answer that prayer, but I don't know His time or His plan. He will take care of her, I know that.

Again the question comes to my mind. Why was I so fortunate to have my cancer found in an early stage? Why am I (so far) still cancer free? I don't know the why. I just know that because of this great gift, it is my task to give back, and I will do that...

I haven't been a very faithful blogger, but I have some perfectly good excuses. The main one is that I have been very busy with Relay For Life preparations the past couple of months. I'm the captain of the team from my church, and I am also on the planning committee for our local Relay. It's the most important volunteer work I do.

This year's Relay was so special and beautiful. We dedicated to our friend, Gail, who passed away exactly 2 months after she spoke at last year's survivor area at Relay. We had a ceremony to honor her, and the committee walked a lap with her family. So much emotion for a much-loved angel.

Gail loved the beach and had "a thing" for pink flamingos, so our theme this year was "Flamingos Flock, Relayers Rock." It was awesome to see how the teams went with the theme. Flamingos were everywhere!!!
I know Gail was smiling down on the event.

And now to catch up on other aspects of life, being thankful every day that I am still alive and able to be busy. And I will continue to Relay, to carry the torch for those who Relay in Heaven now...

What I Would Have Missed

A couple of days ago, my oldest grandson sent me an email to share some stories he's writing. Owen is 9 now, and it's so fun to get emails from him. I'm saving all of them and plan to print them out and put them in a scrapbook.

While reading the stories, I thought back to earlier days when Owen would endlessly dictate stories to me. My role was to suggest some ideas, although he thought up most of the content, and then we would draw illustrations. That's pretty funny right there, because I have many skills, but drawing is absolutely not one of them. However, I did my best, because I would do anything for my Owen.

The reminiscing took me back to the time when I was diagnosed with my cancer. Right about then was when the stories were a big part of the day when I took care of Owen. I was also caring for little brother Andrew, soon to be 5, but then a 6 month-old baby. If my cancer hadn't been discovered so early, I might not have had the chance to see Owen blossom into the writer of his own stories. I might not have seen Andrew learn to walk and talk and become the funny little character he is. I might not have known Caroline at all. That precious little princess came along about a year and a half after IT came into my life.

Once again I am grateful to still be here...

Get your colonoscopies, people!

This is March, which means it's colorectal cancer awareness month. Since I had the dubious "pleasure" of having that particular form of the beast, I like to remind people in March that they need to have their colonoscopies. They're not pleasant, but they're not nearly as unpleasant as cancer!

Do it, people!!!

Another one gone...

I lost another friend today. This was a dear, precious lady who was a very caring member of my online cancer support group. *sigh* The fact about that group is that it has been so comforting to me since my diagnosis, and I've been able to use information I've learned there to help others. So it's a good thing. But it sure does take a piece of my heart on a regular basis.

Rest in peace, sweet Lisa.

Life is funny sometimes. I've passed my 4-year mark of being NED (no evidence of disease), and I'm doing fairly well, except for that pesky chronic pain in my abdomen. But just the thought of the oncology clinic throws me into a tizzy. Today I went up there to deliver a survivor/caregiver newsletter that I help produce for our local Relay For Life committee. All I had to do was walk in, let them know what I was bringing, place it in the waiting room, and go.

I realized as I was going up on the elevator that I was breathing more heavily, and a feeling of sadness rolled over me. I can face many things in life, and I have, but that oncology clinic always makes me feel like a little girl who wants her mommy.