Some positive news...

I had my rescan this past week and got a great response. Although the cancer is still present, it has not grown. The Dr's. were so impressed by my strength and walking capabilities. Having my Dr say she is blown away by how strong I am just makes me want to fight harder and get stronger. It is just so motivating to hear this. I push myself at therapy and now to see my hard work paying off...it's just amazing, leaves me speechless. I haven't had a dr this excited about my assessment in a long time and it feels so good. It's the first time I didn't leave my appointment mad, I had a smile on my face.

 My neurosurgeon wants to do a follow up appointment to check things out. When I was first diagnosed he said it would be 2 years before I'd be up and walking. Hard work, determination, a support system and a positive attitude can get you a lot farther than laying around feeling sorry for yourself. From day 1 I knew I had to fight. 

 Cancer teaches you a lot about your will, who you are, and I think most importantly, slow down and realize what is important in life. I know I'm not the same person I was a year ago. A line has been drawn with before cancer and during cancer. I know I'll never be the same person I was before and I am okay with that. 

Thank you for the continued love, support and prayers. It is truly heartwarming having you support me.

"Victory doesn't come from a cancer free diagnosis but on how you choose to live your life while you have this disease. That is why you have to strive to be happy." ~Jose R. Arevalo, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Survivor

It's just one of those days!

I know it has been a while since I have last updated, we have been keeping busy since it has been getting nice outside!  Over the past month, we had a very successful golf benefit, celebrated my dad's retirement, celebrated my husband's 35th birthday and among many other things!  At my golf outing, I took my shoe off and was able to drive a golf cart around with ease!  This only made my itch for driving again greater.  We celebrated my Dad's retirement in May as well.  We all showed up for his last hour of work and sent him out in style.  My dad was and still is a hard worker.  He and my mom made sure all of us girls got everything we wanted growing up.  I tell my husband its not my fault that we are spoiled, it's my parents!  I wanted to do something different for Jon's birthday and had help coming up with the idea of taking him to a casino, since he has never been to one.  We went to The Meadows, conveniently located by the outlets. Jon had never been to these outlets before so we christened him...and he hated it.  I made out quite well though =) .  The casino was a lot of fun, I enjoyed watching Jon do something new.  We had such a great time with friends and family.  Jon and I also celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary.  We have been together for 5 years now and it still feels like yesterday that I met this guy at a bar in a softball uniform.  I always knew, from the beginning, that I was going to marry this him.

I go for my next scan in a few weeks, so fingers crossed I am still progressing in a positive way.  PT is going great as well.  We are still walking with a cane & started to walk some without my braces on.  It's an on-going battle between the braces and I, but at some point I think I will win the war.

When I started this post I was filled with anger and resentment towards everything that I've been trying to do today.  However, in typing out what I have been up to, it has me shown me how blessed I am.  So what has me frustrated?  Stupid things...like how my husband planted a shrub that I don't like, or finding his work clothes with normal clothes, not being able to carry laundry up and down the steps, walking out to the garage only to find no potting soil for a railing pot.  I should be focusing on how lucky and blessed I am that my husband does take the time to plant flowers in our empty flower beds and actually does the laundry and hangs my clothes that don't go in the dryer up to dry.  And how he will stop and get potting soil on his way home from work so I can plant some flowers after working 10 hours today.  Maybe it is good I get myself mad and worked up so I can see how fortunate I actually am.    God does work in mysterious ways!

Thank you all for your prayers and support.  As frustrating as it is to have things taken away from me, its refreshing to see my blessings.

"They say love is blind.  I disagree.  Infatuation is blind, love is all-seeing and accepting.  Love is seeing all the flaws and blemishes and accepting them.  Love is accepting the bad habits and mannerisms, and working around them.  Love is recognizing all the fears, insecurities, and knowing your role is to comfort.  Love is working through all the challenges and painful times.  Infatuation is fragile and will shatter when life is not perfect.  Love is strong and it strengthens because it is real."