Happy Birthday Sherry!

Today is Sherry's 25th birthday! Last night we had a fun time celebrating with a "chick party" with her and some close friends. It was fun listening to her friends and family tell funny stories or memories about her. Her nephews were really disappointed about not being invited to her party and wanted time to celebrate Aunt Sherry's birthday so we went to Macayo's tonight with the family. Buddy was so anxious to tell the waitress it was her birthday so that they would sing to her...and they did!

I'm so proud of Sherry! As you know (or maybe you don't) she has been in a wheelchair for the past 3 years and has handled it with a lot of courage and a good attitude. There's not much that gets her down and everyone always talks about what a joy she is to have around. She has learned to do just about everything from the wheelchair and I'm amazed at what she can accomplish on wheels. She even babysits her three nephews, ages 6, 3 & 5 months and does a fantastic job. Her nephews love her and she spoils them rotten...like every good auntie.

God has done incredible things in Sherry's life and she has an awesome story to share! I know He will continue to use her to touch hearts!

Happy Birthday Sherry, we love you so much!

My Church Family

I love my church family and I have really missed attending services each weekend. In fact, I hadn't been to church since October 14th and for someone who is used to attending every week, it's been hard! Fortunately, I'm able to watch services online but it's just not the same as being there! Saturday evening was great to be back at church and joining in the worship time and I'm already looking forward to going again this coming weekend!

I received a double blessing when Derrick lead us in singing "You Never Let Go", the song I had blogged about last week! I love it when God does little things like that for us! It meant a lot to me!

A shout out to my girlfriends from Home Team! These gals have been incredible in loving and caring for me and my family during the past month and a half! Even though I couldn't make it to church, they've kept in close contact and even coordinated meals for us during my surgery time. Since our group meets in my home, we've been able to still meet a few times, which has been a huge blessing! I'm so grateful for your friendship, ladies!

Chemo Update

Art and I had an appointment at the oncologist office the day before Thanksgiving, which was the first visit since surgery. He gave us some info about the chemo and reviewed all the good reports from surgery and the PET scan. Next Thursday, I will meet with the nurse and get "chemo education" and schedule the treatments.

We found out that I will have 4 sessions of chemo about 3 weeks apart. Each treatment will be like double treatments, which I don't really understand yet...but basically it sounds like one will be given right after the other, on the same day. I will learn more about this on Thursday. I'm thankful that the chemo process will be fairly short!

Some friends have asked why I need chemo if the cancer has been removed and my results were so good??? Even though the cancer was rated stage 1 after surgery (initially they had said stage 2), there were no signs of cancer in the lymph nodes, and the PET scan showed no signs of cancer, there is still a possibility that cancerous cells are in my body or small undetected cancer growths could be present. This is just an added precaution (required by the doc) to be as aggressive as possible and take every step to rid my body of any cancer cells. Anytime the tumor is over 1 cm, they require chemo. As you know, I've been aggressive since day one and I'm glad the doctors attitude is the same.

Although I'm dreading the chemo process, I am very thankful that chemo is available and so effective. I've asked the Lord to help me look at it in a positive way rather than negative. I'll be honest and say, I'm not totally to that point but my attitude is getting better. Once chemo is done, I'll take a drug for 5 years that increases my survival rate and lessens the chance of recurrence.

As with everything else in this process, I'll find humor! I'm already thinking about all the time & money I'll save with no hair to style! Maybe I should have gone for the pink wig...now that would be worth a laugh!

Thanks for your continued prayers!

Very Thankful!

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever! ~Psalm 118:1

This year, as I reflect on Thanksgiving and all the blessings in my life, the list is unending. So, I thought I'd do a list from A to Z.

A - Art - The Love of My Life (top of my list in more ways than one!)
B - Boys - 3 hug-able grandsons for me to love and spoil
C - Cancer Free! - 21 days now!
D - Daughters - Two of my greatest blessings in life!
E - Encouraging Words - I've heard so many recently!
F - Family & Friends - You've touched my life in so many ways!
G - Girlfriends - You know who you are!!
H - Home Filled with Lots of Love!
I - Incredible Peace!
J - Jesus - What would I do without Him?
K - Knowing I'll See Loved Ones in Heaven Someday!
L - Laughter - Even in the storms of life!
M - Mom & Dad - I'm grateful for their love and support!
N - Nothing Is A Surprise to God!
O - Opportunities to Share My Faith!
P - Power of Prayer!
Q - Quiet Moments with God!
R - Restored Relationships!
S - Son in Law - He is such a great guy!
T - Treasured Memories
U - Unexpected Acts of Kindness
V - Visits with Friends and Family!
W - Worship Music!!
X - Xrays & Other Medical Tests
Y - You Reading My Blog - I love to read your comments, too!
Z - Zenia's & Other Flowers - They add so much color to our world!

That was fun...took me back to school days as a kid, but what a great exercise. It's funny how our perspective changes based on our life experiences. This year I'm thankful for things that probably wouldn't have come to mind at this time last year!

Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you take time to thank God for His blessings in your life, too!!

Thanksgiving's Coming but What Happened to Halloween?

There's no comparison between Thanksgiving & Halloween, however, a couple of weeks ago, as I was asked about our Thanksgiving plans, I remember thinking...what about Halloween, that's first. Then I laughed at myself when I realized that I had slept through Halloween. My last surgery was on Halloween. I was disappointed to miss out on the fun with my grandkids but if I didn't take that day for surgery, the next available for the 2 doctors was weeks away. I guess because I was "out of it" that day, I totally forgot about it!

I do have a funny memory of that day that I'll share with you. The anesthesiologist had told me they were taking me into the operating room awake, which I hate. As they are rolling me in there, the anesthesiologist said, "do you prefer to go by Sandra or Sandy?" Yikes! I looked at him and said, "my name is Susan but I go by Susie!!" Hmmm...panic moment...am I in the right place??? Well, we quickly figured out that they had my name confused with a more famous person with the same last name. They were embarrassed, to say the least, and he quickly said "I'm putting you to sleep now". So, as the room began to spin I said "then it's time to say, trick or treat", and closed my eyes. I went to sleep to the sounds of their chuckles!

I'm glad the kids were able to take the boys with their cousins to have some fun for Halloween! It had been a stressful couple of weeks for them with Peggie's illness. They quickly threw together cowboy costumes and made it work. It sounds like they had lots of fun!

The

Cutest

Cowboys

Around!

You Never Let Go

This morning, after my quiet time with God, a song came on and it was so appropriate for this time in my life. This has been a bit of a storm and there was no time to prepare. I remember the day the doc said, "it's breast cancer", it knocked the wind out of me! I knew there was the possibility but I wasn't prepared for those words, at that moment. I'm not sure what I expected but it just happened so fast!

I was talking with a close friend this week and she was asking about how I'm weathering this storm. Good question! She's the kind of friend that will ask the tough questions in life because she cares. I remember the day, shortly after I was diagnosed, and she asked, "so are you really okay with getting your breast cut off?" My response was something like this..."duh, no!" You have to understand though, she asked because she cared and someone needed to be bold. (I can always count on her in that department.)

The truth is, it's been an emotional roller coaster. However, I constantly remind myself that this was no surprise to God. It wasn't like God was looking down that morning, when the doc told me, and thought, wow, I didn't see that coming! He knew and it was His perfect timing for me to find out. The past few weeks seem somewhat blurry. Part of that, of course, is the beauty of pain medicine, but some of it is just emotional drain.

Every step of this journey, I have felt God's presence and His hand on my life. The day I was going in the PET scan, I remember feeling a little freaked out because they had my arms tied down and I hate the feeling of being restrained. I knew it was going to be 35 - 45 minutes long. I remember, closing my eyes as they were rolling me into the machine and I whispered, "okay Lord, here we go, just You and me!" I layed there and prayed for peace and then prayed for my family and friends. I kept trying to sing praise songs in my head but they were playing light jazz music and I had trouble making that work. So, I would go back to praying for different people God would lay on my heart, more family, friends and clients. Before I knew it, it was over.

I'm praying that's how this storm is going to be. Right now, it seems like each day creeps along and the healing process is slow. I'm dreading the chemo process but I know it's necessary. One day, before I know it, it will all be over. In the scope of my life, these few months are just a small time frame.

Today, I was reminded, that through this storm, GOD NEVER LET'S GO OF ME!

Song: "You Never Let Go"

Matt Redman http://www.mattredman.com/

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back, I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me, and if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear, whom then shall I fear
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
Every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go, Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles but until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me and if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear, whom then shall I fear
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh, no You never let go
Every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go, Lord, You never let go of me
You keep on loving and You never let go

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles but until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Oh no, you never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
Every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go, Lord, You never let go of me

Lord, You never let go of me!!!!

Through the Eyes of My Grandsons

My daughters and I had arranged to go shopping yesterday for a wig...not something I was really looking forward to! So my morning starts out with a call from my 3 year old grandson. Papa answered the phone and hears "we're going to get gramma some new hair today", on the other end of the phone.

I get on the phone with my daughter and she informs me that her 6 year old over heard her telling her husband, the night before, that she was taking me shopping the next day for a wig. He got pretty excited and was asking questions. He asked, "can you take me over to see gramma with no hair? I've never seen gramma Susie with no hair!" Cheap entertainment, I guess!

So, we get to the wig shop and immediately, the 3 year old makes his personal selection of my new hair style....a fuchsia pink, shoulder length hair with bangs!!! After I'd tried on a few wigs, the lady asked if I wanted to try his selection. Well, of course, this grandma will do just about anything for my grandsons!! So, there I sat with a bright pink wig! (Fortunately, the girls didn't have a camera with them!) He looks at me and said "gramma you look like a Doodlebop! I asked if he would give me a kiss with the pink wig and he quickly responded..."I not kiss Doodlebops!" Now if you don't have young kids or grandkids, you may not know what a Doodlebop is so check them out http://www.doodlebops.com/EN-US/index.html I have to admit, even I could see the resemblance!

You'll just have to use your imagination of me in the pink wig because that was not my final selection!

Can I Get An Amen?

Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life. I will sing praise to my God as long as I live!!! ~Psalm 146:1-2

The oncologist office called Art with the results of the PET scan...NO SIGNS OF CANCER!!! I will see him next Wednesday and find out the plan for chemo. He has already said I will have to have chemo treatment but the PET scan would help determine the amount / length of treatment.

I am giving praise to God for this wonderful news! I know that so many have been praying for me, so I hope that you will take a moment to thank God for this incredible, wonderful news!! I know at times we run to God with requests but easily forget to thank Him!!

This is a huge "GOD THING" in my life...can I get an amen?

Thank you for your faithful prayers!!

PET Scan

Wednesday morning is the long awaited PET scan. My witty hubby said we could save some money and he would just run our "PET" retriever around me for a scan. See what I have to put up with? Honestly, it makes life fun! I'm a little nervous about the scan. They said I'd be there about 2 hours and I saw pictures where you have to lay with your hands over your head...that will be a trick for me if I have to stay like that for long. Fortunately, I've finally progressed from "pain" to "uncomfortable" so I'm sure I'll be just fine.

The information from the scan will be beneficial for the oncologist when I see him next week. He will be determining the length of time I will need chemo based on the scan and my pathology reports. Today we got the official word from the surgeon that the lymph nodes were clear. Also, the second surgery was successful in getting a clear margin!! Praise God! Obviously, we continue to pray that there is no more cancer in my body! Thank you for praying with us!

Sometimes, I still find myself in disbelief of it all! Today, when preparing for my Home Team study (weekly Bible study with my girl friends), I was reminded "to live each day in contentment and confidence that your life...just as it is...is a part of God's perfect plan and His perfect timing." (The Remarkable Women of the Bible by Elizabeth George)

Preventative Maintenance

Alright ladies, it's been a little over a month since my diagnosis and I'm wondering, have you done your own personal check or scheduled your mammogram? I'm amazed at how many women do not regularly check their breast for lumps. I know it sounds strange, but you must be familiar with your breast so that you recognize an abnormality.

Some of you may not know that I found the lump in my breast myself. Admittedly, I didn't do "regular" exams on myself but frequently enough that I recognized an abnormal lump immediately. I was due for my mammo so I called my doc's office and got a script for the exam and scheduled a mammo, pretty quickly. Initially, I didn't tell the tech that I had found a lump and after the mammo, she said everything looked good. Then, I told her I had a lump I was concerned about and she had me step back up for a few more specific views. She then saw the area of concern. A week later, I was called back for further tests...the rest is history!

I've talked with some gals who don't want to check or have mammo's because they are fearful of the results. The truth is, you should be more worried about what you don't know! Knowledge and early detection gives you options. I've learned this first hand!! Think of it as preventative maintenance!

If what I've experienced can help save one more life, it makes it worth it all!

Breaking the Silence

It's been a while since I felt up to adding to my blog but I guess it's time to break the silence. I'll be the first to admit, it's been a long hard week! The surgery last Wednesday was delayed and then took longer than expected. My family was anxious as each surgeon took their turn coming out and gave them an update on their portion of the procedure. The pain has been worse than before, which they say is partly because I had not had time to adequately heal from the first surgery which was less than two weeks prior. Also, they had to cut and dig into the muscle this time around. I've had a lot of bruising & swelling, even in my sides and lower back. However, today is a new day and I'm feeling a bit stronger. Art's not convinced but thinks I'm a good actress!

As some of you may know, Peggie, my son-in-law Jeff's mother, has been fighting her own battle with cancer for the past six years or so. Hers also started as breast cancer but then spread throughout her body. This past Saturday morning, she went to heaven and is free of pain and suffering! She was a woman of strong faith in God and was prepared to meet the creator of life. I'm proud of her family and how dedicated they were to her as they took advantage of every opportunity to love on her until the end. I've known Peggie for many years, long before our children fell in love. She is about 20 years older than me and I always admired her knowledge of the Bible. We will miss her but we know that we will see her again some day!

This has been an emotional week, as you may imagine! I've wanted to "be there" for Jeff & Stacey but physically, I wasn't able to be. It's hard to understand God's timing but I have had to accept it. I really hoped that I would be up and running sooner this time, but that's not been the case! The recovery from this surgery has been tough!

Thank you for your constant prayers and words of encouragement...I cherish them more than you can imagine!

Update....

Hi this is Sherry again.
Mom is doing okay. She is tiered and she is very nauseated. She is still in a lot of pain. She went to the doctor today and he said that everything was looking good. He told her not to try to do much and to just do what she feels like doing. I am glad that the doctor told her that because those of you who know Mom well know that she is not one to just sit around and not do anything. So I am glad that she feels like she can rest. So she is sleeping now because she wasn't feeling good. She is having a hard time getting comfortable. So please pray that she will not be nauseated and in pain. Please pray that she will be able to get comfortable. Thanks for all the encouragement she loves to read all the messages. She said sorry that she can't get on and write to you all. But she loves everyone. Thanks and have a great day!

She is doing OK....

This is Sherry!
Mom asked me to go on and to let you know that she is doing OK. She is in a lot of pain and she asked that you all pray for her please. She is in more pain this time around. I know that she is because she asked me to write that specifically in here. She said to tell you that everything went well and they feel that they got a clear margin around the area this time. Also everything else went just fine. Please pray that she won't be in pain. Also she had a fever last night and just pray that it wont happen again. Thank you all for your prayers and for the thoughtfulness that you all have shown her. I will write more later. Thanks!!