Back to life

It has been almost a year since I last posted. To say I've had a lot going on would be an understatement. I hope to make a VERY long story at least semi-short, but I'm not sure if that is possible.

In April of '07, I started having some shoulder pain. I really just thought it was because I was still nursing Preston and packing him around and he was getting pretty big. I went to see a sports medicine doctor and he gave me some exercises to do to strengthen my shoulder. Then the pain started in the other shoulder and kind of alternated from side to side depending on the day. We went on vacation with my parents and my brother and sister-in-law in May and my neck really started bothering me then. We were sleeping on a pull-out couch though, so I passed it off. One night was super bad....I had to wake Mom up because I couldn't even lie down my neck was hurting so badly.

I went to my family doctor after we got home and he referred me to physical therapy. I just kept getting weaker and weaker. Finally I went back to the sports medicine doctor and he ordered an MRI of my neck. I had the MRI and they asked me to wait in the waiting room as they were sending it to be read immediately. At that point, I knew my cancer was back. I never really thought that was the issue until that moment. So, I called my friend and coworker, Tammy, and we hiked over to the doctor's office when they told me the MRI had been read and I needed to go back and speak to the doctor.

Dr. Chumbley told me that I had a tumor on my spine and he would be contacting my oncologist at Vandy. He couldn't give me much information except that he said it probably wasn't good. He was able to reach my nurse, Vicki, who contacted the melanoma surgical oncologist. They set me up with an appointment with a neurosurgeon that week. I had a PET scan a couple of weeks later that showed a spot in my lung and a spot in my left shoulder blade. Surgery followed on July 5. I had radiation in August along with another neck surgery because one of my bones chipped off, so Dr. Weaver put in a steel cage to stabalize my neck.

On 8/20, I had another PET scan and the news was devastating. I was covered up with cancer. I had "innumerable" tumors in my lungs and liver. What???? It's still crazy for me to think about it. My parents, Ivan, and I went to see the melanoma medical oncologist to discuss options. He gave a few options, but only one option led to a potential full recovery and those odds were slim (insert the voice of my mother saying "we don't believe in odds"). The drug had to be delivered while I was inpatient at Vandy and the toxicity levels were high. I just felt like I had to do it because I had to live!

I was admitted to Vandy on 9/5. I did feel pretty horrible, but I'm not sure how much of that was the IL-2. I was still in a neck brace from the second surgery (if you have never been in a neck brace, they are MISERABLE). I was emotionally and spiritually at rock bottom, and I was literally dying. I did have side effects from the medicine, but mine were apparently mild in comparison to the effects other people have had. I got discharged on 9/10, went to Lexington to be the matron of honor in my cousin's wedding on 9/15, and then went back in for more IL-2 on 9/19.

I got out of the neck brace at the beginning of October and was finally able to drive again and thus start physical therapy. I had lost all bicep function in my right arm. I think PT is as much a miracle drug as any chemo. I got so much stronger so quickly (relatively speaking). Caldwell County Sports Medicine is great!

I went in for a CT scan on 10/30. I was feeling pretty good about it as I wasn't having any symptoms. I just assumed that if I was literally covered up with cancer in August but was feeling pretty ok at the end of the October, things had to have at least stabalized. Drum roll......we definitely got the miracle that we had been praying for! So much of the cancer had just melted away!!!!

I went through another round of IL-2 in December and returned to work at the end of January 2008. I just had another CT scan in Feb., and more of the cancer has disappeared. There is still disease in my left shoulder (although it hasn't grown), so we are doing one more round of IL-2 beginning 4/17. Regardless of the outcome, this will be my last round. Three is the most doses Dr. Sosman will give anyone.

I am leaving so many things out. So many heartbreaks, so many blessings, so many thank you's to individuals.....

There is no way I could mention everything and everybody. I will say, if you're going to have devastation, Princeton, KY is a great place to be. This town will pray for you and support you like no other town in the world. My church and especially my Sunday School class have been marvelous. My family (including inlaws) was amazing. My husband is more wonderful than words could describe. Guess I should include Madisonville too! My friends from there, coworkers, and boss all supported me tremendously. As far as prayers go, I got prayers from all over the state! It helps to have an uncle who teaches at a seminary and preaches across the state to solicit prayers....a preaching grandfather as well.

God is a great and miraculous God. Miracles still happen every day. Yes, there is still a chance this melanoma could take my life, but I have already been given more time than I expected and more importantly, quality time. I've been able to hold Preston again and care for him by myself for several weeks now.

I've skipped a lot of milestones on this blog...Preston's first birthday, Caroline's wedding, Halloween, Christmas, etc. I haven't decided if I'm going to post pictures from any of that or not. Regardless, I'm going to keep up the blog going forward.

My cousins and their respective spouses are talking about doing a cousin blog. If that goes through, I guess I'll move future posts over to the new site, but for now, I'll be posting here. Welcome back to me!!!