Thank you

I would first like to say a special thank you to my husband and children.  They have pulled together and have made cancer life so much easier.  They all took care of me when I was feeling sick and could not get out of bed.  They never got mad when I couldn't go somewhere or do something.  They took all the abrupt changes in stride.  The best thing that they all do is just hug me, rub my bald head, and tell me I am still beautiful.  They tell me and everyone else how strong I am.  Junior has been so strong and I appreciate him everyday.  I just hope he knows he is allowed to show his weakness too.  I love you guys...you are why I fight every day!!!

Next, I would love to thank the best daddy in the whole world. He drove me to almost all of my chemo appointments. It was "our thing." He would sit there for hours bull crapping and telling stories to me and the nurses helping to pass the time.  Imagine that...my dad made new friends...lol!!  I am truly the luckiest girl in the world to have him.  He is so compassionate, but gives me that swift kick in the ass when I need one...like when I'm feeling sorry for myself.  I love you Daddy!!  Oh...and thank you for being Mom's rock through all this.

My mommy...where to even start.  This journey has actually shown me an entire new side of her.  My mom has always been the strong one who never got upset or freaked out in bad situations.  It was my dad who you were normally picking up off the floor.  ROLE REVERSAL!!  She reminds me more and more everyday of my grandma.  My mom has been my rock and a valuable informational resource.  She could probably be a breast cancer MD by now.  She researches everyday about everything from the types of cancer to home remedies.  Heck, yesterday she said, "Dani, I was reading yesterday that if you have any more leg pain, you should put a bar of soap at the end of your bed."  Well, that's my mama!  My mom is having a very difficult time with my diagnosis.  She is very scared that it will come back or show up somewhere else.  I keep trying to tell her it is NOT going to, but she is a worrier,.  She cries often, which breaks my heart.  Who likes to see their mom cry??  Not this girl.  I promise she will be all smiles soon once this surgery is over and I get a clean bill of health.  I love love my mommy!!

Thank you to my dear friend Melissa.  She took the time to organize meals for me each treatment week.  To some that may not seem like a big deal, but to me it is.  As many of you know, her mom is courageously fighting breast cancer herself.  She has been Stage IV for just over a year now.  Melissa is very dedicated to her mom's needs as well as enjoying every minute she has with her.  Melissa herself was also diagnosed with thyroid cancer about one month before my diagnosis.  Therefore, this his been quite a crazy year for her and her family.  Through all of that, she was still able to make time to take care of me.  Not only did she plan the calendar and make all the phone calls to assign people times, but she too cooked and cleaned for me.  I just hope she knows how much I love her and cherish her friendship!!

I would also like to send a special thank you to Christy Hoskins for holding my hand through this.  When I am upset, she is always the first person I call.   She always found a way to make me feel better or to help me laugh.  She made several meals for my family and came over to lend me a hand around the house. She also took me to one of my long chemo treatments (4-5 hours) while I slept the whole time...and btw Christy...I do NOT snore!!
Love you babe!!

Thanks to all my meal train ladies...Melissa Trenkamp, Christy Hoskins, Laura Trenkamp, Mindy Sheppard, Amy Scherz, Amy Commins, Kristi Booth, Nicki Rinthen, Jaime Chili, and Tara Smithson.

The meals were awesome...Junior loved every minute of it...and so did his coworkers with all the leftovers.

If I did not name you specifically...it is my chemo brain....but you know who you are!!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

I will keep you posted on my upcoming surgery...hopefully will have a new computer by then!!

The news we have all been waiting for

These past 2 weeks have been the BEST 2 weeks of my life!!

1. Chemo ended 8/22....omg what a relief...hurry hair start growing on my head, eyelashes, and eyebrows only....the rest of you hair follicles may stay dormant!

2. I scheduled my bilateral mastectomy WITHOUT reconstruction for Septemeber 13th.  I know it is weird, but I can't wait.  I am ready to remove anything attached to this entire ordeal.  My mom keeps telling me it with bother me emotionally, but I know she is wrong.  Never took a liking to these saggy things anyways.  Plus, they aren't my friends anymore since they gave me this disease.  Reconstruction is a lengthy process and will start sometime next spring.

3.  After surgery...I will have radiation for up to 5-6 weeks.  This is not a big deal other than it is everyday for 10 minutes and is time consuming. 

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST....

#4   I had a CT scan, a mammogram, and an ultrasound.  All 3 tests show no signs of visible cancer!!!!   HAHAHAHAHAH...I told them not to mess with me b/c I would kick some ass...and I did!!  There IS the possibility that there are a few cells remaining that they can't see, but they will get them at the time of surgery. 

Put it this way....the tumor and the lymph node shrank sooooo much that they are not visible on any of the scans!!!  I will take that any day...modern medicine is awesome...thankful to live in the US of A.

Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers...having so many soldiers fighting for me has made me stronger.  Thanks to all of you for being followers and caring enough to be emotionally vested in my journey to survival.  Without all of you, this process would have been a nightmare.  I have learned so much through all of this and value the opportunity to witness the true meaning of family and friendship...now that is a life-long lesson!!

So...she is ALIVE!!!

    I am so sorry that I have not blogged in 3 or 4 weeks.  Life has been crazy with my school year and the kids' school year starting combined with our sports schedule.  The major reason is that my computer took a crap on me and I have no access to the Internet except through my phone.  Blogging on your phone is way too difficult.  I am actually at my mom's typing to you now before my next appointment!!

#7

I am officially nearing the finish line.  I had my 7th treatment today.  Only ONE more left and I can't wait!!  I have been so patient through this entire process and the not so fun changes that accompany it.  Lately, I have found myself getting impatient and anxious to be done with this stage of the game.  I am ready for my hair, eyelashes, and brows to grow back.   I am ready to regain my energy...and I am ready for surgery.  Some think I am off my rocker for looking forward to my upcoming procedure, but it puts me one step closer to being a "survivor."  I meet with my oncologist tomorrow so hopefully we begin a plan for when my chemo is complete...OMG I CAN NOT WAIT :)

Have a good week.  I go back to work Wednesday...pray I have an easy week and get through this round without a hitch.  The good thing...my students do not start until Monday and I should be feeling better (I hope).