Post #10: A Village of Support

April 11

Exactly 2 months after the call that changed everything for me. Feb. 11 was the day that I received the call that my biopsy came back cancerous. That date feels like a lifetime ago. The days between now and then seem long and the weeks even longer. I'm healing and recovering, but just not at the pace and quickness that I would prefer. I am at the mercy of my body healing at its own timing. I still can't shower on my own, I can't lift up my right arm without severe pain (I think because 3 lymph nodes were removed from that side), and still can't lift anything or be independent. But.... I AM CANCER FREE!!!! I also had a major advancement today - I tried to blow dry my hair for the first time since the surgery and I did it! It wasn't easy, but it was a step in a positive direction. I'm excited today because I invited a small group of friends over tonight to visit for a short time. I wasn't sure how long I could visit for, but it was wonderful to see a handful of friends today. We talked and laughed and it felt... NORMAL. I felt the love and support of this group so much. I felt good... Today gave me my answer. I can get past this chapter, and not identify myself with just cancer, but as a CANCER SURVIVOR. I did it. I don't know what my future treatments will be yet (chemo or no chemo.... praying hard for no chemo!) or whatever that looks like, but I completed a very challenging step of removing the cancer with a very difficult surgery which came back with a clean pathology report and I am overcoming it one day at a time.

My husband said to me at the end of the night that today is exactly 2 months after that call on Feb. 11th. I didn't put that together, but I don't think that is a coincidence - that is God's work.

April 12th Last night was a big night visiting with friends, I'm tired and feeling bit sore today. But it was all worth it. I absolutely loved seeing friends and the love I received filled up my strength. My son had a lax game today that I was hoping to go to, but didn't have the energy to go. So I sit in my recliner and decide to write some thank you notes and relax for the afternoon while my husband sends me text updates of the game. My son played great which made me so happy! After the game, my husband comes home with a gift from one of the lax parents - it is a framed picture of my son holding his helmet with a breast cancer ribbon on the back of the helmet. My emotions take over... tears flood my eyes. The idea that the lax team has breast cancer ribbons on their helmets to show their love and support of my family is incredible. The amount of community support, friend support, family support all is just overwhelming. This is not the attention I wanted, but I have to say, that in times of distress, feeling the love and support is incredible.

My youngest daughter's soccer team also showed their love and support last weekend by pink hair ribbons and wearing arm tape in support of our family. I wasn't expecting those pictures to come through the text thread, but I was in awe of them. I so much appreciated the love they shared! At one of my older daughter's last basketball games (Findlay vs Ashland), it happened to be a breast cancer awareness game for the other team. What are the chances?, In the lobby, there were tables with breast cancer awareness information and posters to write who you support. I didn't realize that because I quickly avoided those tables at the time, I couldn't bring myself to look at those tables and accept that was me. What a coincidence. But just before the game started, my daughter looked at me from the court and motioned out to me to get my camera ready. So I do, and next thing I see is a row of my daughter and her teammates holding up signs in support of me. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Pure love and support in the most innocent way.

It is all these moments... it is all the text messages... it is all the people who check in on my kids to see how they are doing... it is the friends that offer to help distract my kids.... it is the friends and family who check in on my husband to see how he is doing... it is the families who provided meals for our family, messages, calls, gifts and flowers... it is all the little and big actions that people take, and go out of their way, to check on us and show their love.

THANK YOU. FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART... THANK YOU.

My oldest son's lacrosse team put pink ribbons on their helmets in support of our family. This framed picture of my son holding his helmet was a gift given to me by a dear friend who coordinated this beautiful act of support. Thank you! xo!

Findlay vs. Ashland Game - Breast Cancer Awareness game for Ashland. My daughter and her teammates surprised me with posing for a picture with their signs of support for me.... amazing. I just love these girls.

My youngest daughter's soccer team send pictures of their support of our family while they were out of town at a tournament. What a beautiful and thoughtful surprise!! Thank you girls and parents!!! xo!

Just a sampling of some of the many messages of support I received these past several weeks - every single message I received helped strengthen me to get through some very challenging days... thank you dear friends and family for your love and support along the way!!! XOXO!