Final stretch.

Such wonderful words, final stretch! You would think since I have less than 5 treatments left after a daunting 30 this week would be great. Well, I think the last six weeks has set in. I am tired, beyond tired! I tired I have never known before. I for the most part do really well and power through but some days are better than others. I am still having some headaches, more frequent and the intensity has increased. But when I hears words like "your face seems different?" or "your nose is smaller!" it makes all these things seem so silly. My last treatment is on Monday, Joe is going to come with me to celebrate. I am told that the receptionist Bill that I see everyday and have grown to really enjoy will give me a certificate and blow balloons. At first my thought was, why would he do that it's only radiation?? But know that I am almost done, I am looking forward to the celebration!! Having 6 weeks of radiation is a big deal, and a big deal to all that are close to me. This has challenged me on many levels over the last few weeks. I have been emotional, frustrated, sad, mad, happy, excited, nervous....you name it I'm sure I felt it. It has taken a toll (hopefully a small one) on my kids and Joe. I have needed help in and for periods of time I never thought I would. It has been a very humbling experience. Thank you to all of the family and friends who have brought us a meal, watch our kids, drove them or picked them up from school, kept them for sleepovers or playdates, friends and family that rode with me and watched me be put in that terrible (but necessary) machine, the CD mixes, the phone calls and texts, all of the prayers, love and support! If I am forgetting something it's not that it didn't mean a great deal to me and my family but there has been such an amazing amount of support it is hard to keep track! :)

As of right now, the next step is to wait. I will remain on my medication and have a follow up MRI in 6 months. They think doing it any sooner than that will not show enough results, I will still be followed by Dr. Kerr, Colin Catel and now I will add radiation oncology to my rotation. I never knew I would be such an expert on this sort of a topic! So, while I won't be undergoing radiation after next week my journey is not yet over. So if you could say a prayer for me from time to time I would so greatly appreciate it! I pray and thank god for all of you daily. It's the people in your life that help you get through the most challenging things, I couldn't have done it without all of you!!

Joe you have been amazing, my rock! Thank you for being by my side through this whole experience. It's hard to believe that I have had some sort of symptoms since before Joe and I got married over 8 years ago!! Looking forward to my new normal!!

I have added a picture of me before radiation, earlier this summer and one taken last weekend while on radiation. I don't know if you can see any changes, but I sure can!!

Week 3 down....

I have now completed week 3 of my treatments, 15 to be exact! I am halfway done, 15 more treatments to go! As exciting as it is that I have completed half, it is daunting to think I still have the other half to go. The beginning of the week went fairly well, I was able to work and was very excited to be there. My energy was up, so I didn't rest. I was so pleased with this early in the week, however by Thursday my no resting had caught up to me. During my treatment on Thursday I had a ringing in my ear, and then a horrible headache followed. I was put on IV fluids and was given an injection of dexamethasone. This is a steroid that reduces swelling in the brain which is causing my headaches. Joe was so great and worked from home on Thursday and took care of me and made sure the kids got dropped off, picked up etc. I was able to rest all day! Thanks babe! I woke up this morning to a dull headache and very tired. I went to my last treatment for the week and met with my doctor. He told me I MUST rest each day! I get it, I get it!! He informed me that during the last 3 weeks of my treatment, I could expect to become more tired, and have more frequent headaches. Yay, not quite sure I am still excited about being halfway done. Anyone that knows me, knows I don't sit around. I am a mover and a shaker. So laying around is very foreign to me. It's something I am going to have to get used too! Going to my treatments daily and seeing all of the people that are sick has been a very sobering experience, it puts into perspective for me how precious life really is. We aren't on this earth for very long, and while we are here there is so much heartache and hurt. But there is also so much love and compassion. I watch the families waiting for treatment, with their babies or husbands, wives, parents, friends no one knows what the future holds, just grateful to be right there in that moment. When I leave I try and take a little of that with me each day. I don't like that I have to do this, I hate that I am missing out on taking Emma to kindergarten in the morning and Jack to preschool. But I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to get better. While it might take a while, I believe this will work, and I will be taking my babies to school before I know it!!