What is going on today....

I live with daily injections, monthly injections, pills and most currently a new treatment called chemobolization (even though it isn't cancer) they are trying a new technique to see if this will help shrink my tumor enough to be able to perform radiation. The goal is to do the cyberknife. Less invasive and would hopefully be able to get more of it. The down side to radiation is that it is not immediate. Once it is done, it will take at least 18-24 months for the tumor to "go away". Which means, I will need to remain on all of the very expensive meds that I am on. The patient assistance company dropped me, so I had to find another company to take me on. In the interim while I was hoping for another company to pick me up, I couldn't discontinue treatment, so I had to send the little money in mine and Joe's savings account. Which has put a huge strain on things for our household. My mom has had to take out many loans that we pay on monthly. This monthly bills are a killer! Joe and I both work and we do well, however this is something that we never thought would happen and continue too.

Like I said earlier, I try not to be defined by this disease, which is why exactly one year following my brain surgery I competed in the Greeley triathlon. As I crossed that finish line, I felt empowered. I can do anything I set my mind too! Last summer I went on to do the tri for the cure and the Longmont Oktoberfest. Already this summer I have done 1 and am hoping to do more. I feel like if I feel good enough to be doing them I shouldn't take that for granted and need to get out there and do it. I also don't want Emma and Jack to look back on this process and to think I have had self pity, but instead made the best of what cards were dealt to me even if it is hard.

I have an unbelievable support group, so many friends and family that love me and would do anything for me. It is very hard to ask anything of anyone, especially the people whom have already done so much. But we are at a point where we need some help financially. If you can donate a dollar a month or whatever you can stand to do, Joe and myself will be extremely grateful! We need to pay down on this very expensive medical bills. Heaven for bid, but if something changed for me and I need more funds for a medicine I had to have, I wouldn't be able to do it.

Even if you choose not to donate, I appreciate you taking the time to read my story. If you don't know me, I am a very loving, kind, outgoing, positive individual. I love life, and I am grateful that I have the one god has given me. The saying, What doesn't kill us only makes us stronger, well I believe I am very strong and my strength may be tested at times, but I try and remember one foot in front of the other.

This coming Monday June 21st is my last chemobolization treatment, and following that I will have an MRI in hopes that it has in fact shrunk enough so they can perform the radiation. If it has, (I believe this is working) I will have the radiation on the June 22nd. I still have a long road ahead of me, and who knows if I will see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I plan to continue living each day to the fullest, being a good wife, mother and friend.

I will update daily, so please follow my blog so you can see how things progress.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story!

I would love to hear from any or all of you, take care.

I have Acromegaly, but I am a tri girl!!