Has it really been that long since I've posted! I sign in and the first thing I see is...Happy Independence Day everyone! Heh. Sorry guys...
It's probably been because I've been leading such a "normal" life since then. I haven't even had so much as an appointment with my doctor...that is...until last Wednesday. I had a three month checkup on Wednesday complete with a PET Scan, an echocardiogram, and a full set of blood tests. And I'm thrilled to report that I am still cancer free! WOOHOO!
My doctor continues to be surprised and excited about my results. It's just so baffling how one minute I'm weeks from dying, and the next I'm totally recovered. Atleast, it seems like a minute. Maybe it was months. Sigh. Anyway, he was thrilled, saying that my next appointment in three months will be only that - an appointment. I won't have any tests at that time other than some blood tests...unless of course, I have any symptoms of cancer, like chest pain and such.
I'm really coming to a place where my risk of recurrence goes lower and lower with each passing day...and now that I've made it a year since I've had any visible cancer cells in myself, things are really better! A year is a real benchmark, and because of HIM (Jesus - not my doctor...or perhaps Jesus through my doctor...and good nutrition...hehe), I am still here!
Not only am I still here, I've had many opportunities to share my story through the American Cancer Society. Sioux Falls Woman did a profile of me for the next issue, which is actually coming out this week. I got to be a cover girl, which is so fun! I can't wait to see it - I heard from the editor that the pictures turned out wonderfully.
Also, I got to do a couple of local interviews for KSFY and KDLT here in Sioux Falls during that Friday night cancer fundraiser, Stand Up to Cancer. It was really neat because the fundraiser was simulcast on ABC, NBC and CBS..something that is usually reserved for Presidential speeches.
I put a couple of new videos up on sharinghope.tv, which I think are pretty fun. I plan to put up another this week that will update my most recent scan results. Here are the links:
This one is me at our local Relay For Life event...which was a total blast. We made it until 5am...so 11 hours. That's not too bad :-)
http://www.sharinghope.tv/video/2072655
This one is just a couple minutes of my photo shoot for the cover of Sioux Falls Woman. It's in the dark, so you can really only see the pink Falls---and then randomly, you can see the camera flash on me as I pose like a supermodel :-)
http://www.sharinghope.tv/video/2072792
Sampson is doing quite well. We're getting moved back into our house. It's been a long long process because I don't have any bedroom furniture yet...it's probably not coming until like November, so things are in boxes all over. My living room has stuff all over it. Sigh. It's been fascinating for Sampson because when I got him back in March of '07, we lived at my mom and dad's...so that's all he's ever known. I think he's getting the hang of it. He doesn't really like change...such a boy :-)
I'm sure there's tons more that I'm missing. I've done so much travelling. I got to go to Green Bay for the Packers/Cowboys game. I had the opportunity to take someone with a disability whom I serve at SD Achieve. She had a total and complete blast - it was one of her life dreams to go to a Cowboys game! Aunt Cindy and Uncle John invited us to stay at their home...which was so wonderful because it made the trip affordable for Donna...and we all had a blast. Thank you guys for opening your home to us!!!
Other than that, I've just been visiting Benny in the Cities because he started his new job there in July. Generally speaking, I miss him terribly. Lydia too since she's been down in Lincoln doing her billions of things.
Love you all...I'll update again sooner when I've got more fun media stuff to post!
Annie
