Hello friends and family...

I hope you all are enjoying your summer.  I know I am!  I have so much to be grateful for...

May the 9th I sold one of the most coveted posessions I have...You're Invited.  It was such a blessing and a compliment at the same time.  I sold it to the most precious 26 year old you have ever met.  I like to think I had the same spunk she had at 26.  All of my favorite girls are still there.  It is so nice knowing my kids will drive down the street one day and point out to someone that their mom started that business.  She has done some remodeling and brought in some new merchandise but I feel confident that it will stay the same great place where everyone knows your name!

I thought I would have a hard time trying to figure out what to do everyday.  Boy has that not been a problem?  With 3 kids there is always something to do.  Plus I have developed a frozen shoulder and am going to physical therapy 3 times a week.  I know...what else could happen???  But it is getting better.  I just can't get reconstruction until it is completely better.

I went for my final Avastin treatment the end of May.  I couldn't get it because my blood pressure had finally reached the not safe at all level.  I was also accumulating protein in my urine...which means my kidneys were taking a hit too.  So my doctor told me I couldn't receive my last treatment and I was sad, but then I started to rejoice that I was fortunate enough to receive 17 of the 18 of the trial study!  Very lucky!  There is always good in everything...you just have to find it.  But it was heartbreaking in the same respect...I was going to be able to walk out with no more chemo room!  Who wouldn't want to forget that sad sight right?  But as I walked by I saw all of my Tuesday friends and realized that I wouldn't get to sit and talk with all of them.  I  may never see any of them anymore.  We all have more in common than most people.  We are all striving to put CANCER behind us.  Some of us lucky and some of us not.  Fathers, Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, Sons, Aunts, Uncles, Friends, etc.  Who will be the lucky ones????  I cried as Travis and I said goodbye to all of them...He even was teary-eyed.  We all made jokes like...I don't want to see you back here anymore, or your hair better look better the next time I see you.
I cried and hugged each of them...I felt better after that but then so guilty.  I could see in some of their eyes that they were scared too.  We never know what the next chapter of our life involves but we all knew it would be without each other.

Another happy moment was receiving my genetic testing results.  I came back negative!!!  Which means that my cancer was not related to any past history in the family and that my children and sister are not at a greater risk of developing cancer.  Can I get a Hallelujah?

Yesterday I went for my first annual PET scan (shows any cancer activity).  Today I went to the doctor for my results.  I thought I would vomit before I got there.  I was sad to see that my oncologist was still on maternity leave and her nurse practitioner was on vacation.  In walked this stranger...I know Travis and I were thinking the same thing.  This better be good because this nurse practitioner knows nothing about us.  Luckily the first thing out of her mouth was..."Your scans look good."

We both started crying and texting right away.  I know she thought I/we were crazy.  Every inch of my body got chills, my nose was running and I couldn't control my emotions.  The funny part is she asked if we needed to see a counselor.  I guess she thought we couldn't handle it.  She didn't know we are both emotional and just grateful to God for all He does for us!  All I kept saying out loud is God is so great!  God is so good!  I hope she is a christian...if not we have probably scared her half to death. 

I am still crying...it has been 4 hrs now.  I am so relieved and feel like I can live my life for one more year now without as much worry.  Although the worry never goes away completely.  I have found some peace and I am ready to celebrate life even more. 

So here's what's in store now.  I go for my reconstruction appt. on July 8th.  We will then schedule my first procedure.  I will go every Wednesday for 16 straight weeks.  Needless to say I am excited.  Sometime at the end of the summer I will have my ovaries removed.  That shouldn't be that bad.  I am also going to get my port removed.  That's the mechanical device in my chest and neck.  It's become a very big nuissance.

I want you all to write down Saturday, October 10th.  That is the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure!  This year it will be held in Maryland Farms.  Lots of great parking and all flat.  I have already been training and I am determined to run this year.  I am having my own team again and will keep you posted so you can join me...or please resign up your team from last year or start you one.  Any amount we raise is saving one life at a time..including my own.

The past year has gone by very quickly and very slowly at the same time.  The one thing that I could not do without is all of you, my readers.  You have all become my friends...you have kept me going...you have given me the courage to keep fighting.  You have even yelled at me when it's been too long on updating my website (hehehe).

My wish for you is that you find a blessing in every single day...big or small.  Please know that I call you friends because friends are like stars, you don't always see them, but you know they are there.  Please keep in touch.  I promise to be in touch much sooner this time!

Your friend, Kendall

P.s.  I am open to any speaking engagements.  I am speaking in Knoxville this fall and they have incorporated it into the hospitals big fund raiser for cancer research!  Yikes....Over 300 folks I've heard.  I am here to give back to you all.  Remember October is breast cancer awareness month.

Please take note of my new email address!  Keep in touch.