Tracey Key

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

My name is Annette Vourlotis and I work with Tracey.  I will be posting to this site to help keep everyone updated on Tracey's journey as well as create a place you can reach out to Tracey with words of support and encouragement. 

As you may know, Tracey was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and is about to begin treatment.  She has already had a lumpectomy and thankfully had the drain removed from that on Friday.  Since she managed to get herself tied up in the shower with that little contraption, it was a good thing to happen.  She will be sharing her story soon, but in an effort to make sure everyone knows of upcoming procedures, etc., we wanted to go ahead and get started. 

First of all, upcoming procedures:  Tracey will have an echocardiogram tomorrow, as well as a CT of different body parts,  to make sure she is good to go on the upcoming chemo.  Tracey is the most disciplined person I know in sticking to her intense physical training and is in great physical shape.  I feel certain she will pass these tests with flying colors!  Wednesday she will have the chemo port installed and next Tuesday, May 15, is the day scheduled for her first chemo. 

So, these are the facts.  Now for the good stuff!

Tracey has an incredible spirit and positive attitude.  This will help her get through this.  On Friday, after hearing the cancer was a little more involved than she first though, she was a little solemn as she came into work.  Yes, I said she came into work.  Now me, I might have stayed under my bed a couple of days, but she came into work.  And truth be told, I was more solemn than she was!  However, within the first hour, I could hear her loud crazy laugh down the hall!  What a sweet sound! 

Tracey and Barry told Clay about everything that is going on this weekend.  Tracey said she could see his little world fracturing as she looked at his sweet face.  Lots of reassurance and questions later, his concern remained for people making fun of his mommy losing her hair.  He assured her he would punch someone in the face if that should occur.   Good little boy that he is..

Later that evening, Tracey had a friend stop by she hasn't seen in several years.  This lady has ovarian cancer and is undergoing chemo herself.  She brought Tracey a blanket with Alabama colors and inspirational words to keep her warm during her chemo.  This friend looked happy and healthy and had a cute baseball cap on.  They talked openly about her cancer and Clay listened in.  He asked Tracey's friend if she had lost her hair under the baseball cap.  She said yes, and Tracey asked if she would like to see.  He did.  His face flooded with relief when she took off the baseball cap.  He said, Mommy you can just wear a baseball cap!  He said it wasn't too bad losing your hair.  He saw this sweet friend doing well, and was comforted to know his mommy would be okay.  What a sweet affirmation  for this little boy who has so much concern for his mommy to be okay.  God is so good!

I hope you will sign up to receive updates on Tracey's progress and be a part of this journey with her.  Feel free to share comments and encouragements with Tracey here.  She will be reading them and you are sharing with her.  I am just the author of the site to take one thing off Tracey.  We will be sending a Sign Up Genius around so you can sign up to take Tracey's family a meal.  Please look for that. 

Have a blessed day and thanks for supporting Tracey!