One year ago today my world was turned upside down.  My worst fears had come to fruition.  I had breast cancer.  What a year it has been.  Last Christmas was sad.  I worried that it would be my last.  There was a cloud over everything.  What a roller coaster!  Over this past year we left no stone unturned.  First we thought a lumpectomy and radiation would be all that was needed.  Then we learned chemo would be necessary.  We experienced some of the worst healthcare.  We have since experienced the best.  I couldn't see beyond chemo.  It was so hard on me and my family.  Then to hear "no evidence of disease".  What a huge weight had been lifted, metaphorically.  Well 4 weeks later, literal weight was lifted. (I was upset...I thought for sure they weighed more!) During the double mastectomy, I also had a complete lymph node dissection.  The pathology came back and there was no cancer in my right breast or the lymph nodes removed.  There was still a considerable amount of DCIS remaining in the left breast...it had to go!  My final leg of "active" treatment was radiation.  There was such a support during chemo infusions, you never felt alone.  I felt so vulnerable at the beginning of my radiation treatments. I was alone, my scars exposed, listening to a machine emit gamma rays into my body with tears slowly falling down my face. I am in a routine and I know the people there now.  I have 6 more radiation treatments left and then I'm done with what I consider "active" treatment.  Active, because it has taken up my life for the past 9 months.  March 1, 2019 was the last day I was in my classroom teaching. I miss math and I miss hanging out and joking with high school kids.  I don't miss stress and drama.  I will be going back to work in January.  I will only be working 60%.  I plan on working 3 days a week and using the extra days to rest.  As my body recovers, I will work my way back to full time.

I can't thank everyone enough for the support you have given me and my family during this past year.  To know we are thought of, prayed for, and not forgotten means so much to us.  I hope you all are able to enjoy this season with those who mean the most to you.  I am so excited for Christmas!