Good evening, Friends and Family,

As I sit down to write this update, I have three words that keep running through my mind.  They've been on repeat there for a few months now.  Gratitude, hope and perspective.  I am filled with gratitude to God for all of His many blessings.  

• Two successful surgeries
• Being cancer free at this point
• The prayers, love and support of so many family and friends
• Knowledgeable, caring surgeons and doctors
• Progress in recovery

I am also full of hope.  I've had some tough days during this process.  A cancer diagnosis not only affects your physical body, but it hits you mentally and emotionally too.  Even in the hardest moments though, I knew God was carrying me through.  My Savior, Comforter, Protector, Healer.  None of us know what tomorrow holds, but if God is our Savior we can have peace and an inner joy and hope no matter our circumstances.  
"But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.  We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.  And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.  For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.  Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight.  He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.  For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin.  People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood."  (Romans 3:21-25a, NLT translation)

Hope of the Ages (Press CTRL & click link to listen to one of my favorite songs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpry0ViI5UQ

Regarding perspective...being told you have cancer definitely sheds some perspective on your life.  How you spend your time, your attitude going through each day.  Yes, there are still daily annoyances.  I will still experience feelings of frustration and sadness at times.  I am seeing these daily annoyances in a different light now though.  Each day is truly a gift.  Each interaction is an opportunity to be kind and let others know they are cared for and loved.  

Praises:

• Two good follow up appointments with the reconstruction surgeon and his team.  Everything seems to be healing well. 
• First Lupron injection on 4/12/24 went well.  So far no major issues, just a couple of very mild, menopausal symptoms.  
• I've been back to work full time and in the office for 2 weeks now and it is going very well.  I even survived being there to assist with our May graduation ceremony on Monday evening.  I was exhausted, but also loved every minute of it.  A couple of months ago, I didn't know if that would be a possibility, but God made it happen.  :-)

Prayer Requests:

• Appointment with medical oncologist, Dr. Riley tomorrow (5/9) at 10:30AM.  She wants to see how I've handled the first month after the first Lupron injection and I believe she will have me begin taking an aromatase inhibitor (I believe Anastrozole).  Please pray I have no or very mild side effects from future Lupron injections and the aromatase inhibitor.  I will also have the 2nd Lupron injection tomorrow, so please pray that goes smoothly too and the side effects stay minimal.
• Appointment with Dr. Wilhelmi 5/31 for another check-in to ensure everything is still healing well.
• That full-time work continues to go smoothly, and I feel more energetic each week.
• For wisdom as I still contemplate the possibility of having ovaries removed or a total hysterectomy in the future.
• For blurred vision to improve.  At first, it was caused by Gabapentin and muscle relaxers.  I've been off of both of those for weeks now though and I still have slightly blurred vision quite a bit.  I've read that it is also one of the side effects that can occur with Lupron injections.  Thankfully, as long as I wear my glasses, I can still read fine, and it is confined to reading.  
• Improved arm mobility.  It has improved some, but I am still limited to lifting no more than 10lbs and cannot lift my arms above my head yet.  Since the monthly injections and daily med push me straight into immediate menopause, I am also at a much greater risk for osteoporosis and heart issues.  So please pray I am able to stay active and healthy to keep my bones and joints strong to help reduce that risk.
• That I will be able to sleep in our regular bed soon.  Thankfully, my mom and stepdad had an adjustable twin bed that sits next to our regular bed.  I still have to sleep elevated.  I've tried our regular bed a couple of times and laying flat all night still doesn't work, trying to elevate in the regular bed leads to neck pain and I'm still unable to lay on my sides.  

Sorry for the long update.  Thank you for your continued prayers as I continue along this journey.  We love all of you!  Please let us know how we can pray for you.  

Blessings,
Angie & Cam