Hello to all of you fabulous friends who have followed my Breast Cancer Journey!
Today - 18 months to the DAY- from the scariest day of my life when I sat alone in the radiology office hearing I definitely had cancer- I heard the most beautiful words - YOU’RE CURED!
The picture included with this post is my Oncologist, Dr. Tom Buroker who held my hand through every fear and wiped my tears and made sure I’ll be around for years with exactly the care plan I needed to fight the beast of Triple Negative Breast Cancer. I am so thankful to my friends Chris and Krystin Komanapalli for making sure I was in his office immediately after my diagnosis to get my treatment started without delay. Time was my worst enemy and we caught it before it metastasized.
I went through 5 months of chemotherapy, miserable night sweats, lost all my hair, and made it through by the grace of god with the help of my amazing husband, son and my mama. I underwent a double mastectomy, six months of skin stretching expanders, lost the 35 pounds of chemo weight, the huge DIEP flap reconstruction surgery where they rearranged my stomach tissue to make new breasts and sewed me all back together, and I willed myself to keep pushing and get back on my feet. Now I’m happy to report I can get on with the rest of my LIFE!
My life has changed so much and perhaps the biggest news of all is that in the middle of all of this I decided I had lived through my last Iowa winter. Some of you may know and many may not - but while I was in treatment I would sit on Zillow to pass the time during chemo and I found my dream home. My amazing family said we want mama to live out the rest of her days in a place that makes her heart happy. So we packed up and moved across the country to Richmond, Virginia!
We moved over spring break so Jefferson could still have a few months in his new school. He has adjusted very well and has lots of friends. Pete kept his remote job for Principal Financial Group and I also got a remote job so we both work from home and get to enjoy our beautiful new view. Our house in VA has a lake in the back and 5 acres of trees. We are renting out our home in Des Moines so we will still be back in this neck of the woods to say hello to all our Midwest friends from time to time.
So - as my last post - I just want to say one more time how GRATEFUL I am for every prayer, well wish, home cooked meal train item, gift basket, hug, card, and all your love. I feel blessed beyond words and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart!!!
Love you LOTS,
Anya
