Last Monday I went in for my 20th and final radiation treatment and banged a gong! Since I was diagnosed on June 19th I have had chemotherapy, a baby, more chemotherapy, a lumpectomy, and radiation all during this strange world of a pandemic.  To say this has been a busy and crazy season of life is somewhat of an understatement.  Cancer has consumed so much of my time, energy, and brain. I am so thankful to be able to start the process of getting some semblance of life back to "normal" (what ever that is with an infant, a four year old, and a pandemic). 

Radiation was the most difficult for me out of this whole process. Going in daily was not only time consuming but exhausting. It was also uncomfortable, cold, and not fun to be manhandled and laid out half naked on a table every day.  They told me the 2 weeks after radiation would be the most painful and they were right. It is so interesting - my breast often feels like it is either getting punched or pinched from the inside. The skin is red and painful.

Looking back on these last 8 months I am extremely thankful. Had I not been pregnant at this exact time I would never had been at the doctors and my OB would not have insisted I go in to get checked. There is no way to tell how long it would have been before I was diagnosed and what the repercussions of a late diagnosis would have been. I am so grateful and privileged to have insurance and have been able to get amazing medical care at a top hospital.   I am beyond grateful and humbled at the amount of love and support you all have shown me and my family.  The cards, the gifs of blankets, lotions, comfy socks, a sweatshirt, activity books, dinners, childcare, the Facebook messages...the list goes on...the support has been overwhelming. I cannot express the gratitude and love I feel for you all. 

What comes next:

• I will start seeing a doctor in Northwestern's Survivor department. From what I understand this doctor will monitor me and have me get checked to make sure I stay cancer free.
•  I will have to take a pill for the next number of years - a hormone blocker - this will help reduce my chances of recurrence. This pill has a number of unpleasant side effects for some - I am hoping/praying I don't get most of them.   
• My hair will continue to grow back :) 
• I will get mammograms and PET Scans to make sure cancer does not come back
• I will forever be thankful for the love and care I have received 

Family update:

Anthony continues his entrepreneurial passion and now is doing 4 start-ups along side his regular job. He and Braya have been following the Mars mission and love doing experiments together.

Braya has just turned 4 and is in her 1st year of preschool (she goes 1/2 day) - she is reading at a kindergarten level and loves imaginative play.

Micah is 5 months old and has an infectious laugh and smile. He is such a happy baby and loves watching his older sister play. 

I am figuring out what days to day life looks like without constant doctors appointments and treatments. We are still working on our house and cannot wait to start hosting again once this pandemic is over.

Thank you all for your amazing love and support and  for walking this journey with me.  ❤️❤️❤️❤️