I started chemo with a one night stay on January 25. I handled that round of chemo well and was able to come home on January 26th. On Tuesday of the following week I was having trouble catching my breath at home and had chest pain. We went to the emergency room at BWMC at 1:00 pm. They ran tests but I didn't even get to the back to see a doctor until 10:00 pm. They found that the fluid on my left lung was making my breathing tough. They decided to drain the lung to help my breathing. I went in for the next round on chemo on February 15. This time I was in the hospital for 6 days receiving my chemo therapy. While in the hospital they had a PET scan that showed the nodules in my lungs have stayed the same size. My oncologist was happy with this that after only the 1 day chemo the nodules have not gotten bigger. He is hopefully that after more rounds that chemo will start shrinking the nodules. Before getting out of the hospital they also drained my lung again. I got out on Tuesday February 20th.  This round made me extremely tired and my white blood counts went so low. I have not been able to work all last week and this week because of my blood counts. Yesterday, I met with my pulmonologist and he did an ultrasound to check the fluid of the lungs. He was happy because there was minimal fluid on both lungs. I then asked him the question I was nervous for the answer, " Do you have any reason that I will not be able to fly to Florida".  Like with the cabin pressure ect. He said no. You can fly. He only asked to come back before going to make sure the lung doesn't need to be drained again so that I feel good while in Florida.  I was so happy with his response. I then had to go get blood work. All my numbers had gone up so my oncologist was happy. My oncologist an I talked about the plan. We will do a 1 day round of chemo on March 7th. Then we will wait until after we get back from Disney to do another round of scans and chemo. We leave for Disney on March 24th and will Return March 29th. I am praying this trip is amazing for all of us and that I feel great the whole time.

Earlier this Month, I received a text from a friend from my high school  softball program. She is now the head softball coach at Howard Community College. Every year they raise money for a cause or family with cancer. This year she choose our family. I literally have cried multiple times thinking about it. The Pallotti Softball Family is different. The support we all show to each other is amazing  even if we never played actually on the field  together. I am so thankful for her starting this. She put together a GoFund me to support our family. The game is to strike out cancer and I will be throwing out the first pitch and the kids will involved in the game, if they want to. The game is on March 23rd at 12:00 at Kiwanis Wallis Park- 3300 Norbert's way Ellicott City, MD Field number 7. Please come out to the game. First pitch will properly be around 11:30 or 11:45. I will put the gofund me below if you would like to give. For every strike out in the game Pepperjack's Subs in Laurel will be donating $50.00. Please go support this sub shop anytime you are in the area! The owner's are amazing and they are supporting our family. Thank you to everyone who has already given to the gofund and Vicky Berry who will also be donating for every strike out too. I cant thank you all enough and hope to see so many of you at the game.

Many people have asked me about work, here is the updated. I have looked into FMLA, sick leave bank from the union, donated leave from other county employees but I have been denied it all because I have not been with Anne Arundel county schools for a year yet. Even though I give to sick leave bank I cant use it because I have a preexisting condition. So as I right now when I don't go to school, I am taking leave without pay. It all sucks but I also cant go into school when I am not feeling well. My admin and assistants at school have been amazing. 

Thank you all for your support! I cant thank you all enough!

Love you all! Keep living life to the fullest!

Christina Beal

Venmo: @christina-Beal

GoFund Me: https://gofund.me/e1860390