Hello Family and friends🙋 I have not done a very good job in trying to keep you informed of what is happening concerning cancer. I have been through so many changes, so quickly, I have felt overwhelmed and just didn't know where to begin or end. So, I will take you to where I am today. Last Friday, I began feeling tired, nauseated, I ached all over. I thought maybe its the flu. I had a temp of 101* which isn't unusual for the flu. What seemed different was that I had not thrown up or had diarrhea, which would be common with the flu. As the day went on, I realized this was something else. My fever now was 102.3* My breast area was red, inflamed and very swollen. I could actually see a puss pocket in the tissue where my breast once was.
Del and Tucker took me to Kaiser Urgent care in Tacoma. After taking my vitals and seeing a physician I was transferred by ambulance to St. Joes. I was taken into surgery and had 2 drain's placed in each breast area. Getting the fluid out was a huge relief in pain. While at St. Joes, I was placed on IV antibiotics. The first couple of days were tough. I was tired, irritable and I missed Tucker so very much. It was hard to be away and I felt alone. Although I did not necessarily want to have visitors either. In fact I asked family that wanted to come and see me, to go visit my mom instead. I try to see her once or twice a week and now it had been a couple of weeks.
So my son Cory Kamenzind and his family went to visit grandma. My cousin Teri Schminkey and Aunt Mary Ehrler also went to visit mom as well as my Sister Darlene and her husband Ernie. My mom was happy to know she was so loved.
Its now Monday 2-25-19. Today is the day I am to have a procedure done to place the port getting me ready for chemo. Since I can not have the port placed due to my infection, this will also mean I no longer will be starting my chemo on 2-27. While I am not excited to start chemo, the sooner I can start, the sooner I can complete my cycle of treatment and move onto radiation.
I was released from St. Joes late afternoon on Monday! It was wonderful to be back at home where I belonged. I hugged Tucker until I'm sure he thought "Ok grandma, enough is enough LOL" I have not felt this good in a while. I'm not tired out, or ache nearly like I had previously. Also during this time Dr. Gao, my oncologist felt before I started chemo, that there was no cancer present anywhere else in my body. Talk about being stressed!! I had assumed if only 1 of 18 sentinel nodes was cancerous, I was good. No, not so fast say's Dr. Gao, he ordered a complete bone scan and a CT scan with contrasting dye. Now the purpose of this 6 hour visit was to once and for all, be sure I had no cancer hiding out in some secret place in my body.
I will not lie, the wait was nearly unbearable. Yesterday, upon my visit with Dr. Gao, I was given the much anticipated results. Positive or negative, I would soon hear the words from his lips. Deep breath, just breathe. My results were something I had prayed about again and again! NEGATIVE! NO CANCER! Whew!! Now I must concentrate on what lies ahead. Chemo is now to begin March 13, 2019 and every 3 weeks for the next 12 weeks. I am hoping to return back to work on March 18, 2019. I really have missed my students. They help make me the best I can be.
I have been seeing a Physical therapist once a week due to Lymphedema. It is such a relief. Well I think you now know as much as me at this point. The only thing I still have left to do is have my port placed as soon as my drains are removed. 
I have tried to remain positive. The only way I have found that I can do this is, stay in Gods word. This is the tool in my tool box that I rely on each day. Today while reading I was focused on  a couple of scriptures. The first one is Deut. 28:61, Duet. 28:61  and Galatians 3:13. A person creates and brings to pass what he continually say's.  You can not have negative thoughts and expect to live a positive life.
I am thankful for each one of you. You each  contribute to my life greatly. Thank you for your prayers and thoughtfulness. May you truly be blessed.