It's over! I'm done! I finished my last adjuvant chemotherapy on May 23! It was the day I have yearned for this entire year, and it was glorious. To celebrate, we had lunch from Panera delivered to all the oncology nurses who gave me such fantastic care all year long. They were so appreciative you would have thought we had given them a million dollars. Eddie and I watched those nurses giving every patient, including me, compassionate care, and always maintaining a positive attitude even when patients were irritable and negative. It gave us such joy to bless them. It reminded me of Jesus' words, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

May 30 was another significant day because it was the first Thursday, of this entire year, that I haven't spent in the oncologist's office. I already feel a significant uptick in my energy level, the chemo fog is lifting, and my head is clearer. Each day I feel a little bit more of myself coming back to life. Except when I overdo it and cram too much into one day, which has already happened because I'm just so anxious to get my life back. But I have to pace myself and give my body time to recover and rebuild my stamina fully.

Speaking of getting my life back. I've come to realize that after cancer, my life will never be the same again. It's going to be BETTER because I have a new perspective, hope, and appreciation for life. Cancer is a wake-up call that life will one day come to an end, and not everyone gets to live out 70, 80, or 90 years. Every day that we wake up with our heart still beating and our lungs filled with air is a beautiful, gracious gift from our Creator. And we get to choose how to use it. So today and every day I choose joy. I choose love. I choose to serve the world by making my highest contribution. And I hope to inspire others to do the same because every life matters. Every life has value. Every life is a gift to the world.

I had my mediport removed this week, and now I have just two more surgeries to go. A few weeks ago, my oncologist threw us a curveball announcing that she wanted me to have my ovaries removed within 30 days of my last chemo. The news was unsettling at first, but I have since learned that this is standard care for women my age who've had aggressive hormone positive breast cancer because it provides one more safeguard against recurrence. While I'm not thrilled about another life-altering surgery, I am grateful for one more strategy to further reduce my risk of recurrence. I'm scheduled to have this surgery on June 14. It will be done laparoscopic, so the recovery shouldn't be too bad. And then I have one final reconstructive surgery that I will undergo in late Summer or early Fall.

 It's been a long road, but the hardest part is finally behind me, and I am cancer free with no evidence of disease!! And I am so thankful that I have not had to battle this disease alone. My family has been strong and supportive, standing by my side through it all. My church has loved and served me extravagantly over these many months. And so many friends, old and new, have prayed for and encouraged me. Thank you! I couldn't have done this without you all.

 In closing, I want to share an ancient Psalm of David that has given me so much hope over these many months.

 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.

Let all that I am praise the Lord;
   may I never forget the good things he does for me.

He forgives all my sins
   and heals all my diseases.

He redeems me from death
   and crowns me with love and tender mercies.

He fills my life with good things.
   My youth is renewed like the eagle's! (Psalm 103:1-5)


With much love and gratitude from this Blessed Pink Warrior,

Jeannette