WOW!!!
1 year to get here.
Wasn't ever 100% sure it was coming.
But the quote from Dr. Crowley "no current imaging indicator of recurrent malignancy."  And from the written report: "Final Assessment: BIRADS 2: Benign Finding (s)."   Benign Findings - Queue the music!!!

So you all know the expression let the air out of the balloon....well with those words from our surgeon the air definitely went INTO the balloon.   No, literally, Karen lost 5 10 15 pounds of weight on her shoulders.   Her smile started from her toes, reached her face, and met the tears coming down from her eyes.    OK, mine too!  (you all know the sap I am by now)

A couple of other concepts that came across us-
...we did it...
...OMG finally I feared the worst and it came out the BEST...

I have tracked the numbers, sort of, throughout this journey.  Believing at first that medical science would prevail and that 95% of this shit was just chemical and I could beat it from the lab.    As the journey went along it was 75% physical through all the testing- always pulling at you as you waited and waited for results of each test.    Then 50% physical - 50% mental as we turned into 2020 and chemotherapy loomed.    Beat that, and radiation began - up to 75% mental.   Then....the long.... hot.... summer.   80...85....90%.   Hell, I had to fake pain in my knee so I could get it replaced so K-Dawg the fighting caretaker would have something else to focus on- my recovery (OK  I didn't fake it, but she is one fantastic giving caretaker and I'm lucky for that....and honestly the distraction was good for her and the push she put on herself helped her stamina and sped her recovery and I got a great new knee that is already almost completely recovered as a sidebar victory).   Back to the numbers....leading to her followup mammogram on August 19th.... 95% .... 96...97..98...99% and MORE if you can imagine that....her head was bursting, literally exploding.  No sleep, sweating, tensing, fearing....   

And who set the 2:00 pm appointment anyway?????    couldn't we go in at 1 am or something????
Then the technicians can't say anything except, the doctor knows you are here you can go see her.....

Finally, in Dr Crowley walks, .... NIRVANA???   YES!!!!   The best news of 2020 by about a zillion times!!!!

We headed home, stopped for a 1" bone in ribeye to grill, got the cork out of the Cakebread wine (which was slated to be drunk no matter what the results- but the good news was we shared it with this result- it was going to be all in her glass had the results been different :)      And we relaxed, truly chilled, on the back porch, with Spotify, Carli, wine, breeze for what seemed like a forever.

So much can be said, and hopefully this is the last one of the entries to this "bridge" and that I never have to write another.   Karen will be available for others to help them anticipate what we didn't, prepare for what we didn't, just listen to them when others can't.   And to enjoy what we want....and realize work isn't everything.   Family and friends are!!!

Much love to all of you.    I really have enjoyed this outlet.   And when Karen finally reads it, I'm sure she will too!   You are the best of friends- she is lucky to have everyone of you.   

Signing off because we are CLEAR!!!!!!!

and always remember.....   after the rain comes the rainbow...

Love, hugs and THANKS...  /duke