Okay it has certainly been awhile.  Sorry.  I thought I had posted something in January, then discovered nope.  Chemo head.....

Wow what a nine months this has been!  This has been one crazy wild ride.

I finished my last 4 bag treatment Wednesday, January 23.  I had twelve weeks of Taxol and Herceptin. I cannot believe how many different reactions your body can endure while going through that crap!  But I made it!  Our bodies can go through a great deal!  The following Wednesday, January 30 I started my “easy” chemo treatments.  I receive one bag of Herceptin every three weeks until October 30, 2019.  I have very mild reactions compared to what I have dealt with during my earlier chemo.  

On Friday, February 1, 2019 I reached a milestone.  I went back to work full time.  What an emotional day that was!  Those kids were the toughest thing for me to give up for three months and they were the absolute best thing to come back to!  I haven’t missed a full day since my return.  They give me a reason to keep my ducks in a row.  A reason to stick to a schedule.  They give me energy and strength. I am a very fortunate individual.  While going back to work wasn’t easy and it certainly was and still is exhausting and draining, it was the best choice.  I thank those individuals sitting in those chairs.  They have dealt with my chemo head.  Actually I think they may have enjoyed my mixed up chemo head.  They gave me their patience and their compassion.  They gave me encouragement and support.  My coworkers were so awesome and supportive.  I certainly wasn’t going through this alone.  I made it through each day and many days went home and collapsed.  But I made a personal goal to go back to work and to not miss any more days once I went back.   I think I will make that goal.  I may take a nap once the school year finishes next week.  

During February and early March I completed the radiation portion of my treatment.  Every day, five days a week I left school a five minutes early, drove down to Mankato and got my zap.  Do you remember the weather then?  Yup through every snow storm,  whiteout, blizzard, polar vortex, or icy road conditions I made my trek.  I did not miss one day!  People wondered when the weather would make a change and I knew with confidence once I didn’t have to make that drive every day the weather would behave.  Oh and I made that drive in the “true Minnesota” winter driving machine, my Pruis! I also made it through and dealt with the after effects of radiation treatment.  The burn. The pain.  The blood and ooze.  I think I would rather have a bag or two of Taxol than deal with radiation side effects again. But it is done and I received my radiation completion pin.

I am still getting treatment every three weeks.  Going through the every three month heart tests and other things.  Things have certainly calmed down.  My hair has started to look like hair again.  Definitely two toned.  The front is silver and the back is my normal brown.  It took a bit but the curl came back!
The school year is winding down.  Graduation is next Friday evening.  I plan on walking with the graduates like I normally do.  They may have to nudge me awake if I nod off during the ceremony!  

I could not have gotten through the last nine months without the love and support of family and friends.  Thank you for the kinds words and encouragement.  Thank you for the food and the rides.  Thank you for helping me at work and covering when I needed to leave.  I could have never done this alone. 

Today I celebrate my 53rd birthday.  Lets hope it is a prime year!