I Did It

It's done. This chapter of my life that I lived because I had to. That my family had to live because they had to. We did it. The elation and incredible emotion I feel about getting through this is overwhelming. And if you see me in the next month, I am gladly accepting millions of hugs!

Six months of tests and surgeries and scary news and chemo and feeling awful. But also 6 months of incredible friendships, supportive family, finding fun where I could, and living the best way possible on my good days. I didn't lose six months to cancer. I lived differently, certainly, but nothing was lost (except my eyebrows!).

Though I'm (hopefully) through the worst of this cancer journey, it is unfortunately a life-long deal for me. In the coming months I'll have a PET Scan to double-check that we got everything. Then I'll meet with my team of doctors to do what they call a survivorship meeting, where we lay out what the rest of my life will look like (spoiler alert - getting very healthy and active, as there's no known way to prevent my particular kind of lymphoma from coming back). Then every six months for the next year or two I'll have a CT scan to make sure nothing is popping back up. Eventually I'll go down to annual check ups with my oncologist, but I imagine for a long, long time, if not forever, I'll be very nervous any time I get sick or have any of the symptoms I had that lead to my diagnosis.

I will not let that nervousness stop me. I'm thankful to have gained an incredible perspective from this experience and that is - Life is too short for planning. The time to DO is NOW. Be with my family. Travel. Enjoy the odd little things that make me happy. Laugh with my friends every day. Get the tattoos I've been thinking about forever. Take a trip with my husband. Visit my family who I haven't seen in a long time. I WILL NOT SIT AROUND WORRYING OR PLAYING THE WHAT IF GAME. I refuse to waste my time like that.

Whether you have supported me from near or far, brought us meals or flowers, dropped off my kids, sent me cards, walked my dog, texted me late into then night, sent gifts, sent prayers, walked or run with me, encouraged me and my family in any way through this - THANK YOU. I hope to never have reason to support you through something like this, but rest assured, if you ever need me for ANYTHING, I am a phone call away. I cannot stress enough how much I love and appreciate the people in my life. I just can't put it into words. I have an amazing tribe, and I'm so grateful you're part of my life.