Friday, April 25, 2008

Wow!

I did not plan on writing a journal entry today, but as soon as I saw this, I had to write.  Let me explain.

Three years ago today, I had my first chemotherapy treatment (coincidentally this was my dog, Pretzel's birthday which makes it very easy to remember the date).  Well, I receive the daily inspirational messages from St. Therese's website.  Here is today's message:

I am not dying, I am entering into Life...
                                                                St. Therese

How weird is it that this message comes to me on the anniversary of my first chemo treatment?  I haven't written about it, but I absolutely consider life after cancer a "new life" not to mention a better life in all ways, and this is the day it began for me.  This only verifies what I believe.  I think this was so cool-thank you, God!

Saturday, April 19, 2008

April 15th doctor's appointment

This past Tuesday I went to MSKCC to see my lymphoma doctor.  I am happy, to say the least!

 

Diagnosing Hodgkin’s lymphoma:

            Multiple x-rays

            blood work

            1 gallium scan

            1 CT scan

            1 broncoscopy

            1 lung biopsy

           

          

Treating Hodgkin’s lymphoma:

            2 bone marrow biopsies

            6 months of intense chemo

            several PET & CT scans

            10+ blood transfusions

            2 hospital stays

            having next to no immune system          

            losing my hair

            missing 10 months of work

 

Hearing your doctor tell you 2 ½ years post-treatment- “I’m not worried about you anymore.  If something terrible was going to happened it would have happened already.”:

            PRICELESS!!