Ring the bell time!

Well, I actually rang the bell almost a month ago. Sorry, again I'm getting caught up in getting caught up at home and am forgetting to write on my blog. Please forgive me!

Thursday Feb 11th was my last day of treatment. Benton took the day off to celebrate the big event with me. Before heading downtown we stopped at the school and picked up the boys too. It was important to me to have my whole family with me to celebrate this accomplishment and culmination of treatment in my life.

I pretty much danced into Roper that day with a huge smile on my face. Jason called me back as soon as we got there. After the treatment was over I got changed and came out of the dressing room swinging my pink gown and joyfully tossed it into the laundry bin. Whew, it was over! What a relief! A few friends I made there came early to help celebrate and take some photos for me. Thanks Lynne, Kim & Kathy for being there!

I didn't cry like I thought I was going to. I just kept on smiling. I couldn't believe how quickly the 33 treatment days passed by. By the end of my last treatment most of the blistering had subsided but now the top 1/3 of my tata looked like someone placed a warm iron on it. It was quite rosy and began peeling quickly. Talk about wanting to scratch your armpit like a monkey! Wow...I couldn't keep enough ointment and lotion on it to relieve that sensation!

But it's over and I have so many people to thank for the prayers, encouragement, kind words, laughter & tears we have shared along this journey. First and foremost, thanks to my Lord and Savior for sustaining me every breath of the way. Without Jesus as my guide I could not have remained so positive. Secondly, my best friend and love of my life, Benton. Whew...I thought I was a witch at times before cancer - to think what he had to put up with this winter! :) Just kidding (I think?)...I wasn't that bad but I know I did complain A LOT about the pain and discomfort. Thanks for listening to me and just being there for me. I'm so blessed to have you in my life by my side every step of the way! Thirdly, my children...for in their innocent ways reminding me that I was still a Mommy and that cancer was not controlling me, I was controlling it! Lastly, EVERYONE ELSE out there...old & new friends, family, neighbors, strangers, and prayer warriors! I'm not a "taker" in life but I was so appreciative to be receiving so much support and prayers from all of you!

I'm actually writing this on March 6th. My follow-up appt with Dr. Decker the radiologist is next Thursday and I'm sure she'll say all is fine. I feel fine, look relatively normal, and really don't feel like anything is different about me. Funny thing is though that because of the fact I feel fine, I tried to work out last week and near about collapsed from exhaustion when I got home. I forget that my body is still healing on the inside and that body takes lots of energy to repair itself. I thought I could bounce right back into the gym....wrong! So let's just say I'm taking it slowly. Today I thought of going for a walk...wound up crashing for about 1 1/2 hours instead. Most of you who know me know that sleeping during the day is not my style. However, lately, I've learned to listen to my body when it tells me to take a break. I hope to "snap out of it" soon though and get back to the gym on a regular basis. I am back in the classroom substitute teaching and also doing volunteer work at the school. It helps me to get motivated when I know I have something on my calendar for the day!

Again, thanks to everyone for staying up to date on my journey. God has been so good to me along the way and I continue to praise HIM even though the storm has passed by....love to all,
Tammy.