I'm Still Here:)

Hello Everyone!  You're probably wondering where in the world I have been!

I'm happy to report that I'm doing great!!!!!!!! 

I finished chemo in August and I did wonderfully with it all.  Very few annoying side effects, but overall I did great.  I'm finally getting my energy back, but it doesn't last too long! I'm also getting hair again....yay! Just wish it was growing as fast on my head as it is everywhere else...haha!!! I had my final reconstruction surgery on Sept 12.  It was a breeze! It was outpatient and I had very little pain. 

This coming week hopefully I will be beginning my radiation.  I have a CT Scan on Tuesday so the dr can see exactly where to do the radiation and hopefully it will start this week.  I'm so ready to get all of this over with.  The radiation will be for 6 weeks M-F.  The worst part of it will be the hour drive to and from the hospital.

I'm so thankful for all the Lord has blessed our family with.  I know if it had not been for him I would not have done near as good as I have!  Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers and Love!

God Bless~

Leslie

Feeling Good But......

So its been awhile since I have posted.  I guess the saying "No news is good news" applies here.  I have been doing really good. 

I have had three chemo treatments, I'm halfway over!!!! Yay!!!  My fourth treatment is this Thursday.  I always dread the treatment day a little because I feel so good for the week before treatment and then I feel yucky for about two weeks after.  Right now I feel great! 

But apparently my wonderful hubby decided he didn't like me getting all the attention and went and got sick himself:( He had been complaining of arm pain and had a rash come up just below his underarm.  We thought he had an allergic reaction to something and it would go away.  Well last Tuesday he woke up with the whole left side of his face paralyzed.  I took him to the ER and he said it was Bells Palsy possibly caused by Lyme's Disease.

He started on antibiotics and a steroid.  We got the results today that it is Lyme's Disease. He is having a lot of pain and discomfort and its hard for him to work.  Thats not good, considering all the dr bills that are starting to come in!

Please pray for us both! Pray for his quick healing and that his energy level will soon go back to normal and that he will be able to work.  Pray that I continue to do well and that I will be back to normal as soon as possible!

Thank you all for everything!!

God Bless~

Leslie

Chemo!!

It has been two weeks since my first chemo treatment.  I'm very happy to report that I feel great.

I have been very lucky and blessed not to be sick.  The only side effects that I have had so far have been loss of appetite (not a bad thing for me) but it has come back, diarrhea for a few days (Immodium was my best friend) and joint pain from the Nulesta shot to boost my white blood cells.  All in all I would say chemo is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.  God is good!!!

One thing that I am having trouble with is the hair loss.  It has really started falling out a lot.  The shower drain was full this morning.  I have really tried to prepare for it but I don't think you can ever be truly prepared for losing your hair.  As a woman our hair is such an important part of our identity.  Not that I have long, beautiful locks.  I have always had a love/hate relationship with my hair and I've said on more than one occasion "I should just shave it all off and get a wig."

Well now I have the wig and am facing the reality of shaving it all off and it scares me to death.  I know its just hair and it will grow back eventually.  This is just one more bump in the road and if it takes losing my hair to get rid of this horrible disease then I will gladly take a few months of baldness.

On the plus side it shouldn't take me very long to get ready at all .  I'm also having fun looking for pretty scarves and hats too!!!

Thanks again for all the prayers and kindness that has been shown to me and my family.  We are forever greatful.

My next treatment is next Wednesday May 16.

God Bless you all!

~Love,

Leslie

Shower, Shower, Shower!!!!!

Hello Everyone!! I'm sorry not to update very often. I don't get on the computer very often these days.

I wanted to let you all know that I'm doing really great!! I had my last drain removed on Tuesday....Yay! I finally got to take a shower on Wednesday. I have never enjoyed a shower so much in my life. Four weeks of sponge baths was getting a little old!!! I stayed in there at least 30 minutes just letting the water run over me. I felt like a brand new woman when I got out...Wonderful!

Tomorrow is the Susan G. Komen race for the cure in Roanoke. It will be my first time attending. I will be walking in the one mile fun walk. I hope I can walk the whole thing, but I will take it slow and easy so I don't get too tired. I can't believe how many people are on my team and walking/running in honor of me. I'm sure it will be a very inspiring day!

On April 20 I go back to the oncologist to have my chemo teaching. Then chemo will start the following week. I don't know what day for sure yet. I'm not looking forward to this stage. Please continue to keep me and my family in your prayers. We have one big obstacle out of the way and will begin another. Hopefully I will not have to have radiation but will not know for sure until chemo is finished.

I also had my first "fill up" on Tuesday the day I got my drain removed. It wasn't very comfortable but it didn't hurt. I now have little mounds on my chest:) The reconstruction process is very long. I will go every two weeks for a "fill up" until they reach the size that "we" are happy with. Travis is very much part of this decision....haha!!! After that I will have the surgery to have the implants put in.

This is a long, road but so far its not as bumpy as I thought. God is carrying me through. My family are amazing and I have so many wonderful friends that continue to bring food, send money and gifts and cards. I have not had to buy groceries since the beginning of February. Thank you all for your love and support, it still amazes me!!!!

God Bless-

Leslie

Getting Better Everyday!!!

My surgery was on March 12. It has been awhile since I have even turned my computer on, much less updated. Sorry to keep you all in the dark for so long.

I am doing much better. Starting to feel like my old self again!!!

My surgery went well. It was 6 1/2 hours long. It was a long day for my family and friends but I just had a nice little nap and woke up in what seemed like a few minutes. I think my family had fun during my surgery too. They said I should have joined them they were having a party!!!


I had a couple rough days in the hospital. It seems Morphine does nothing for my pain. Once I convinced the nurses that I was in "real pain", they contacted the dr and he changed my medicine to Dalatid (sp). I was like a new woman, I was ready to get up and go for a walk within 15 minutes!!! Its amazing what good pain medicine can do for a person. I spent three nights in the hospital. It was so good coming home!!!

I had three drains when I came home. I am now down to one. It will probably have to stay for at least another week because it is still draining alot of fluid. I do not get a real shower until it is out!!! I'm so ready for a shower!!!

I go back to the dr on Friday! The plastic surgeon to check my drain and have my first pump up...haha!! He will begin filling the expanders that day and I will go back every two weeks for a few months until they are the correct size and then my silicone implants will be put in. It's a long process! I also go to the oncologist on Friday to find out when chemo will begin. He had said about a month after surgery. I'm thinking the week after Easter. I'm dreading it, but ready to get it over with and get my life back!!!

My husband has been absolutely amazing. I love that man so much!!! He has took such good care of me, the kids, and our home. I haven't had to do anything since coming home!! He has really suprised me:)

I have so many awesome people in my life that have done so much for me. I have not had to cook a meal since finding out my diagnosis!! People bring me meals each day, it's so amazing. Thank you to everyone for your calls, visits, flowers, food, money, and especially prayers. You will never know how very much it is appreciated!!! I'm a little behind on getting thank you cards out, but please know that it has not went unnoticed!!!

God Bless You All!!!

Love-

Leslie

It has been a few days since I have updated. I only had two appointments this week. Today I went to sign my consents for surgery and asked the dr some questions. I have to be at the hospital at 10:30 on Monday and surgery should begin around 12. I'm nervous but so ready to get it over with and begin this journey to get well.

Last night I had a stomach bug and was up half the night. I'm so glad I'm feeling better now. I don't want anything to put off my surgery.

My wonderful hubby has decided to make away for a little day trip tomorrow. We will go to Boone, NC just to walk around and look at shops. It will be nice to just spend some quality time together while I'm still feeling pretty good. He's been so great, I'm very lucky.

I have so many wonderful, caring people in my life right now. I'm so blessed!! My best friend since third grade brought me a gift over last night. I was so suprised her and her family gave me a Kindle Fire!!! It's awesome, but I still have to figure out how to use it. She's so sweet!!

So many people have done so much and been there for us. My mom and sister took me wig shopping on Tuesday. That was a lot of fun and I picked out a few cute wigs, but insurance only pays for one....bummer!! But the one I will get is still cute!

Thank you to everyone that has called, sent cards, brought food, gave money or gifts and especially thanks for all the prayers. I feel God in everything!!!

Love you all,

Leslie

Good News!!

Yesterday I received really great news!!! The CT scan and bone scan were both clear. The cancer has not spread to other parts of my body. Thank you Jesus! Now we just need to focus on getting better!

My surgery will be on March 12. Please remember me in your prayers. I am a little nervous about this surgery since I have never had anything major before. I will probably be in the hospital for two nights.

Thank you all for your support and love!!!

God Bless,

Leslie