1 Year

One year ago today I took this picture. About 10 minutes later the phone rang and my life changed forever.

 

Ever since then my life has been a whirlwind. Hospitals, chemo, being so very sick, tired, doctors, needles, 4 surgeries, ambulance rides, losing my hair and fearing for my life. It's also... been filled with kindness, wonderful friends and family, new friendships, a new perspective on life and lots and lots of love.

 

One year ago was the worst day of my life. But because of that day I've been blessed with so many of the best days.

 

So thank you cancer. Thank you for opening my eyes to so much goodness. Thank you for giving me a huge reason to celebrate life daily. Thank you for showing me just what I'm capable of.

 

You've changed my life in many ways and today I choose to focus on the positive changes rather than cry over the negative ones.

 

Happy cancer anniversary to me!!

The power of SEVEN

What's seven? Seems like a relatively small number. But it's huge when it refers to lives. 7 lives. That's how many people (that I'm aware of) have been diagnosed with some form of skin cancer because of my story. They heard my story and got their skin checked just to be safe. Their whole life changed because of that. 

These 7 people are the whole reason I started this blog. To make people aware. I never understood how serious skin cancer was until that horrible day I sat in the doctors office. I waited too long. There were so many signs and I ignored them all. So if I'm going to have this awful cancer I wanted to make sure I did everything in my power to educate people on skin cancer. It's not "just" skin cancer. It is a aggressive, fast spreading and preventable cancer.

I have had so many friends and family go get checked recently. Bravo to all of you. It makes me so proud when people ask me about sun screens, or tell me they've stopped tanning, or tell me they got a skin check. Thank you for making my battle not be in vain. Thank you for taking me seriously. 

You don't have to be a recluse. You can go out and enjoy the sun. Just be sun smart. Not sun stupid. One word my friends... Sun screen. Take charge. Be smart. Educate yourself. 

... And if you don't... Well I will see if you can get a room next to me at the hospital for chemo. Cuz that's where you have a HUGE chance of ending up. And no matter what you think, not even a tan makes chemo look good. 

Va-cay

Such a long absence from blogging! I took a little vacation.. Not literally.. Just a brain vacation :) 

Totally unintentional, but so needed. After I finished up chemo I was exhausted. Mentally and physically. I got out of the hospital and pushed all thoughts of cancer out of my head. I focused on recovering and spending time with my family. After spending months of only thinking about all things cancer, it was a necessary thing for me to do to fully recover. I'm still not 100% yet. I get tired really easy, sometimes my body still hurts.. But I am now a survivor!!!!! 

Chemo was awful. I'm not going to sugar coat it. It's by far the worst thing I've ever done. I would never wish it on anyone. I am just so thankful for all the love and support I had during it. I had so many people doing so much for me that it still makes me emotional. Without all of you, I am not sure how I would have made it through it. Now I just pray everyday that I never have to go through it again. Cancer stay gone. I have too much living to do! 

So what does life hold for me now? I have scans every three months. This is to check for the return of melanoma. Melanoma is extremely unpredictable and spreads quickly. Sounds simple, but when you're in my shoes, it's living life three months at a time. It's sighing a breath of relief and then realizing it will be short lived. It's waiting for that phone call. It's constantly waiting for it all to come crashing down again. So I just breathe. I smile. I laugh. I focus on what's right in front of me and try as hard as I can to live for today. For this very moment. That's all you can do when you have melanoma calling your name. 

Life is good. It's stressful, chaotic, hard and down right awful sometimes. It's also incredible, surprising and wonderful at the same time. I cry tears of sadness often but find joy in those who wipe them. I'm terrified for the future but grow so much in the journey that is taking me there. So yes, life is good. It's plain lovely.  

Remember Me

This is a post I've been trying to write for so long. I can't ever seem to get the words to come out right though. So I ignore them and some how the words bubble back into my head. I decided it was time to write them down even if they only sound right to me. It's time.

I'm coming to a close on the treatment side of my melanoma. No one knows how scary this is for me. I will then head to a world of scans and waiting. No one knows how scary the scans and waiting are. Even scarier than treatment.

When I'm doing treatment, I'm DOING something. Being proactive. When that's done... I spend the rest of my life waiting for that phone call I never want to come. Waiting for melanoma to show its ugly head again. For it to turn everything around all over again.

You can't explain what that place does to your head to someone who's never been through it. It's a dark and lonely place and I don't want to be there.

I don't know how this is going to end. You don't know. No one knows. My biggest fear lives in my head and haunts my dreams. My biggest fear is not dying. It's that my children won't remember me.

My kids are all still pretty young. Will they remember the little things? Like how I told them they were beautiful every single day? How we would dance in the living room? How we would speak to each other in accents just for fun? Will they remember the dresses I bought them just because I couldn't stand to say no? How I loved more than anything their faces lighting up? Will they remember how I tried to make every holiday so special even when we had no money? How I kissed them on the forehead every night? How I told them they could be anything in the world? Will they remember the dinners, the nights spent by their beds when they were sick, how I brushed their hair from their eyes, how I hugged them every morning? How I loved them so, so much and sacrificed everything for their happiness?

Or will I be just a picture on a wall? Of a mom who was taken from them too soon? Someone they remember from stories but have no real memory of. Will I be her?

No, despite how this blog sounds this is not me admitting defeat. I'm not giving up, I still have hope. These are just very real fears that I have and needed to get out.

My fear that I will love my children so much and they will never remember. The hardest thing I've ever had to accept is that just because I gave birth to all three of my babies does not mean I'm guaranteed to raise them throughout this life. Seems pretty unfair. But I will trust in my Heavenly Father's plan and pray that these fears are only ever that... Fears.

Chariots of Fire

"In the Gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike... You remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see, riding at reckless speed to come to our protection." - Jeffrey R. Holland

What a comforting statement. I bawled buckets after reading this quote. Not only have I felt the strength of the words on paper, I've lived through them. Our family has been the recipients of such kindness and love that it could only come from one place. I believe without a doubt I am surrounded every moment by angels. Angels who are guiding me, comforting me, holding me during a sob fest and whispering silent encouragement through every treatment. I am never alone. And that brings so much joy to my soul.

I often think of my loved ones who have passed on when I'm in the hospital. How they must feel sorrow for the battle that I'm facing but so much joy because it's bringing me so much closer to my Heavenly Father. I'm sure in the Eternal perspective this trial seems so small.

When my heart feels heavy I remember how much I'm surrounded by that I can see and others that I can't and I find great comfort. I am so thankful for my beliefs that this life is not all there is. From now on I will try to remember during my bad days that I need not fear. I've got chariots of fire racing my way.

The Loss of My Hair

I knew losing my hair would be hard. I just didn't know how gut wrenching it would truly be. The loss of my hair for me signified the total acceptance that I have cancer. It was my outward show to the world that yes, I am sick with something that could potentially kill me.

I knew it was coming. My hair had turned dry and lost all shine. Every time I would move my head I would have piles of hair every where. Then it started to hurt. Which is not something I was expecting. But it felt like someone was stabbing my head. I went upstairs and grabbed the clippers. Told my husband it was time. He was nervous. Probably because I was sobbing hysterically and acting insane. I begged him to just do it. To get it off my head. He finally caved and I took turn throwing up with every pile of hair that showed up at my feet.

My poor husband. I can't imagine how he felt. He was so strong while I fell completely apart. When it was over I clung to him and told him how sorry I was over and over because I was now ugly. He looked me in the eyes and told me I was so beautiful. I've never loved him more than that moment.

I didn't look in the mirror for four days. It nearly killed me the first time I did. But I'm ok now. I know it's temporary and I will one day have hair again. But dang you cancer for being so crazy hard sometimes.

I am Brittany and I am not my hair. I am beautiful, caring, funny and courageous. Losing my hair has helped me dig deeper within myself. I am going to be just fine.

Gall bladder is taking a permanent vacay

Stepping off the emotional wreck train... I go back into the hospital on Monday to have my gall bladder removed. This is to hopefully prevent any repeat episodes in the future.

If all goes well I will resume my chemo the following Monday.

So here's to hoping for smooth sailing and all things working out as planned for a change.

On a side note... A huge thank you to my husband for being the amazing person he is and rolling with any punches thrown our way. He never breaks, does anything asked of him and worries about me every second. He's incredible.

Another huge thank you to Danny's family. For his mom who jumped in the car an came right away to help us with our kids yet again no questions asked. For his family who rearrange their days to come sit with me in the hospital so I'm not alone. For his sister who has watched our kids far more than should ever be expected or asked. I love you all. I have no clue what we would do without any of you. Thank you so much.