Tonight I stood with about twenty other breast cancer survivors in the center of a gymnasium while we received a lengthy and enthusiastic standing ovation at Volley For the Cure.  I am humbled to have been in the room with such greatness.  Thank you to the Mastermind for orchestrating it, to every volunteer who contributed, and to every person who attended...

Volley For The Cure! Monday September 10th 4:30-8:30(ish) @ Lakota West High School The Freshman, JV, and Varsity teams will all play a regular season match against Beavercreek.  All proceeds and donations go to the Susan G. Komen organization for breast cancer.  Pizza and other ball game fare are available for dinner.  There are all kinds of silent auctions,...

It looks like me and my new BFF “Ned” will be very busy.  First we will frolic and spread sparkles around.  Next we will move on to the business of following through with the rest of plan to keep me cancer free. Part of the “Pinch Me” sentiment is that I still feel I am very much in the trenches.  There is still much to be done; in fact, I am...

Three-quarters of the way through our appointment with Dr. Wonderful, this is what he had to say: “The medical term for where you are right now is No Evidence of Disease (NED); there is no measurable cancer in your body.” My eyes fill up involuntarily as I shoot a shocked glance at Brad.  I’m familiar with the NED terminology, and I don’t...

Tonight I tucked Maren in.  (Oh, how I miss tucking my girls in every night!)  She’s been having nightmares, anxiety, and fear at night, so I was reassuring her, praying with her, and encouraging her.  One of the strategies that we use for her to self-soothe is for her to lie in bed and count off ten happy things on her fingers.  To teach her this practice, I...

Okay, so there was one surprise in the pathology report. In March, I was diagnosed with advanced cancer in my left breast.  Fairly early on, Brad and I made the decision that I would have both breasts removed because we didn’t want to worry that I would develop cancer in the other breast.  I am thirty-three, and I want fifty more years.  As a cancer survivor,...