Expressing Heartfelt Gratitude

Oh, how I want to THANK all of you who have donated to my cause, you have touched my heart so deeply!!! I wish I could personally thank each one of you, but there are so many of you that have responded. I am so blessed to have all of your support, and comments which make me feel so good inside. 

I laid in bed last night and wanted to cry, (happy tears) but instead held it in. And thought to myself "I have the most wonderful family and friends, How could I possibly not make it through this when I have all of you standing behind me and strengthening me!!! Thank you so much to those of you I do not even know, how wonderful and caring you people are.

I will always remember you and what you have done for me, I will always be ETERNALLY grateful to you all!!!

Love Always and Forever,

Debbie

Week 1 and 2: Diagnostic Tests

WED. 9-23-09 

My first visit started with checking in and filling out paperwork. Then I did some blood work and met with one of the surgeons, who was very young-looking and as sweet as could be. Then I met my Doctor, his name is Massimo Cristofanilli, he is so nice,happy and positive, the kind of Doctor any person would love to have, I am so happy I have someone like him.

THUR. 9-24-09 

Went to MD Anderson at 9:00am and had a Chest, PA & LAT X-ray. At 11:00AM I prepared for Cardiac injection, I had to drink 2 bottles of Contrast (Berry flavor) it was suppose to be the best. I had to drink one in the first 45 minutes, and then the other one the next 45 minutes. I was then taken to a small waiting room in the back with about 9 other women,they were all sitting there quietly. I went and sat down but after a while, I noticed that it was just too quiet for me. So I started a conversation with the girl next to me, then the lady on the other side of me started talking as well and before you knew it, I had everyone talking! The lady next to me has been in remission for 4 years, she goes once a year now. This young beautiful girl who has 2 children was waiting to have surgery (she was having a mastectomy). Another young girl I met who had 1 child, was on her second time around with Breast cancer but with a totally different type of cancer. She was so brave I was really impressed with her. Then there was the school teacher and the lady who sat in the corner reading her book. Me and the lady with the book got called out together, she never talked. I started to talk to her as we walked and she told me "I wasn't saying anything in there while you were talking, because mine is not a happy story." Her cancer has spread all over, I was so sad for her, I told her I have read so many stories of these women on these cancer sites that have been in 4th stage cancer who have lived. Then we had to go to our separate rooms for tests.

Do not ever give up, you have to fight all the way, even if you are not given much hope you still fight, because miracles can and do happen. We have to have faith, Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us and we have to do our part and be strong and most of all be positive.

If any one told me I would be like this, open and happy right now, I would have told them they were crazy. I have told people at the stores I shop at that I have Breast cancer it so easy for me to talk about this, it is actually great THERAPY. I am happy I can not explain it but I have had no fear, and I am scared to death of Hospitals. I know all the prayers and fasting from my family and friends have given me such strength that keeps pushing me on. Never keep something like this bottled up inside of you, because it will bring you down, and you need to be up beat and you need to talk to people, believe me it works. You feel so good, it is a trial you will get through with the support of family and friends! Why not have as many people praying for you as you can?

I had one more test that day, it was a CT Scan of Chest and Abdomen, this was a breeze.

FRI. 9-25-09 

I did an MRI, oh this was a crazy machine. They put ear plugs in my ears and I had to lay on my stomach, hands above my head and I laid my head on a triangular pad covered with a sheet,you could see the floor and window where technician was. Then I went into the BEAST and when they take pictures you cannot move at all. I would lay there 1 1/2 min. then 2 1/2 min. Then they would go to 6 1/2 to 8 1/2 minutes that felt like 25 minutes. It would get hot my head was killing me on the pad, face sweating, my left finger would go numb where the IV was. I had to sing songs in my head, go off to a Tropical Island in my mind, then the loud train horn sound would start and the clonking noise would bring me back into the machine. I prayed hard to make it through, I had to squeeze the ball in my hand once for them to stop once a picture was over, I had to pick up my head. It was a very hard test but not totally unbearable you have to stay in control in your mind.

Later the old mammograms, no pictures for this one. ha.

Headed for home on Friday, not expected back till Wednesday, but got a phone call and they wanted me back on Monday for Ultra Sound and biopsy so that is what I did today. It has been quite a week. There are the most wonderful people at MD Anderson all of them, they have been so nice and helpful so funny totally AWESOME! I love it here and I am getting the best treatment for me possible.

Life is great!

First Visit to MD Anderson

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Here are some photos from my first visit to MD Anderson!

The Beginning

September 2, 2009 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, they said it was Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Stage 2. That's when this dream I thought I could wake up from all started, but it wasn't a dream.

I was scared and sad at the same time and thinking, "This doesn't run in my family how can this happen to me?" Well, I soon learned that many women who have Breast Cancer, it does not run in their families either. So basically anyone can get it.

I went to this first Doctor who then recommended me to an Oncologist. Two days later I went to see him. I did not have any blood work done yet, or x-rays. The Oncologist recommended that I have blood work and a full body scan. He then said he was going to start Chemotherapy the next week. I told this information to my sister, who told her good friend who happens to be good friends with a Radiology Oncologist. When he heard this he said, "NO, you tell her to go to MD Anderson," which is in Houston about 4 hrs. away from where I live. My sister called me that night told me this news which gave me some hope and made me feel as if a heavy black cloud was lifted off of me, and I was happy. I was so scared and like anyone, I wanted a second opinion. She told me that she would go with me, and my mother and I have a cousin who has offered to take me. My husband is self-employed and owns his own business and just started a new job. I new it would be hard for him to go. I told my sister to tell my husband what she told me, and I just cried, I was overwhelmed with information, yet so happy with the news as that is where I wanted to go in the first place; it seems many people from here go to MD Anderson.

So the next day, I got on the phone and called MD Anderson and had to go through some procedures first, having Doctors fax my information. I did get an appointment a week and a half later. I am so happy and thankful to my sister for looking out for me, she tends to do that for all the family, she doesn't settle for just anything. And we shouldn't either. Get a second opinion if you are not happy with what you here, do not settle for one opinion especially if you do not feel so sure about it. I also had a family member who offered to pay for this at the time, so everything worked out for me to go to MD Anderson.

My good friend Cheryl, who lives in Houston called me before I had my appointment and said I could stay with her anytime, that made me so happy, and she only lives 25 minutes from there.

I have been open about this to all my family and friends and this has really helped me to have all their support,love and prayers. It has made me a stronger person because I have shared my trial.

I don't know what lies ahead for me yet, I know it may not be easy, I have tried to prepare myself for things I may have to face and go through. I know I will be sad at times but not for long, I know my Heavenly Father will be with me through all of this and I pray for strength everyday. I will be positive and strong for my family, I will not let them down.

My Aunt Cheri sent me a quote by Brigham Young,

"Every trial we have in this life, is necessary for our salvation."

I've thought a lot about that quote and it makes me me feel good, I know I will be stronger from this trial and grow from it. I have 4 wonderful children, 3 of them married and 7 beautiful grand kids, so yes I will fight all the way, I have to much to do and see and have many more memories to make with my family and my precious grand kids and those yet to come. I still have one more beautiful daughter to see get married one day. I have so much to live for, so I will never give up and think there is no hope, I will be strong and positive and know that Heavenly Father is always there for me. I will never, ever, blame him for my trials. I love the quote, "I never said it would be easy, just that it would be worth it." For me, this is just the beginning; my trial has just begun.