Eyes on the Goal

Day 7 to raise fund for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society! Light the Night is almost here! 

Though I danced and celebrated the amazing news of my cancer free scan 2 years ago, I quickly had to put my party hat aside and put my game face back on. You see, the battle wasn't over yet. I still had to power through 17 bouts of radiation to ensure a full recovery. One of the biggest things I learned through the transition from chemo to radiation is that you must always keep your eyes on the end goal even once you've reached it and focus on what you need to do in order to maintain that victory. 

2 Years Cancer Free

It was 2 years ago today, on October 6th, that I had my first cancer free scan!! As I walked into the cancer center, my heart was full of apprehension. But I was overcome with joy, relief, and gratefulness when the doctor declared it showed no signs of cancer. There have been many milestones thus far in my 25 years and this was by far one of the most significant.

Help others celebrate being cancer free by donating to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. 

http://pages.lightthenight.org/ia/DesMineL13/ItsGoTime

Fridays and Saturdays

Day 3/4 of our effort to raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

Fridays and Saturdays during chemo weeks were always times of transition. With my chemo day on Thursday, I was pumped full of a steroid that gave me energy to get through Friday. Then as that drug wore off, I started to feel the chemo effects. Though my nausea was under control, a general feeling of blah quickly overtook me on Saturdays. I am thankful for such a patient husband because many of Shane and I's weekends were spent lounging around the apartment taking naps. Now as I hurriedly type this post so I can begin my busy weekend hopping from one event to the next, I am thankful for the health and energy I have. If you are thankful for your health and energy this morning, would you consider sharing this post and donating $5 to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society?

http://pages.lightthenight.org/ia/DesMineL13/ItsGoTime

Reminicsing

Reminiscing on day 3 of my October push to raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

As the chemo treatments began to take a toll on my body, my workouts started to dwindle. With low energy and a general feeling of malaise, I didn't have the same spunk I used previously to complete workouts. We directly followed 4 months of chemo with 17 bouts of radiation. Even more exhausted, I was soon using time that was previously for working out to take naps. After it was all over, I started to ease back into my strength and cardio routines feeling disappointed at what I was unable to accomplish.

Now, for the last 5 months, I have been working out at Spartan Strength. The other day I looked back at where I was 2 years ago and realized how far I have come from those low energy, icky feeling days. I realize now that even though I may not have been able to lift the same amount of weight or run as hard during those chemo days, I was doing my best and striving to be better than the day before. Sometimes our progress may feel slow, but if we keep moving forward we will look back one day and realize how all those small steps add up to something significant.

http://pages.lightthenight.org/ia/DesMineL13/ItsGoTime

Day 2

For Day 2 of my social media push to raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society I will share a happy memory of my second chemo treatment.

After all the drugs had been intravenously injected and my system was full of chemicals fighting the cancer that grew within me, a nurse went to the refrigerator to retrieve what I thought was yet another medicine. However, when she returned she carried with her a small tackle box full of earrings. She told me the story of how a former patient beat cancer and wanted to pay it forward by making earrings so women could feel beautiful even as they lost their hair. Gazing at the hundreds to choose from, I picked out the perfect pair to suit my style. I was grateful that a stranger had been so thoughtful toward people she would never meet. I still have those earrings today and every time I open my jewelry box and see those black and green dangles, I am reminded to pay it forward.

Would you consider paying it forward today by sharing this link or donating to such an important cause?

http://pages.lightthenight.org/ia/DesMineL13/ItsGoTime

First Chemo Memory

I am attempting a huge social media push from now until the 12th of October to raise awareness and money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk. Though I can celebrate being cancer free it is import to remember that others still fight the battle and need our support.

Each day I will try to post a short snippet of a memory/lesson from my cancer journey. Since it is the first of October, I will start with my first chemo treatment.

As I walked into a room full of bald, wrinkly heads with sick, sad eyes, I felt like an outsider. Though my facts told me cancer knows no age or fitness level, my heart told me I was too young, too fit, to be amongst the "sick." I had no idea what laid ahead of me and that is exactly what scared me the most. With so many unknowns swirling about me, my type A personality was not coping well. Would I get sick? Would my hair fall out? Could I still workout? What if the treatment didn't work? Would it hurt when they put the needle into my port? Then before my brain could ask another question my eyes brimmed with tears as the nurse counted to three and poked the needle into my port. Looking at me with a tender smile she said, "The fear of the unknown is the worst part." And from that day I vowed to always remember and live by the Winnie the Pooh quote - "Promise me you'll always remember you're stronger than you seem, braver than you believe, and smarter than you think"

Light the Night - Success!

On October 6th we rallied the troops and set out to light the night. Not only were we raising money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, but we were also celebrating exactly 1 year cancer free! Our team, It's Go Time, consisted of 37 walkers that braved the coldest night yet this fall. Bundled to the extreme, holding our light up balloons we walked what they told us was 1.2 miles around West Glen in West Des Moines. However, given our sluggishly slow pace, I am thinking there is no way we walked 1.2 miles. Chances are the people in charge rerouted the course to save our extremities from frost bite. 

Our team made the top ten list for West Des Moines fundraising with over $2400 raised! Not that I am competitive or anything, but it sure did feel good to be at the top. :) Thank you to all who donated, bought a shirt, or even just cheered us on. 

Our team of walkers for It's Go Time

While the walk was important and significant, the real fun came at dinner afterwards. To warm up, we went to Bravo and enjoyed some yummy appetizers and various Italian food. I felt very humbled to have so many friends and family in one room as a culmination of support. The words I expressed as a thankful sentiment didn't do my heart justice. 

Even though October 6 was a momentous day for me, I still feel as if I am right in the moment   on this ordinary Saturday morning. Reflective on all that I learned and am still learning through this process and feeling thankful for the love I have in my life, I realize that no day is truly ordinary if you choose to view it otherwise.