Thanks for the Mammories....

October has finally come to a close.  It was a long month of many supportive blessings as well as many struggles.  Below, I thought I would share some of the highlights that made this month special for me.   October 5 IU Health invited me to go onto the field for the Colts Breast Cancer Awareness event at Lucas Oil Stadium.  This was so special to me to share this moment with 74 other breast cancer survivors.   October 18 Dan Young had their 3rd annual car wash and raised almost $1,000 for the Women's Fund of the Tipton County Foundation to use for breast cancer awareness in our county! October 21   Last year, I was thrilled when IU Health Tipton Hospital agreed to work with me to create "Turn Pink with Tipton" Breast Health Awareness Event.  I was honored to help plan this event again this year.  Nearly 80 women attended this informative evening with two doctors speaking and many educational booths and free health screenings....

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence, by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.  You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."  Eleanor Roosevelt I have stared fear in the face for over nine weeks now. The life-changing words I heard on August 27, forever ringing in my ears, brought me to a new place. I have had some of the lowest and most anxious moments in my life facing the realities of my MBC diagnosis. But, I have also had some of the most amazing and memorable moments shared with family and friends, and look so forward to those to come! This week, I have anxiously stepped into the next phase...which has turned out to be a good phase God has blessed me with.  Monday, I had a CT scan of my chest and neck. Two long days later, as I sat in the exam room, heart pounding, waiting for Dr. Miller to come in, all I could think was..."Please just give me some good news." I am excited to share with all of you that Dr. Mille...

Because October 13 is Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, I wanted to share some information about the disease, some that might help with some common misconceptions about metastatic breast cancer. Although a lot of the information is not all positive things we want to hear, remember that We....me, Ben, my kids, my family and friends are taking this on in the most positive of ways. It is absolutely possible to be realistic and optimistic at the same time.    There are over 150,000 of us in this country living with (not dying of) our disease...as the majority of us are not dying of it at this moment. There is hope! Thanks to the new targeted drugs, we are living longer.  And the longer we live, the more time it gives researchers to find the next new great drug or better yet...the CURE!  I believe in the power of Hope and the power of Prayer  I am so grateful for doctors, researchers, new treatments, the amazing people I’ve met from this journey, my TEAM and...

Wednesday, my awesome sister-in-law, Brandi took me to spend a long day at the IU Health Simon Cancer Center for treatment package #3.   She kept me entertained and well fed throughout our adventure! As you can see, she was quite impressed with my ability to obtain Class A Hazardous Drugs. Lots of laughter! Thanks for a fun day Brandi!                            I   am feeling pretty good..mostly fatigued.  I  have enjoyed two quiet days at home resting!   Although most of you know, sitting around is not easy for me to do!!  Appreciate everyday...remember to find something beautiful and find something to laugh about each and everyday.

October.  What do you think of when you hear the word October?  Football, soccer, volleyball, pumpkins, harvest, costumes, candy, chili, bonfires, leaves, ghosts, skeletons, haunted houses, black, yellow , brown , orange , gold ... These are the things that I generally thought of when I heard the word October..until two years ago. October and everything in it turned pink . Not kidding, even some of the pumpkins turned pink !  Suddenly there was pink  support for breast cancer everywhere I looked.  The thing is, I think it was always there before...I just never really paid that much attention to it, nor did I think much about what it meant.  So as you are surrounded by pink ribbons this month, don't lose sight of who and what those ribbons stand for. The importance of awareness, learning your risk, and learning the benefits of early detection...but also all of the women and men who ...