WELCOME

Hello,
Welcome to my Blog! Yes, I have been in the fight of my life against Leukemia, insomnia, depression, side effects of medications, molting skin, pooping my pants and this list goes on.... however, I still love my life, and that's what this blog is about Real Life. I hope to meet others who trails have brought them closer to the Lord and molded them for the next step in God's will. In January 2011 , my family, physician, and Be the Match was featured on a Fox 5 news story about bone marrow donors and transplants. In March, I was interviewed on Atlanta and Company along with Be the Match. I was chosen to sing the national anthem at the Be the Match Run last year and will also be doing it this year, along with some other songs. My team, no thanks to me, raised over $4,000 and raised more than any other team! Please join my team this year or consider donating here at the Run those Stem cells out ! Team I was also chosen for a patient advocacy panel for the international council meeting at Be the Match in MN in November. How exciting!! I ended up not being able to attend due to the relapse. I had hoped I could help raise awareness about how easy it is to sign up to be a donor and how many people need your help! Please go to bethematch.org and sign up! I was able to have my bone marrow (same as stem cell) transplant at the end of March thanks to a 22 year old donor oversees that I hope to meet her one day. As I came up on my 6th month mark and continued to add more normal activities to our lives, I relapsed, meaning that the that the cancer had mutated and the leukemia came back. I spent 2 more weeks at Emory and some other nights here and there and now I'm on a drug from the FDA. I have a compassion waiver so I am able to get it. I have to take it day by day sometimes hour by hour. Time keeps moving and my little girl is growing up. I'm lucky that I'm getting to see it. I continue to praise God for his wonderful blessings he has shown us including my wonderful husband Jonathan, baby girl Evalyn Rose, supportive family and friend, great medical care, new readers, and the chance to make a big difference, even if that means being a Lab Rat.
God Bless You!

Please read, comment, enjoy, learn, grow, LOVE LIFE.

Most Recently I have started a booth at a local consignment store with handmade jewelry from friends, crafts, and my own art from recycled materials. It is called DAY by DAY. God was very clear with me starting this. Please look over to the right of blog and click on Day by Day to see some pictures. I'm just getting started but I am taking orders from people that I know. You will be able to personalize items, etc. I just haven't decided how I will be selling them via internet yet. But for now, the jewelry is at A Weekend A'fair in Athens, GA and will hopefully be at some stores downtown soon.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Yes...I'm still here and walking


I know a lot of people still don't have face book but I forget and then I don't feel like writing or don't have the time or energy to enlighten you on my fab life. But yes, I'm still here. I promise that if something bad happens, Jonathan would update my page if I could not, and if I know that the end is coming then we will have a big party with me there.... so you can tell me to my face, ha ha, and then a small and cheap burial at the monastery in Covington, GA, which I would not want anyone to drive for hours to come to, that's what the party is for. Very cool natural cemetery... all woods and trails, no chemicals, just you and a wooden box. Sounding a little morbid today, ay? Well, I found out the the last two people I was friends with have passed. One of which the family can't even pay for a headstone, anyone in the granite business? Two beautiful strong women, close to my age, one with a son, the other with a smile that lit anyone up. I was so busy with my hip, and teeth, and back, and blah blah... we lost touch for a few months. I found out about both on Tuesday... of course that settle my decision that I should promptly cancel my Emory appt for the next day. Might cancel it again next week, because I can. They don't know what to do with me anymore than I know how to fix a car. I feel like a walking time bomb and miracle at the same time and I'm doing a little dance to entertain everyone that has a place in their heart for lab rats.
Well besides that little psychotic information in my head, everything seems to be going well. Of course, at this time of year, this being the third, everything always seems to be going well. I get better, start something new, last year was my booth and dance lessons and children music and art. This year preschool for Evalyn, exercise classes, and starting an art site, getting back into shape and off more meds. Learning to use false teeth soon. Not to be pessimistic, for just scared, sorry but true, something about Oct/Nov.... it hits the fan again and there I go... paving the way for the next lucky person to get this horrible disease and learn from what happens to me. Yes, we are praying that it won't be the same this year... I'm currently working on being a bionic women and outliving you all.
There are a lot of wonderful things of course but I'd rather share them in another blog that doesn't sound like I'm fishing for encouragement. My family,friends, and pups bring so much joy.. that is why I am still here, and the grace of God, or the plan of God. I'm just one pissed off patient trying to figure out how to go from being sick to getting better and back and forth, mad that we can do all this amazing stuff with computers and space but can't figure out cancer and treatments that don't us falling apart and infertile? And I'm tired. Tired of not sleeping well, tired of taking meds, tired of aching, I'm tired of sucking on this damn pretzel. Tired of being tired and not being able to get my house clean and organized as I want it...tired of the short term memory loss, tired of thinking about money, tired of my husband having to drive a little green jelly bean car and I'm tired of asking for help from everyone. I'm tired of looking at my favorite clothes I still can't fit into and I'm almost tired of looking at this lake love so much but don't have the energy to fix my poles, get bait, get dressed, get Evalyn dressed, safely get down to the lake and then fall over in a mad hot flash and then got back. That is NOT how fishing is suppose to be. Ok, well I'm tired of looking at this screen. Hope your not tired of me yet. By the way I can WALK... without any help... how far, haven't chanced it yet, but I am getting on a plane in the next month. Also, planning on getting out of town for Christmas.... Texas here we come....