Another Relay has come and gone this year.

Before Relay this year, the Jacksonville Daily Progress ran another story about me and Relay.  It made me tear up!  You can read all about it here: Jacksonville Daily Progress Story

I was so happy to return to Relay for Life this year since we missed last year's due to my chemo treatments.  This year it was an international theme, so our team site was based on Australia - since that's where my stem cell transplant came from :-)

A big storm came through East Texas, so the event was moved to the Jacksonville Middle School in the cafeteria.  Even though we were cramped in there, it was still a great time.  Our team was in charge of the luminarias this year, so it was a little more work for our team, but we had good team members to help out.  We still walked our laps, like the survivor lap, the caregiver lap, and even the team lap.  I even enjoyed a plate of nachos after the opening ceremonies!

I was super nervous this year because they asked me to speak during the Luminaria ceremony - which is a serious time of reflection to honor those effected by cancer.  What am I supposed to say?  How can I speak without making a joke?  Yikes!  But Mom and Jeremy were able to capture it on video, and Mom started crying half way through, so I guess I did ok.
See if you can listen to the video here: https://www.facebook.com/mary.graham.940/videos/10154588455096754/

The event was not overnight this year, so it was actually over before I knew it.  Even though we had to pack up in the rain, at the end of the night I was so happy to be there this year and continue our 'tradition'.  I'm so glad that my family turned out with me and cheered our team on as we walked the laps, sold raffle tickets and took part in the activities.  I didn't get as many photos as I'd like, but we got some good ones.

I want to thank everyone that showed up to Relay with us and helped with the fight against cancer!  As always, feel free to contact me if you want information about joining our team next year!

I know I'm late posting, but things have been nuts.

So much has happened in just two weeks.  I've changed jobs and I'm taking on extra projects.  Both I think are slowly driving me crazy and making me want to crawl into a corner.

But on 4/12/16 I went to Dallas again and had my last Herceptin infusion!  Well, I'll start from the beginning...

I started the day by seeing Dr. L. first.  As I prepared for my last treatment, I wore a pink tiara for the day and passed out strands of pink beads.  So when I arrived I handed pink beads to the ladies at check in, Dr. L.'s nurse and of course Dr. L.  Dr. L. commented on how great I look and said she is proud to see how far I've come.  She kept saying how brave and resilient I was through a of this - I think she's been listening to Dr. S. too much. Her and Dr. S. believe the cancer was caused by my previous exposure to radiation, so they think we're looking pretty good for the future.  You never say cured - that's just a jinx.
Before I left she hugged me and told me they enjoyed having me. Aw.

My next appt was with my new oncologist, Dr. C.  The awesome part is that Dr. S.'s nurse - who I loved so much - is now Dr. C.'s nurse!  It felt so good to have a familiar element to the visit and I just love having her around!  lol  so of course I gave her some beads and some to the MA and then waited for Dr. C.  He is a lot taller and younger than I thought, but he was smiling and seemed to have a dry sense of humor - so I think we'll fit well together.  He has ordered me a chest CT, I guess to check for growth or abnormalities.  He's even OK with me doing it in Tyler, so I won't have to take off more time from my new job.  So I go back to see him in 6 weeks and from there it will be just regular check ups since I won't have Herceptin anymore!
After seeing Dr. C. I went downstairs for my very last Herceptin treatment!  Jeremy brought me some lunch and I just sat back and watched it flow!  lol

My last appt of the day was with Dr. A. - yay!  We got there and I was escorted into a room.  After I spoke to PA about the upcoming surgery ad Miss I. came in to take some pre-op photos, I waited for Dr. A. to come talk to me as well.  As Jeremy and I waited, the elevator music playing in the room suddenly changed to disco music and Dr. A., PA and Miss I. came dancing in!  How old does Dr. A. think I am??  I needed some 90s music playing to really make myself feel old  lol  Granted I have the body of an old lady - but anyways.  He came in and talked about the upcoming surgery with me.  He went over recovery time with me and when to arrive at the hospital and gave me my pre-op instructions.  This one is just for fat grafting and will prepare me for the final implants in a few months.  Oh and he's taking my port out too! Ahh!  It's all becoming so real now!  I'm a little panicky actually...
Before we checked out, the whole group came to the front and we toasted to me finishing my last treatment and finally moving onward!  It was so nice having them all out there and raising a glass with me *sniffles*  I couldn't have asked for a better group of ladies - and Dr. A. - to get me through my 'transformation' (lol) and getting me back to normal.

Last time I'll have to sit in that chair!

Cheers!

Today is April 6th.  It's an emotional day.  Bittersweet.

Today marks 8 years ago when I married my high school sweetheart, Jeremy.  He is the other half of this crazy train and has been with me through all my psychotic ups and downs.  He wasn't home this year for our anniversary, which made me super depressed and sniffly.  But of course he surprised me with a fruit bouquet at work to show he was thinking of me while he is away.  Aw!  I miss him so much and it's getting harder the longer he's gone on the road.  Every year we normally go on some sort of trip, but we won't be able to do that this year.  We're spending the day in Dallas, but that's partially for my last Herceptin treatment.  *sigh*

The other side of this coin is that it's been 18 years ago since I was diagnosed with leukemia.  I was only 10 when I finished treatment the first time, and at age 11 I relapsed and had a stem cell transplant.  After all the chemo and radiation, I'm still handling all the side effects and aftermath - like bone disease, cataracts, diabetes and even breast cancer.  Dr. G. says it's the gift that just keeps on giving.  Forever.

April marks a lot of things for me, but I'm happy to celebrate April 6th first.  It not only marks my anniversary with my awesome husband, but marks the day that my life started down a whole new path to life-long trials and annoyances.  Go Stina Go!