Any Texas Hill Country BC Warriors?
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ok ladies. I am officially deported. Woo- Hoo. I asked if I could keep it and they said no :0( but I got a picture. Below is my blog post about it.
Holli
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Deportation
posted by Holli Barrett on Tuesday, December 30, 2014
While the title is misleading and in no way describes my political views on immigration, cancer patients who have had chemotherapy know exactly what I'm talking about.
You see...One year ago today I was in "The Chair" receiving my first of 8 chemo treatments. Today I am sitting in a waiting room chair in a surgeons office waiting to go back for my deportation - or in other words .... MY PORT COMES OUT TODAY!!
Wow.... What a year this has been. Not what I had envisioned for 2014 at all. "MY" plan was to be graduating from Texas State with my degree in applied sociology with a focus on adulthood and aging this December. "MY" plan was to be an awesome homeschool mom and CC director. But cancer has a way of changing those plans and puts into perspective that "WE" really aren't in control after all...
Wait. What? I'm not in control of everything!! LOL!! I found a great little saying about control I'll post in the photo section.
Yes, there are things we CAN control... How we react to our circumstances, choosing to stay stead fast in our faith, choosing to be an active participant in our health by eating healthier and exercising...
I'm sure we've all heard the saying "life happens while you're busy making plans". Oh how true it is.
And why should we worry about our plans anyway. If we except the fact that God has everything planned out for use... Wouldn't that be a huge burden lifted? Easier said than done at times ... Believe me I know. But we are even told in the bible -
Jeremiah 29:11New International Version (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Proverbs 16:9 ESV
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Check out this link for many more verses concerning His plans for us...
http://www.openbible.info/topics/the_plans_god_has...
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So back to deportation...
Well... It took about 30 minutes and viola .... I am officially deported!! All he used was a local (a poke and several STINGS) but after that there was only some slight pressure.
I'm sore (hello pain medication) and a little emotional. I mean this port has been a part of me for over a year.
Just like the hair loss associated with the chemo, the port was another outwardly symbol of this disease. The removal will leave a scar. I'm not certain if I will ask my plastic surgeon to revise it (make it less noticeable) or keep it as it is. In a sense the scar symbolizes what I've been through (of course there are many other scars but they aren't visible to your everyday person unless of course it's a certain time of year and there are beads involved :0). In a way it's a badge of honor and a symbol of strength. It says that (whether I would have made it or not) I stood up to this disease, to the chemo, to the radiation, and I won this round. I pray it will be the first and last round. A complete KO!!
Now we gear up for the last leg of the journey in 2015.
3 MORE SURGERIES!!
WE CAN DO THIS!!
I say "we" because so many of you have so selflessly walked this journey with me. Thank you!!
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Cindy- sorry to hear you aren't feeling well. Get better.
Holli- yah I got deported on Monday. Hurt so much and still does. I guess my surgeon really liked putting it in deep. I joked about keeping it and I have it. Purple and heart shaped. My two faves.
Quick update on me I start radiation next week. Back to work right before Christmas and that feels great. Other than that nothing too big to report.
Happy New Year everyone. Here is to a better year.
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Holli & Kelsey - yippee! Happy Dance
)) DEPORTED. Congrats!Holli - sweet post
))Kelsey - wow, you got to keep it oh my! Rest...hydrate and moisturize...emu oil was my salvation...yeah, back to work and feeling great:)))
Jen - thanks for keeping up with us...waiting to see you in DA.
Stay warm and safe
Happy New Year! Ready for 2015
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Sorry I have been out of pocket. Work and holidays = craziness!!
Happy New Year everyone!
Seems like everyone is moving right along with treatment, finishing up, starting another, etc. You go, ladies! So proud of each and every one of you!
I'm in for 2/1 in San Marcos!
Holli - my son majored in exercise and sports science. His masters will be in Health Education. He really would like to do research related to county health issues: low birth weight, cancer rates, etc. His real passion is writing, so I think he wants to get a job that will pay him a decent wage so he can write in his spare time.
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Happy 2015 Ladies!
Going to my DD's to have New Years dinner and celebrate my GS's First Birthday!!! A New Years' baby:). I made some yummy crab/artichoke dip and Black-eyed peas! MMM.
See y'all soon~
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Hey guys, hope you all had a Happy New Year!
I've been hoovering at the intersection of depression and indecision... not a fun place to be...
Not sure if I want to or should have rads... doctors can't say one way or another either ,but suggest rads.. they throw terms like standard of care and protocol out there but when it comes to bottom line rads would not improve my "survival rate" more than 1-1.5%
So, unsure if benefit is worth the risks... side effects etc. But then again, don't want to do this again so I teeter in this land of indecision
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chaos, sorry you are in that place...maybe a second opinion is in order. I had rads and the drive and time was worse than the SE's, for me. Of course, it's been less than a year, so not sure of long term SE's. My tumor was close to the chest wall, and clear, but close margins, after LX. So, I thought I should, just to be on the safe side....I had some redness and itching, a little pain now and then, but really nothing compared to chemo. My RO is very cautious and thorough. I pretty much trust him to do the right thing. Sometimes, it feels like over-kill, I know. Good luck~
Looking forward to seeing you wonderful ladies soon!
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Chaos I am where you are at. But you know what I am fighting this cancer with everything in my arsenal. That way if this cap ever comes back I can't say i didn't try everything i could. That's my two sense
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Kelsey, that's kind of where I was when I decided to do chemo...not going to give Cancer any more ammunition than I have to! None of it is fun, for sure!!!
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Chaos -
This is one area where I can empathize! I had a close, but clear margin. All of my doctors worried about what to do....my surgeon, my plastic surgeon, and my oncologist. It was heart warming listening to some of the conversations (they were calling each other on their cell phones; I just happen to be in my PS office at the time for another fill during reconstruction). Anyway, they ended up sending me to a radiation oncologist for a second opinion. The odds of improving my prognosis was similar to yours - 1 to 2% max. The RO recommended against it as potential side effects far out weighed the benefit.
Sorry you are having to go through this.
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Ladies -
In my last blog update, I talked about cancer being a family disease. And I discussed how different family members handle my breast cancer and how they express their concern. This is how my quiet son deals with it:
I am not a fan of tattoos, but this one warms my heart
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I love it
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Lovely tattoo
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This year had a down tone in the swing of it for me - my nipple reconstruction failed and developed necrosis / or in simple terms the nipples turned black - they got infected and now I have open wounds on my newly reconstructed breast - in the mean time I am just trying to work through all the emotions and "pain of burning sensations". I think I just had to many things happening to soon after one another. So now i will just wait.
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vickie, good to hear from you. Love the tattoo! What a nice tribute to MOM!
Zelda, so sorry you are having problems with your recon...I hope things start to get better soon.
Cindy, bundle up before coming back to Texas!:) brrrr
Stay warm ladies!
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Thanks
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Zelda -
so sorry for all your difficulties GRRR this c and SEs Does your BC center have a social worker...sometimes helps vent and float to a life ring. Gosh, just so sorry.Vic -
my heart goes out to your son...he Luvs his mama! Nice pic.Terri - brrr! Warm it up please. Fighting bronchitis grateful for cough syrup last night I slept...9 more days of meds go flu go! Hope you enjoyed Bday time with kiddos...:)
Candy - how are you doing! Where are you in tx?
Chaos - Ah, so hard to play the odds, but know you will follow your heart. Your team has given you good info so everything on the red! In your pocket {{{squeeze}}}
Kelsey - good to hear from you and hope to see you in Feb! Rads is mental, the daily grind of showing up...hydrate and emu oil and free boobing if you can:)
See Yall soon!
(((Hugs)))
Cindy
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Cindy - thanks for asking about me. I am doing fairly well. Just home from my 2nd of 4 Taxol treatments - wish it were my last. Despite some side effects last time, Pete and I made our 5 day trip to Vegas over New Years week. I spent a lot of time in bed first 2-3days, but last 2 days I felt good. It was not to see something other than my couch and bed. CHAOS- such a hard decision to make, but I would say gather all info, weigh opinions but then go with what you feel is best for you. You will make the right decision. Vickie. Love the tattoo. Jen- I sure have been using them arm hat and socks young gave me-thanks again. Terri- sound like all is going well - keep it up. happy AND HEALTHYnew year to all. Candy
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Candy - good to hear from you! Congrats on #2 done. Glad you and hubby got to get away...it's so important...be sure and take a no c vacation when you finish chemo...we are in your pocket!
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Candy, nice that you could get away for a while. We need to re-charge our batteries, esp while going thru TX's. I hope the rest of them are easy on you. Make room for me in your pockets, too!
Cindy, good to hear from you. Wow, get over that crud already, okay? How are hubby and Hunter?
Jen', haven't heard from you in a while-I hope all is well!
Has anyone figured out where we are going on the 1st? Do we need a head count for reservations or anything? Anyone want to car-pool?
((HUGS))
Terri
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Holli - we need your input! Where do you suggest?
Jen - you always have good insight:)
Vic - you pic the Hill Country...where oh where:)
Crud is the word hack hack...hubby is stalled on not good walking with foley forever ugh:( Hunter is ready to pass AKC Canine Good Citizen test...yes, Pet Therapy Dog is our goal...he is such a sweetie pie.
Stay Warm
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Hey Yall!
Casting for Recovery is now taking applications for April Retreat at Joshua Creek!
Please Please complete application and get your name in the hat...it is a wonderful weekend...so much more than learning to fly fish...😘 a 5star weekend of being pampered, encouraged, and hanging with others that get it...girls weekend fun:)
Fingers&toes that your name will be drawn.
(((Hugs)))
Cindy
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working serious overtime - tonight is the last night- will catch up when i have slept a little! but for now, i'll just leave you ladies with this
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hi ladies!! Did y'all decide on a day in February ?
Here are some San Marcos restaurants:
Palmers
Grins
Saltgrass Steakhouse - I know y'all have one in Austin, but this one sits on the headwaters of the San Marcos river. Beautiful waterfall. Depending on the weather, this is close to Aquarena Springs and we could ride the glass bottom boats afterward. Their lunch menu is pretty reasonable.
If none of those work, then Gruene is a great place too.
Grist Mill
Gruene River Grill
Holli
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Thanks for the reminder, Cindy. I have already applied:).
Holli, I think we have decided on February 1st; not sure what time or where yet.
Thanks for the ideas...I'm open to whatever.
Stay warm!
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Hi texas gals, I recognize some of you from other forums, Holli, RMlulu, Keepthefaith. If I were to plan a vacation to texas for 1 week in april and my timeshare has an exchange in san anotnio and galveston which would you suggest. It would be my husband, sister and brother in law. we had scheduled a week in april 2014 to san antonio but cancelled due to my chemo and they gave me 1 yr to reschedule. It can be anywhere but we were kind of excited to see texas as have never been and that time of year is supposed to be beautiful. Holli, Do you remember giving me suggestions of places to go? Bummed we had to cancel but glad we did as i just wouldnt have been up to it and didnt want to waste a vacation feeling yucky, worrying about my immune system and being bald. We like that Galveston is near the water but is it a resorty type of place with nice beaches?. Its an hour from Houston? we like to do outdorsy stuff and love the water but also like cool funky restaurants and sights and neat towns. we like to hike, kayak, my sister is a runner, (and i sort of run, lol). with houston being close we'd also have a big city to visit. My sister and BIL are from LI (well so am I but live upstate NYfor the past 28 yrs, which is totally different from LI and NYC!). So any suggestions texas bc gals. and maybe i could see you all. You seem like a fun group!!!
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Hi Lisa! I think both SA and Galveston are fun, myself. I think Galveston is more laid back, but still a lot to do. I think there is a Sand Castle festival on the coast in April...maybe South Padre or Corpus, not sure. I have been once and it's always fun. If you can get this way, please let us know!
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Hey guys :-) hope you are all doing well!
I ditched my radiation appointment yesterday. The RO is not very happy with me, but couldn't get an appointment with the MO until the 27th and even then I think I am going to forego rads for now and focus on healthy lifestyle changes... nutrition, supplements, exercise... finally got hubby and family on the same page as me (now just to convince the doctors lol) they now understand that I am not giving up, but trying an alternative- radiation will still be there if god forbid I need it!
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Chaos, do what you think is best and whatever gives you peace of mind. I did rads mainly because of the close proximity to my chest wall...scary either way you look at it.
I "met" a sweet lady online through Real Estate a while back, that was DX'd with DCIS last yr. We met face to face over coffee this morning! I invited her to join our group and also to come on the 1st to meet everyone. She said she will try to come. She lives in Georgetown. Bonney is her name. Can't wait to meet those of you I haven't yet met!
Loving this beautiful weather we are finally blessed with today!
Go Packers!!!:)
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