RING THE BELL!

Chemo round six (of six!) is in the books! So all the exclamation points!!! And smiles!

My youngest, Aric, took the day off school to join us for this last treatment. Big smiles on our way out!

One leg of the journey is COMPLETE!

Six of six rounds of chemo in the books.

Due to side effects in my hands and feet, they lowered my dose by 20% for two of the four infusions. Dr. M wasn’t too concerned with lowering the dose on my sixth round. She said most have to get it lowered before the final round. God has truly blessed this whole journey.

Ringing the bell came with quite an array of emotion.

I was so excited!

There have been some days that I didn’t want to go back for another treatment. Big deep breath! Reminding myself I’m doing this to LIVE. I did it. I completed all six rounds. Some days I felt like I was in a boxing match, down of the count. But now, through my arm in the air and call me the winner.

I felt grateful!

My care team has been AMAZING! Dr. Mrozek and NP Joel explaining my treatment, listening to my concerns, answering all my questions; they are the true ROCKSTARS. Always making me feel like I’m the only person they are caring for. I can’t leave out Jaquie, Danyelle, and Heather, my infusion nurses, so kind and compassionate. Sharing parts of their own lives with us. I will hold their stories dear to my heart. Then there’s nurses Lori, Amy, and Bethanie who work along side the doctors take my vitals and check my side effects.

I also had a sense of sadness.

I will miss all of these people who have had cared for me so faithfully. I will return for follow-up appointment and maintenance chemo after surgery and radiation, so my time with them isn’t over just yet.

BIG SMILES after ringing that bell.

Let me encourage you for a minute.

Madison Health has been fabulous! From the volunteers, registration, nurses, doctors, labs, etc. It doesn’t take much to make someone feel seen and heard. From the time we walk in the door until the time we walk out, people working at the hospital look you in the eye and say hello, even if they are just passing you in the hallway. Makes a difference!

Look someone in the eye and say hello. Change the atmosphere wherever you find yourself.

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This round of treatment has been the easiest so far. Maybe it’s because I know this is the last one. Maybe it’s because they reduced it by 20%. But I also believe it’s because of the prayers that have been prayed for me. Thank you all so much.

Last Wednesday, I had the privilege of being a guest on my friend Alana’s podcast. That was a first ever for me. Take a listen if you’d like as we Pour It Out.

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I’d like to hear from you. Who has made a difference in your life? Give them a shout out here. Or, better yet, reach out to them and let them know what they mean to you.

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