I WANT A CURE FOR TREVOR IN 2012~

Please logon to http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/dsp_DonationPage.cfm?walkid=7235&idUser=163181 or go to the CF Foundation's website at http://www.cff.org/ to help Trevor and thousands of others make CF stand for CURE FOUND in 2012!

BEST WISHES FOR 2012~

Slightly transformed, but still amazing~

I used to really dislike my birthday being 5 days after Christmas. It always seemed like part of Christmas and not really my special day. I have since realized that it is really a great day for a birthday. It is the day before NewYear's Eve. The beginning of a new year. A chance to start over, fix things, make things better, make resolutions, be a better person.....a renewel. I like that idea. So I celebrated my special birthday last night with my most special family and I am happy and ready to start the New Year!

I had a friend give me a gift with a card that said..."Slightly transformed, but still amazing" !! What a special message. I am still me, only better....Life is what you make it! I plan to make this one helluva year!

Our AMAZING BOYS! Christmas 2011

Trevor 10, Tristan 12, Trey 8

With their new PS3

Sporting their new hats from Grandpa an Grandma

Handsome boys

Their new snow masks / NINJAS  LOL

Road to recovery~

It is so hard to take it easy....even when you know it is doctor's orders and in your own best interest. There is always so much that needs to be done and I have never been one to sit around and wait for someone to help me....just ask my husband. LOL He of course has been an extremely big help through this whole process, but I still want to get back to speed and I know it will take a lot of time to get there. I am so happy right now that I feel so good and so relieved that the cancer is gone. Now I am just going to have to take it a day at a time and try to slow down so I won't suffer any set backs. All is going better than I could have ever expected and I know it is from all the thoughts and prayers from everyone.



2 weeks after surgery~CHRISTMAS EVE

I ended up losing a total of about 13 pounds which is not a bad thing, but my goal is to turn some of my flab into some muscle and get stronger each day forward. I will go back in for another surgery hopefully in late spring for permanent implants. Mixed emotions about that as I do not look forward to another surgery, but I look forward to getting rid of the expanders. I have been through the worse, so I know I can handle anything from this point forward!




Christmas Day 2011~ Lots to smile about

 
Advice for 2012.... make the most of everything....good and bad.....and have a mammagram... it just may save your life!

♥ Gail, Breast Cancer Survivor 2011

I'm a SURVIVOR~

WOW...it has been a rollercoaster ride since I was diagnosed with breast cancer on October 3, 2011. I have learned a lot about this illness. Learned a lot about myself and what I am capable of. I have had heartache, experienced pain, but I have also faced adversity and conquered breast cancer! That which does not kill us, makes us stronger is so true, but I also think it totally changes your mindset of what is really important in life. We all get caught up in "HAVING THINGS". Most people spend their days working to pay for these "THINGS". Everyone needs to step back and realize what really matters! Mistakes can only be fixed when you admit they have been made. There is nothing wrong with making things right after the fact. We are all human after all. Please take time this Christmas season to evaluate what makes life worth living. For me...it is my family and friends NOT HOUSES,CARS OR THINGS!


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

CANCER FREE!

It is amazing how one small turn of events can wind up turning everything completely and utterly upside down.  Life is like that....never knowing what is going to happen next....good or bad! How we deal with each of these events is the determining factor as to our success or failure. Some of these events, ultimately leave you with little choice, but to succeed. Those events which carry such a serious nature...those in which life and death are at stake. I am not the bravest of individuals....nor the strongest, but when subjected to events of which I have no control over.... I am not faced with a decision about how to act, but only to act in order to face the dilemma straight on. Yes, I think it is normal to go through a period of denial, but that leaves you little time to feel sorry for yourself. I was diagnosed with 3 spots of DCIS in my right breast on October 3, 2011. After 3 biopsies, several mammagrams and an MRI later....I opted for a bilateral mastectomy with expander reconstruction. I wanted to decrease my chances of ever having breast cancer again by the greatest margin possible. It has been 10 days since my surgery and I am very happy with my decision. Other than what we have been through with Trevor..it was definaely the scariest thing I have ever been through. There was no cancer in my lymph nodes. This means that I don't need chemotherapy or radiation treatments. They tried to save my nipples, but were unable to do so. The pathology report said there were cancer cells to close. I am happy to say that  now, I have clear margins and don't have to see my breast surgeon for 6 months. I will get my drains removed by my plastic surgeon on Thursday. They have already filled the expanders with some saline....they did so at the time of the surgery. It was nice to wake up with a feeling of fullness. They will continue filling them until they are my desired size....then I will go in for an out patient surgery for the permanent implants. Probably within a few months. So....still in some pain, but feeling very good about everything at this point.  CANCER FREE!!!

Getting prepared to KICK CANCER'S BUTT~

It is just 4 more days until my breast surgery. I have a lot of emotions running wild. I am scared, but totally ready to get the surgery over with and totally ready to get rid of this cancer once and for all. I am ready to hear the words when I wake up....that the cancer has not spread.....that I don't have to have chemo....and that they were able to save skin and nipples. Putting my total faith in God right now because I know he will see me through this. I pray that someday soon there will be a cure for breast cancer so no other woman will have to go through this. I am one of the lucky ones. I caught it early. If you have never had a mammagram or thought you didn't need to have one....THINK AGAIN! It is the key to early detection of this disease and the key to surviving it. GET A MAMMAGRAM! You owe it to yourself! I just want to thank everyone who has sent cards...gifts.....positive thoughts and PRAYERS! I could not have done all of this without your support!

Love, Gail ♥

Trevor is awesome~

Just received an email from the nurse practioner at the CF Clinic at Children's Mercy. Trevor's culture was clear! NO BACTERIA!  So thankful!

Simplifying~

Well, I went and got my hair cut off yesterday. I think it will be alot easier to take care of while I am recuperating!