Ok, so for chapter 4 I would like to begin by…just kidding. I do feel a little like the Carrie Bradshaw of cancer blogs/websites (or whatever you call this), but somehow she seems way cooler. I may be able to pull off the shaved head but she would look fabulous in a potato sack! Seriously, I am stunned by the response we have gotten to these little postings and I am frankly flattered that you guys are interested in what is going on. I know people post messages (all of which Neil and I read) on the website, but I wish you could see all the beautiful emails, cards and phone calls we have received and the people who just keep showing up, knowing that we can’t respond to every call, card or email and just pressing forward out of support. All I keep thinking is…”It’s just us and it’s just me rattling on about the stuff that goes through my head anyways!” I wish I had the words to express our gratitude to all of you and what motivation it gives me to keep moving forward.
Shawanna hanging out with me during chemo
So last week was round/cycle (nobody can figure out the terminology) #2 of the good stuff and I had the pleasure of my best friend’s company for the duration. Shawnna and I have been friends for over 12 years and she is truly more of a sister than a friend. How we did not come out of the same uterus is a mystery that eludes me to this day. We were “potluck” roommates at the University of Georgia and I am so glad I was naive enough to just throw my hat into the ring at a school of over 30,000 people when it came time to choose a roommate. To this day I can’t fathom why I thought it was a good idea to “wing it” seeing as I had plenty of high school friends that were going as well and would have been sure bets…but no, I had to be different. Well, thank goodness, because I met one of the most amazing women I have ever come across. So fast forward through college, marriages, births (Ok birth…she has a 2 year old), deaths, laughter, tears, terrible haircuts, questionable clothes and here we are and here she is, once again, right by my side. She’s the friend who can tell me I look like crap and I hug her, she’s the one who can make me laugh when I’ve got tears streaming down my face, she’s the one who knows when to dust me off and and set me back up and she knows my whole story and loves me anyway. She is also as neurotic as I am and was a huge help in keeping Chemo fun (those people do not know how to have a good time!), reorganizing my entire pantry because it was bugging me, numerous errand runs and many meals, all the while with a big smile and lots of hugs. I’m telling you, this girl is amazing!!
Me and Marisa
So the dusting off part came after our meeting with the High Dose Chemo/Bone Marrow folks who are very nice but I left a bit rattled. Marisa, Neil, Shawnna and I went to find out what they had in store for me and we were all very impressed by the physician who will head up my care and his honest and direct approach. But I think it was just that that threw me off my game for a little while. Anyways, I will spare you all the details, but we now have phase 2 in our sights and I have come to realize it’s just something I have to do…twice. But at least I get to look cool when I show up to these places with an entourage of people asking really smart questions and Marisa flashing her MD card. Joking aside, I have received no less than the royal treatment at every turn of this journey, all thanks to her. I’m not sure how you begin to thank someone for jumping in on your behalf and guiding you through a very scary and unknown path with such generosity and grace, but I will find a way. I will owe her my life.
I have put some updated photos on the site, some of which are just to prove I really do feel good and am not just lying around feeling crappy :). I’ve been going out for walks just about everyday and will be able to start doing more as I reach the 6 week mark post surgery tomorrow and get the green light to add in more. I hope everyone has a great week and that you all are getting ready for a fun 4th of July!
With gratitude and lots of love,
Alyssa
By the way, this thing doesn’t have spell check, so if there are any typos or mistakes just throw me a bone, OK? :)
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