An honest telling of hope, faith, and perseverance in surviving cancer
Recent Posts
1 year, 1 month, 9 days
Scan time has come and gone again. The time that is somehow capable of sending me into an oblivion of fear and unwanted thoughts that swish and… Read more “1 year, 1 month, 9 days”
Negative
The answer wasn’t “C” or “All of the above.” It wasn’t “No evidence of disease.” Just one line It was the Only test I didn’t want to… Read more “Negative”
9 Month Check-up
Another set of scans and checkups after radiation treatment for my adenoid cystic carcinoma of my parotid gland.
Who’s Glanda?
I knew her 1st as a little nodule under my ear by my jaw that was just tender enough to be somewhat bothersome. I noticed her one afternoon after I had gotten my very first filling, and I can’t say she’s left my side since..until now.
7 years later in May 2017, she was finally diagnosed as a pleomorphic adenoma of my left parotid gland (which is how she got the name Glanda) after many scans, biopsies, and doctors reviewing my case. We soon chased a second opinion to make sure, scheduled surgery, and at the sight of a scalpel, Glanda pulled some power ranger junk and morphed into a mighty morphing chunk of cancer. Jerk.
So, now Glanda has taken on her final identity…adenoid cystic carcinoma and she has been laid to rest making her Goneda. From here on out, we’re under heavy surveillance, a few scans and checkups here and there, and a lot of thankfulness alongside faith and trust in Jesus that we’ve made it here and we’re going to be jusssssttt fine. Praise the Lord!
Glanda’s 1 Year Goneda
It’s been a LONG year…to say the least. But we made it and we are still happy, healthy, and cancer-free!
Glanda was removed July 6, 2017 and confirmed to be Stage 2 Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the left parotid (salivary) gland just 6 days later on the 12th.
I’ve chronicled my surgery recovery, radiation treatments, and post-treatment living. I’ve written some cancer-related poetry, and now I’ve compiled a few of my thoughts 1 year out from surgery.
The Road to Radiation Oncology
It’s true. The same department that I received radiation treatment for my cancer in is the same department where I am also an employee.
Curious how an English major ended up working at UAB in the Department of Radiation Oncology with only a few years of web experience on her rèsumè? So was I. Now I know.
Along Comes Hope Flower Farm
One of the most pivotal moments in my healing and survivorship thus far was walking as a cancer survivor model in Holly Chapple’s Flora and Fauna Fashion show at Hope Flower Farm.
The event took place on May 2, 2018 and was an extension of a Chapel Designers Workshop with master teachers including Gregor Lersch, Francoise Weeks, Hitomi Gilliam, Susan Mcleary, Alison Ellis and, of course, Holly Chapple.
The event was truly beautiful display of hope, creativity, and the strength of those of us who walk this treacherous. An event I was honored to be a part of and will remember for the rest of my life.
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