Category: Where are we now?

9 Month Check-up

Another set of scans and checkups after radiation treatment for my adenoid cystic carcinoma of my parotid gland.

The New Normal

My goodness. Looking back at all the life we’ve truly lived since our trip to Hope Flower Farm is absolutely incredible. That trip was truly life changing for me. It beautifully wrecked every part of me and pieced me back together at the same… Continue Reading “The New Normal”

Along Comes Hope Flower Farm

hope flower farm holly chapple

Back in 2016, I worked for a floral magazine here in Birmingham as the digital media specialist. That October they afforded me a trip up to Waterford, VA to cover the very first ever Flowerstock hosted by Holly Chapple at Hope Flower Farm and… Continue Reading “Along Comes Hope Flower Farm”

Halfway to (more) Freedom

Today marks 6 whole months since my final radiation treatment, and I woke up feeling all kinds of things. I always imagined that each and every milestone would bring indescribable joy and thankfulness for my healing and for life and just for the crazy… Continue Reading “Halfway to (more) Freedom”

Post-Radiation Life is…

Fill in the blank and that probably describes what it’s like on this side of things. It’s scary, it’s different, it’s confusing, it’s an adjustment, it’s a new normal, it’s freeing, and it’s a daily effort to keep my mind and heart focused on… Continue Reading “Post-Radiation Life is…”

Well…It’s Not Cancer

I’ve sat down in front of my computer a whole handful of times lately to write an update, a new poem, something…but haven’t quite found the words until now. 2018 has been full of adventure already and I truly feel more normal than I… Continue Reading “Well…It’s Not Cancer”

Time to Celebrate

confetti celebration

Happy 6 months to meeeee! It’s been 6 months since I went in for surgery to remove a benign salivary gland tumor and received path results just 6 days later that it was cancer they took out. Since then I’ve endured surgery recovery, 4… Continue Reading “Time to Celebrate”

Auld Lang Syne

fireworks

I fail to find the right words for this year so often (if there is such a thing) but here I am again writing stuff and throwing it out into the public like it’s different from all the stuff i’ve already said. The timing… Continue Reading “Auld Lang Syne”

All the Gross Things

WARNING: Gross pictures included Many of you have heard my stories about radiation and others actually watched it happen, but what you may not have seen unless you work with me or live with me is all the disgusting things that happened to my… Continue Reading “All the Gross Things”

How It Healed (Radiation Edition)

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES Post-op you may have read How It Healed that chronicled the progress of my incision and drain removal as it healed up, so I thought that it was only fair if I created one for my skin toxicity and it’s recovery from… Continue Reading “How It Healed (Radiation Edition)”