The week inevitably came with a wide range of emotions leading up to my surgery anniversary, July 6, 2018…exactly 1 year since the day we officially said goodbye to Glanda. I’ve spent some time reflecting and parsing through the defining moments that got us… Continue Reading “Glanda’s 1 Year Goneda”
Category: ReflectionsTags: adenoid cystic carcinoma, atm, atm mutation, cancer, cancer blog, cancer free, cancer treatment, faith, family, fear, genetic testing, genetics, God, Healing, health, marriage, mental health, normal, parotid gland, parotidectomy, pathology, perspective, pleomorphic adenoma, reflection, salivary gland tumor, strata, strata trial, surgery, surgery recovery, tumor, uab, uab hospital, william carroll
Posted on January 12, 2018
by Valerie Powell
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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”
Category: Reflections, Treatment Updates, Where are we now?Tags: anniversary, birmingham, cancer, cancer blog, cancer free, cancer treatment, faith, family, fear, Healing, love, marriage, perspective, radiation oncology, radiation therapy, radiation treatment, reflection
Posted on January 1, 2018
by Valerie Powell
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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”
Category: Reflections, Where are we now?Tags: 2017, 2018, auld lang syne, birmingham, cancer, cancer blog, faith, family, fatigue, fear, Healing, marriage, new years, perspective, reflection
Posted on December 4, 2017
by Valerie Powell
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Life is way scarier these days than I remember it. I remember sitting on our swing just a few days after surgery back in July and wondering how I was ever going to trust my body with normal aches, pains, and sickness again. And… Continue Reading “A Dose of Reality”
Category: ReflectionsTags: cancer, cancer blog, cancer treatment, faith, family, fatigue, fear, Healing, radiation oncology, radiation therapy, radiation treatment, sacrifice, side effects
Posted on November 15, 2017
by Valerie Powell
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If it wasn’t enough when they found it in my own body (and mom’s), it seems cancer is showing up closer and closer to my heart. More and more families are experiencing that dreaded feeling of the blood leaving your face as news is… Continue Reading “Week Nine – The Lull”
Category: By the Week, Treatment UpdatesTags: cancer, cancer blog, faith, family, fatigue, fear, Healing, parotid gland, pathology, radiation oncology, radiation therapy, radiation treatment, reflection, salivary gland tumor, side effects
Posted on October 25, 2017
by Valerie Powell
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Unconditional. In sickness and in health. For better or for worse. March 28, 2015, I married Kevin Tyler Powell and celebrated the hope and assurance of all of these things as I said, “I do.” I had no idea what our lives would bring… Continue Reading “Unconditional”
Category: ReflectionsTags: birmingham, cancer, cancer blog, faith, family, fatigue, fear, Healing, husband, love, marriage, powell, reflection, sacrifice, surgery, unconditional love
Posted on October 23, 2017
by Valerie Powell
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I’ve somewhat avoided this post for a few days, mostly because I was too tired to think and also because I didn’t know if I could do the specialness of this day justice. October 20th was a day I had been anticipating for every… Continue Reading “The Finish Line”
Category: Treatment UpdatesTags: birmingham, cancer, cancer blog, family, fatigue, fear, fraction, Healing, last day, last treatment, radiation oncology, radiation therapy, radiation treatment, reflection, sharon spencer, side effects, skin toxicity, tongue ulcers, uab, week 6