Tag: uab hospital

Glanda’s 1 Year Goneda

Posted on July 8, 2018 by

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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”

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Teenage Mutated Ninja Valerie

Posted on September 6, 2017 by

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Things have been so up and down, that I don’t even know where to start. Just last week we went from getting perfectly clear results from my PET scan on Tuesday morning to getting Strata test results back on Thursday, finding out there’s a… Continue Reading “Teenage Mutated Ninja Valerie”

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Ready, Set, Simulate

Posted on August 24, 2017 by

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the mask

**WARNING: Images included in this post may be hard to look at due to…reality** This journey has brought about emotions in me that seem to overwhelm me just enough that I cry. I actually hate crying, and I’m more than capable of going 6+… Continue Reading “Ready, Set, Simulate”

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Friday Frustrations

Posted on August 21, 2017 by

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Hands down, hardest week since the path results came back. Nothing is wrong. Everything has just bubbled up and overflowed again this week as I shoved myself through 4 different appointments…all for this dumb cancer stuff. Radiation Oncology consult with Dr. Spencer Dental appointment… Continue Reading “Friday Frustrations”

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How It Healed

Posted on August 2, 2017 by

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WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES For some crazy reason, I thought surgery wouldn’t be a big deal and the first week of recovery would be a little tough and then the next week would be more like a staycation at home while they made sure everything… Continue Reading “How It Healed”

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Goodbye Glanda

Posted on July 20, 2017 by

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On July 6th, 2017 Dr. Carroll at UAB removed my dear Glanda,

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Triggerrrrssss. Went to a dermatology appointment this morning but had to cross through this section of the hospital. It’s the place I sat in the patient transport wheelchair after I got my drain pulled from my neck and they confirmed it was cancer. It was the LONGEST 5min of my life waiting for K.T. to get the car. And it immediately makes me anxious when that scene floods back in. Trying to be thankful for that moment of humility this morning. I was there —> now I’m here. Onward. #goneglandagone #parotidectomy #salivaryglandcancer
📝 New post up on the blog!
I took a drive today. I rolled the windows down, opened the sunroof, and turned my music up. Sounds pretty normal, right? Sure. But it’s a normal that used to be uncomfortable for me. Since my surgery in 2017, the left side of my head and neck were either numb or very tingly. It almost feels like an electrical spark when it’s touched and strands of hair whipping it relentlessly wasn’t what I would call fun (or normal 😜). But today, about 30 minutes into my drive…it hit me…the nerves have finally regenerated enough not to hateeee interstate car rides with the windows down! We back, y’all! #steppingstones #goneglandagone #parotidectomy
| July 6th, 2021 | 4 years since the day I went in to get a benign tumor taken out and woke up to a cancer diagnosis. I spent much of my day reflecting on the details and the moments that have carried us to today. As we sat down for dinner and connected for the first time today, everything flooded back in. KT walked back through the moments following the phone call that gave him the news from the OR, and we remembered the first time I heard that story curled up in the hospital bed that night. We talked about the irreplaceable bond us between us because of the helpless moments of dependence and brokenness that we faced. And we sat in awe of the unbelievable blessings we’ve been afforded since. The Lord is good. The Lord listens to us and feels for us. And the Lord is still working on my heart. This day still shatters my heart into pieces (even when my heart feels the hardest) and, in some ways, I hope it always does. I sobbed and snotted into my CFA chicken strips tonight and I finally admitted that every single dang moment of this journey has been really, really hard, no matter what impression you got. May July 6th always remind me what it felt like to face mortality at 28 and what a sovereign God we serve. Onward and upward! #goneglandagone #cancersurvivor #parotidectomy
Allll aboard! 🚂 One way ticket to continued cancer freedom! Ya girl got clear scans last week, and I’ve taken some time to process what that means to me these days. I don’t ever want to get used to hearing things are stable and that there is no evidence of disease. Ever. But I’d be lying if I said the emotions walking into scans are the same as they used to be. Does anyone ever go to enough doctors appointments that it drops the emotion and fear and it moreso feels like a trip to the grocery store? Like just something you have to do…again? Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve had enough scans at this point to willingly get stuffed in that tiny tube and accept the short nap I’m about to take. Bleh. I never on my most hopeful days thought I would walk into scans mostly carefree. Kind of makes me gag actually. What happened to me? Am I numb? Am I healed? Have I lost all care and empathy? I don’t know yet. But until I do…I know I’m still cancer free. To God be the glory. #goneglandagone
While this is intended to help with #covid19 trauma and all that has happened in our world this last year, I couldn’t help but think of my cancer journey and how those 5 things rang (and still ring true) for me.

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