Yes, I am Alive and Well!

I know it has been awhile since I last blogged, but to be honest that last round of chemo really knocked me down, making me even more grateful it was my last session. I am just now, nearly two weeks beyond the treatment, overcoming the nausea and fatigue. And, proof that I no longer take the little things for granted... today was the first time in over a month that I had a morning cup of coffee that tasted and felt normal! Progress!

I have one more week of radiation treatments and then I am done - hopefully forever. This week I will learn more about my follow-up, but what I do know is that I will be seen at least every three months for the next two years and undergo several scans during that period to make sure that nothing else is brewing.

During my most difficult days, so many of you continued to reach out to me - through emails and cards and gifts and texts - and you will never know how much those things meant to me, nor how much they helped me fight the inevitable frustration and impatience with my physical condition. Surrounding myself with people who love and care about me has truly been my lifeline during these last three months. Here's a darling photo of my sweet niece, Kerstin, sent to me during this time:

The other thing I've done is found words to inspire me and keep me going. I thought I would share with all of you a couple of blogs, email feeds and the like that I have discovered and whose words I now crave. Check out:

marcandangel.com
tut.com
tinybuddha.com

Throughout these challenges, perhaps the single most important thing I have learned is the power of hope and positivity. Chasing away negative thoughts, moving away from negative people, focusing on the best of every situation and expecting the most positive outcomes will, I hope, be ingrained in me forever.