2023 is coming to an end, bring it on

I’m not sad to see 2023 coming to a close, yes, that’s an understatement. What a challenge 2023 has been. It started out amazing, my AS disease was well under control and enjoyed the end of January with an amazing vacation in Hawaii. A dream vacation really. It was certainly the highlight of the year. Then in mid April Nick and I slipped away to Vegas for a long weekend. It was there that I told Nick that I found a mass that I was going to get check out when we got home. The weekend was a kid free blast but I recall telling him as we were waiting for our Uber to take us back to the airport that I think I’m going to hear bad news tomorrow. I felt it.

These health situations are traumatic on families and friends as they can tear us apart or bring us closer. I’ve been so blessed that this shit show has brought us closer together. My boys now knows how to fold laundry and run the dishwasher. The hubby still calls the washing machine the laundry machine but it’s amazing progress that he’s stepped foot in that room. The kids are more independent and now step in to do tasks they see needing to be done without being asked. They do their homework, brush their teeth, and shower without debate. They’ve maintained good grades without helicopter mom on their case. And Nick has been just a rock star- three surgeries this year, two of them involving drains and charting gross fluid. That crap wasn’t in the marriage deal but man did he step up to help.

I’m thrilled to share that I’m finally feeling more normal. All short term chemotherapy side effects are gone. And I’m learning to live with the long term effects without them impacting my mental health. The ringing in my ears is my new white noise machine. Fancy. And fingers being slightly numb helps me limit screen time on silly phone games. I’ve started to teach myself how to draw. A fun random hobby.

Once chemotherapy ended, the next challenge was AS coming back full steam. All my joints and spine hurt like they filled with silly putty mixed with sand. I’m now two doses into my AS injections and they are starting to work. Which is right on the schedule the Rheumatologist said they’d start to work. A long few months! I’m still stiff but not really painful most of the time. Score.

Today I was scheduled to have the set up CT scan to prep for Radiation to start. However the plan fell through as the surgery is limiting the movement of the left arm enough that I can’t yet get that arm above my head. It’s only been three weeks and the doctor said it’s normal, I just need more healing time for those muscles. I go back the day after Christmas to try again. Then hopefully start daily radiation the following week. With any luck I’ll finish by the end of January.

Once radiation is over I will need to start the medicines that will hopefully keep the cancer away. I’m crossing fingers that my body handles them well enough so it’s not impacting my day to day life. I’ve meet people that have had fairly smooth sailing and others that really struggle. But that is a problem to face a few months from now. Today my cancer journey is going well and I’m grateful.

I just wish no one had to go through this. I lost my Aunt to breast cancer a few weeks ago and another person close to me was just diagnosed with a different form of cancer. It’s heart breaking to watch people you really care about struggle. The rates of cancer is rising with no clear answer as to why.

In the end it makes today just that much more valuable. Today is a beautiful gift.

God’s richest blessings to you this holiday season. Merry Christmas!