I’m sorry you found my blog.

HA! What a funny thing to say on a blog!! But seriously, if you landed here, you either know me, or know someone that has cancer. That’s why I’m sorry!

Cancer.

I hate that word.

I remember sitting in the oncologist’s office in my early 20’s listening to the Dr. tell me that while it was not likely I would get Ocular Melanoma like my Mom, 3 out of 4 people would be diagnosed with some sort of cancer in their life. Since all of my Grandparents and my Mom have died of some type of cancer, I knew my day would come. I just never thought my diagnosis would be the day after my 41st birthday and as a mother of a 10, 7 and 6 year old.

Fast forward 4 years (October 2019) and the cancer has returned in other bones. So here we are, ready to fight again…and looking to be on some sort of treatment for the rest of my life.

This blog is my journey as I fight to leave cancer behind and move on in my life.

I should probably back up and introduce myself . . . my name is Jennifer. I’m a Christ follower, married to an amazing man (who happens to be a chef turned Co-CEO of a restaurant), have 3 beautiful daughters and I’ve been diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer which originally spread to my sternum, but has now spread to quite a few other bones and one of my lungs as well.

I know it can be confusing when you stumble upon a new blog, so let me help you get started.

I have a blog to keep track of my thoughts and to let friends and family know what’s going on.
You can get to know our family or read my personal testimony here.
As I’ve been going through different procedures, I’ve written down what it was like. You can find a list of those over in the side bar (or down at the bottom if you are on a mobile device).
Click here to receive an email when I publish new posts.
And finally, if you noticed above that I’m married to a chef and think that must be the MOST AMAZING THING EVER, click here and browse through my blog about what it’s really like to be married to a chef. (I love blogging. Can you tell?)

Jennifer

Here’s what’s going on with me right now . . .

The Decision I Never Wanted to Make

Jul 7, 2021 | Blog | 88 Comments

I have written a few versions of this post, but, keep deleting them. This is a hard one to write.

I have decided to stop active cancer treatment.

While my scans came back OK, my quality of life has gone downhill a lot in the past couple months while on this chemo.

The night before talking to the Dr.

Jul 6, 2021 | Blog | 21 Comments

I’ve talked about scanxiety before. But there is also worry and anxiety that goes along with knowing you have an important Dr. Appointment the next day. I’ve been trying to keep my mind off of it, but have only been a little successful today.

Please pray I can sleep well tonight and not be to anxious tomorrow as I wait to meet with the oncologist at 2:20. Thanks friends!

I was home by myself for a few minutes and…….

Jul 5, 2021 | Blog | 8 Comments

I fell. Yep. I fell, hard. And I was home alone, which NEVER happens anymore.

Tom went to drop the girls off at a friend’s house for a 4th of July party. We had plans to join them around dinner time. I got up from my recliner and I was sliding my foot into my Croc slipper and fell to the left side. There was a chair near me which I knocked over, but I think that helped cushion the fall a little.

Can I Ask a Favor?

Jun 26, 2021 | Blog | 3 Comments

Tom asked me the other day if there was anything big I’d like and try to do sometime soon. Besides going back to Disney World and having a personal tour guide, I couldn’t think of anything. Lol.

Our trip to Disney World was amazing. It’s something we will all remember for the rest of our lives. I am forever grateful for the chance we had to spend together as a family and relax….the chance to not think about terminal cancer for a few days….the chance to laugh and smile like we haven’t in such a long time. We really needed it and I smile every time I think about the trip.

1 Scan down, 1 to go

Jun 25, 2021 | Blog | 7 Comments

Scanxiety was tough this week as I awaited my bone scan today. It went fine. Now we just wait for results and a discussion with the oncologist.

We drained my lung last night and the color of the fluid was back to normal. Praise God for that!

Pain Pump Update and Prayer Requests

Jun 22, 2021 | Blog | 12 Comments

I’m so tired, so hopefully I can type well enough for a quick update….

My pain pump refill went really well last week. I had no extra pain. Praise God! I haven’t had to take any Oxy this past week (with the exception of yesterday). The pain pump and Fentanyl patches on my back and doing a good job of controlling my pain the majority of the time.

Pain Pump Refill

Jun 16, 2021 | Blog | 10 Comments

My pain pump refill went well today. The Dr. numbed the area with some lidocaine and took out the little bit of medicine that was still in there. Then he put in the new medicine. It was pretty quick and relatively painless.