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I missed my anniversary...

Sunday, September 26, 2010

...and I am tickled PINK!
My husband and I were talking the other day, when it suddenly occurred to me that I had forgotten all about my anniversary. I'm not talking about my wedding anniversary though, I'm talking about cancer. Yep, this past July I was officially four years out, and I completely forgot (yay!). For each year that passes the chance of survival increases; the first five years without a recurrence being the most crucial.  I was 40 and in the best shape of my life when I was diagnosed via my very first mammogram. My risk factor? Less than one percent.  
October is pink ribbon [BC awareness] month which means, ladies, you should go get 'em squashed; it could be more important than you know! The photo is me and my "chemo buddy" (I'm the one with the pink hat ;o) God took him home not long after this photo was taken; he and his wife were a precious couple that went to church with my parents (she still does). His infusions were done through the arm (hence the pillow), while mine were taken through a central line (I had a port surgically implanted near my collarbone). My treatments were every 21 days for a year and a half; it completely eclipses your life and can cast quite the lingering shadow. All I can say is that this survivor (yours truly) is sponsored by the grace and glory of God: Boo-Yeah baby, Woo! If you or anyone you know has been recently diagnosed with cancer, please feel free to visit my Pink Think lens for some helpful information.
Lady and Cinnamon will both be celebrating their 20th birthdays next year. Since a horse is 3 to 1 in people years, this means they'll be turning sixty. My best guess is that they are supposed to share the card (I wonder if this means we'll be able to ask for a senior citizen discount at the feed store now - whaddaya think? :o)
Although I believe we probably had more than two donations, there were only two people that actually left their names for the WEG giveaway.  Since we had two prizes up for grabs; a box of goodies from us, and an Equestrian Collections gift certificate from Stacey at Behind the Bit, we thought we'd have a little drawing to see who got to choose first. I typed each name on a blue piece of paper (horses see blue better than any other color) and let Bella choose the one who gets "first dibs". We're slightly soggy looking - it rained - but we got the job done...the most important thing is that LAURA G. IS ABLE TO GO AND COMPETE - Sorry for yelling (ha ha), I'm just so very excited for her! 
NOTE: In case you're wondering why I said, "Lady, don't help", she was parked right behind DD and stuck her nose about two inches from the camera *grin* (I was kinda thinkin' one blooper was enough :o)

WEG Giveaway from Jen on Vimeo.
I'm posting an updated photo of The Girls' cleaning crew; I still can't get over how fast those little boogers are growing. They were circling in anticipation of an incoming breakfast delivery (you can see Lady's reflection in the water). Personally, I'm thinking that Faith wins the pudgepot award this month. She'd be the tubby little white one on the left...looks kind of like a ping pong ball, doesn't she? ;o)
 Have a great week everyone!

17 comments:

  1. So much good news all wrapped up in one post. congrats on missing that anniversary and Laura G gets to compete, fantabulous

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  2. I think it is wonderful that you were able to forget your anniversary! Here's to many more!

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  3. Ann: It is amazing (in a sad way) how much a cancer diagnosis "takes over" your life. Aside from the horrendous learning curve, it seems to permeate everything about you and [what used to be] your life.
    I was very happy to hear that Laura would be able to go...she didn't have 100%, but I think she was down to about $300 (which she said she could handle). Chalk one up for the good guys - Woo!
    Daisy: I thought it was pretty wonderful too *grin*. The younger you are when breast cancer hits, the more dangerous it is and the higher the risk of recurrence. The further away you can get from the initial date of diagnosis, the better your chances are for long term survival (I would like to do the grandma thing one day, you know ;o) Thanks for the good wishes!

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  4. Yay for the good news!! And congrats on missing that anniversary.

    Have a blessed Sunday!!

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  5. I can honestly say that my life has been enriched by you. So, it has been good to still have you around.

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  6. We are so glad to hear that Laura gets to compete.
    Congrats on being 4 years out. I was diagnosed myself 4 years ago this month, Sept. So I am excited that I have made it this far too. It certainly does change your life but I think somewhat for the better. I have learned to be more positive about things.
    Have a great Sunday.

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  7. Congratulations on your Anniversary Jen and the fact that time is healing ~ you are clearly one amazing and strong woman.

    This is such a heart felt post. And you are so right ~ we must go get the 'ladies' squished on a regular basis. :)

    Hope you have a lovely week!

    xo Catherine

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  8. Jen, I'm so happy for you. I for one have not witnessed a "happy ending" when it comes to cancer. I've lost my mom and her two sisters. So it's very nice to see a survivor =)

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  9. Veronica: Thank you :o)
    FishHawk: What a lovely thing to say; are you sure you don't have me confused with someone else?
    Marg: I am excited about her going too; I hope she does well (more importantly, I hope she has a terrific time). Wishing you a happy anniversary!! :o)

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  10. Jeni: I am so very very sorry to hear about your mom and your aunts. I have to say that it was God's grace for me. I had planned to go for my first mammo in December over Christmas break (but didn't get there). Then I thought I'd go over spring break, but didn't make it then either. I ended up going when school let out in June and there was a small blur on the films. It turned out to be a pretty aggressive cancer (the tumor doubled in size between my mammo and the surgery). Had I gone any earlier, it would not have shown up and I would have been in some serious trouble by the time the next screening rolled around one year later.
    Thank you for your kind words :o)

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  11. That is wonderful hear! Congrats on missing the 4th anniversary!

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  12. Christy: Thank you. I'm just happy it's no longer occupying my every waking thought, you know? Woo! :o)

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  13. Congratulations! So glad you missed your anniversary. Also some birthday wishes to your horses. It's nice to see that Laura G gets to compete and your fish does look like a ping pong ball.

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  14. Hi Jen. We have something "extra" in common besides horses. I am finishing my first year of exams after uterine cancer surgery last December. Not quite the same kind but one of those diseases that can go undetected. Luckily we caught mine relatively early on so, so far, so good.

    Congratulations on your continued recovery. I can only wish you the best.

    And, of course, Yea! for Laura and many thanks to Lady for picking my name. Unlike my Boys she did not eat the paper which is pretty impressive.

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  15. GreyHorse: *Laugh* Thank you (all the way around :o)
    Jean: Delighted to hear another survivor in the making - Hooray! It was actually Bella who chose your name; Lady was parked next to DD eyeballing the camera with a look of interest. When she poked her nose out and got within a couple inches of the camera lens, I opted to say something to her. Had I not, chances are we would have had blooper number two: some nice footage of the treetops and the sky *grin*. Congratulations to you on two fronts!

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  16. Good that you could forget this one! I hope you have many many more and will be able to forget about them too!
    Hugs,
    Anna

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  17. Anna: You're not kidding! For a long time it was an awful lot like waiting for the other shoe to drop (on my head :o)

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