What is a Birthday
What is a Birthday?
To many, a birthday is a mark of how long they’ve been alive, year by year marking their age. But what if you weren’t supposed to have any more birthdays? What then? What are birthdays?
In 2000, I was told to go home and make my affairs in order and say goodbye to everyone I loved. I was diagnosed with a terminal illness and given only a few months to live.
In 2004, I was overdosed and told that any treatment I chose would just further damage my body and there wasn’t anything that was a viable treatment.
In 2008, on my birthday, I coded for 49 minutes. I was clinically dead.
Those were the depressing parts.
But what about the fact that it’s 2023 and I’m still alive and well, turning 50? 23 years after being told I’d not make it another year.
I celebrate the life I have, I fight for today, and I live it with my heart and soul.
A birthday is a reminder that we are alive. It is a gift. It is a chance to start over, to make new memories, and to live our lives to the fullest.
So, if you’re reading this, I want you to know that you are loved. You are cherished. And you are worthy of a happy birthday.
Celebrate your life. Fight for today. And live it with your heart and soul.
Tests and more tests
Part of the case study and ongoing follow-ups with my cancer are tests, tests, and more tests. So far it’s been mainly blood work. What they are looking at and for I have no clue, to be honest. All I know is they like to suck the blood out of me.
This week I also have some scans to do or as I call them nap time on the vibrating tables. If you know, you know. Prepping for the holidays with a mix of medical and work so not too much going on.
Getting my feet back under me
Slowly but surely I’m getting my feet back under me. Even though the last treatment was not as long/strong as the prior treatments, it knocked the pudding out of me. Took me longer than I wanted to recover but we are on the right track. I started to get the dreaded man flu aka a cold this week but so far I’ve been able to keep ahead of it.
Thank you, everyone, for your support and love, without it this would not be possible.
I find that while going through treatment I tend to write more and then as my health gets better I stop writing. I have toyed with talking about Service dogs since I’ve been a handler for 12 years now. What else would interest people to keep coming back? Ideas?
The Good
Last weekend I was supposed to go in for labs and follow up with doctors to see what was the next step. Instead, they had already gotten authorization to do one last booster treatment that took about 2.5 hours. At the time I wasn’t pleased about doing another treatment. Who am I kidding I was very cranky and apprehensive going up there, not knowing is the worst for me.
Even though it was a smaller dosage it still kicked my ass and put me down for a few days. I’m sure I’ll still have some days when my feet get knocked out from under me. The good news is that I’m in remission again and this immunotherapy treatment worked.
Yep it worked I’m in remission.
I want to thank everyone for their support and love during this last dance. I couldn’t continue to do this without everyone’s support.
Coming to the finish line…
Coming to an end?
That/s the hope at least, my numbers are looking really good on the cancer front but not so well on the liver front. This treatment was pretty mild compared to all of the complications that I’ve had in the past the only really worrisome item is the effect it’s having on my liver and kidneys being that these two organs are the most affected. The plus side is my liver can recover. Mom is on the hydration front, ensuring I’m flushing my system and keeping hydrated.
I don’t think I’ve peed this much in a very long time. Oops?
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