The Summit

I DID it!!!  I completed chemo!  Four and a half months and 14 treatments later, I am done!  What an overwhelming feeling. In May, I didn’t even know if I could handle it all, but now I know I most certainly can…but I hope that I never have to do it again. I would not be honest if I didn’t say this feeling is also laced with a little fear. Chemo is like your insurance policy. While you have it, you know your covered, but when it is gone, you hope nothing else happens.  With that now laid before you, I am still stoked that I will start to feel better and grow some hair soon.  I saw this girl do a time lapse of her hair regrowth over 12 weeks, seriously may have to do that for documentary purposes.

I will start radiation on Oct 1 for 4 weeks. I get some time in between for my counts to recover, and have some much needed Prosecco.  I have two appointments until then: one to have this port removed (praise Jesus) and two a mammogram and CT simulation to get the radiation lined up where it needs to go. I will do radiation treatments every day.

While I did ring the bell, signing this picture in the Duke Women’s Cancer Center was by far the most touching. My name will forever remain in these halls where I have walked, prayed, laughed and cried. I know I am in good company with the names that were placed before me and for those I left behind in the infusion room. A truly humbling experience.

(First one to sign the fence like the true rebel I am)   LOL!

I heard this guy on The Message XM radio station say this morning that, “there are victories to be won and lessons to be learned, even through the tears”. Well, I am here to confirm that I have shed enough tears throughout all of this, but the best ones yet were the ones that welled up and rolled down my cheeks today. I reached the summit today, and it has all the feels.

All my love…Live each day big, for you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Rachel