Radiation is OVER!!!

Radiation is finally over! Not only is it a relief to have radiation behind me, it is awesome to not have to go to the doctor every day! And my skin did remarkably well. I had 3 burn spots, but only one of them was serious. And it was small, so no biggie. My energy is coming back and I don't have to go to the doctor for 3 weeks!!!! I have been going to the oncologist every week since the middle of January. I was going to radiation every day for 33 days plus the oncologist every week. It was a lot to get used to, but in a weird sort of way, it felt normal to me. You know, fighting cancer has become my job. Every single day there is something to do. Of course, I need to take the new meds they have me on, but there are other things as well. For example, I spent a couple of hours the other day going through my insurance EOB's to make sure the offices are billing me correctly. I swear I almost need a bookkeeper. And now I need to get my butt in gear for the 3-day walk that I am doing in November. I need to motivate my team and organize training walks (and probably read my handbook!).

I think last time I ended with wanting to profile my teammates. Who should I start with? I think I will start with my cousin Amy. Amy and I are only a year apart (I think it is more like 10 months, but who's counting!). It is usually pretty hard to explain to people how we are related. Like I said, we are cousins. But we are first cousins and we are second cousins. I think that is technically how it works anyway. My mom and Amy's dad (Uncle Dan) are brother and sister, so that makes us first cousins. My dad and Amy's mom (Aunt Shirley) are first cousins so that makes us second cousins! Anyway, I feel like Amy and I have always had a special bond. We haven't kept in the best of touch through the years, but I know she is always there. It is like having one of those friends that you don't talk to in months but when you do it is like you have spent every day together. I know it was especially hard on Amy when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The whole family took it pretty hard, but I think Amy felt it more than most. It could have been that Amy was finally happy in her life. It has taken her a long time to get there (not my place to give details!), but you could see in her face that she was truly happy. It sucks to finally feel like you are living the life you deserve to live and than tragedy hits. I know it well because that is exactly how I felt when I was diagnosed. So, she stepped up. She read my blog and sent me emails several times a week. I know she would have done more if she lived closer. But the best thing she did: she had a mammogram. And then she had to explain to the doctor how we were related!

I am so excited and honored to do this walk with Amy. It is going to be an emotional time for me when I cross the finish line and it means the world to me that I am going to do it with her. By the way, Amy is in the purple shirt in the picture with this post!