I'm a Modern Bride

As you may remember from a previous post several months ago, I was interviewed for an article in Modern Bride Magazine. Well, I went to the store this week and the article has been published. It's in the October/November issue. Kind of exciting as I have never been in a magazine before. The article is called 'In Sickness and in Health' It's about 'when serious illness affects wedding plans, how to brides, grooms, and families cope?'

I am in 2 small parts of the article but it was fun to read my name. The article is such a good article and I actually found myself almost emotional reading about other people's stories. Although the stories were different (and most of time a lot worse off then I was) I found myself relating to every single emotion they describe in that article. That month between when I was diagnosed and when we got married was such an emotional roller coaster that re-living it through this article was a little difficult.

Anyways, don't feel like you have to go buy the magazine, unless you really want to. Next time you see me, I'll show it to you if you ask.

I'M DONE!!!

What else can I really say...I'm done with ALL my treatments and that I really have Kicked Hodgkin's Lymphoma's Butt right out of my body. I'm officially a Cancer Survivor!

I had my last Radiation Treatment today. And now I don't have to go back to the Cancer Clinic for 4 weeks. Wow...that sounds sooo nice.

All the radiation staff signed a certificate of completion for me:



When you get done with your treatment they have a Bell for you to ring. I've heard the bell many times while in the waiting room and was so excited for the day I got to have my 'Bell Ringing Ceremony' as I call it.



Brigitte came with me for the experience and to photograph the event.


My cousin Travis, who works at the clinic, showed up for the bell ringing ceremony.



And here is the 'Bell Ringing Ceremony'

So this is it...I'm done. Of course there will always be follow up appointments and check ups for a long time but for now I am trying to put it out of my head and get back to life without cancer. I can't wait...

One big THANK YOU to everyone for all their support through this. I can't even begin to name names, so I won't but everyone has been so supportive and great through this and it's really helped me keep my spirits up and get through it all.

I am not sure what this blog will become now. I haven't decided if I am going to continue and just post regular updates on my life or if I will leave this blog dedicated to my cancer life and start a new one. I'm going to take a break, hopefully not too long, and I'll let you know when I decide.

An apology with a safe picture

So I feel I need to post a little apology for my last post. I really had no idea how shocked everyone would be over the pictures. Obviously I don't see myself like that, since I am in the mask so I didn't think people would think I looked so weird.

But, I made a girl at work tear up, being fore-warned my dad refuses to look at the pictures and Brigitte wouldn't even comment or barely talk to me about it. Yep, everyone thinks I look like a corpse in the picture. Maybe because it's in a large sterile looking room, or that I have a hospital gown on, or the fact that my face is covered up, or that I am laying on a flat table. Not sure which of those contribute most to my corpse look a like but I guess I can kind of see why no one liked the picture. Remember I said I was smiling, doesn't that count for anything to help the situation?? :)

Ok so to redeem myself from the last post and to help push that post down a little further on the page, I decided to take a picture of myself so you can all see how much my hair has grown in. I made it stand up so you can see the length. I wore it like this all day Saturday out shopping. Shane thinks my hair is in the 'in-between' stage that people are going to look at me and think 'Did she have cancer or does she like her hair cut that way?'



Radiation is still going well, only 3 more to go. I have a little bump in my throat but it's pretty minimal and just a mere inconvenience at this point. I have been getting a little more tired but all in all still feel pretty good. No hair loss yet...

Once again, sorry if I freaked out my readers. I hope I didn't scare you away. I promise not to post any more freaky pictures. Please keep reading and commenting.