CANCER HAS LEFT THE BUILDING!

WOW!!! What a whirlwind of a week our family has had! A week filled with lots of love, support & sensationally fantabulous news!

Tuesday, 9/27:

Waking up bright & early, I threw my previously packed bags from the night before in the car & zipped off to Lahey Peabody to meet Mom & Dad for the BIG DAY…Surgery Day, aka, “getting rid of cancer once & for all day”! As I drove to the hospital, I found that I was miraculously calm & reveled in the magenta sunrise I saw before my eyes. I reflected on my conversation I had with Mom the night before. One of the last things I said to her was, “Just think, tomorrow, you’ll wake up with cancer & by noon time, you won’t have any!”

And just like that, Mom, Dad & I headed into Lahey to do that very same exact thing…to rid my Mom of that nasty disease that unwelcomingly came back into our lives.

Mom’s state of mind was incredible. She was calm, cool, collected & even joking around about her forthcoming procedure. Seriously, this woman is such an amazing inspiration to me, my family & I know to so many of us. To see her boldly walk into that hospital & face her fears head on was nothing short of remarkable. God, I love her!

Below is a pic of Mom & her fabulous surgeon moments before she was rolled into the operating room. Of course you knew I made them give me the ole’ “thumbs up” before heading off.

The surgery for her mastectomy took exactly 2 hours. Before we knew it, Dad & I were chatting with Mom’s surgeon & he delivered us the AMAZING news! Preliminary testing on her lymph nodes was NEGATIVE!...meaning the cancer has NOT spread & she most likely will not have to do chemo! WOOT! WOOT! Pathology results will most likely confirm this & those results will be back in a week. The look on Dad’s face?...PRICELESS! Completely relieved & overjoyed, I immediately updated the rest of the family with yet another one of the countless texts I was sending throughout the morning.

Once Mom was moved to her own hospital room, Dad & I, eagerly awaiting her arrival greeted her with massive smiles & passed along the fantastic news. A bit groggy, she nodded & gave a soft smile & murmured the words “I know, the Dr told me 3 times!”. Dad was so elated to see Mom. He sat by her side just holding her hand with the proudest smile on his face & in his heart. After about an hour, Dad & I scooted to get some lunch to let Mom rest. Upon our return, we found her sitting up, awake & greeting us with the biggest smile! Dad gave her a gift that he bought for her after we had lunch: a brand spanking new iPad with a PINK cover! (I will not confirm or deny if I had anything to do with the decision on the pink cover)…tehehehehe…but I will report that Mom LOVES it! (told ya so, Dad!)

Mom stayed overnight & although out of ALL the bags I did pack for the day, an overnight bag was not one I had in the mix, I stayed with Mom regardless. I snuggled in Mom’s hospital bed with her, broke open her shiny new iPad & we watched a little snippet from the Ellen Show of an actress/comedienne Wanda Skyes who ironically was diagnosed with the same exact cancer as my mom her first time around, nearly 19 years ago. It amazes me how the little things in life such as cuddling up with mom in her hospital bed watching some Ellen can leave such a lasting impression & warm memory. The only place I wanted to be in the entire world at that very moment was right there by my Mom’s side. It was pure bliss.

The following morning, Mom was discharged & off she went to hit the road to recovery. Since Wednesday, Mom has been doing incredible! Only 24 hours after her surgery, she was completely off of pain medication & only taking Tylenol for the pain. I met Mom & Dad back at their house & there was Mom, at the foot of the driveway, all smiles waving to me as I drove up as she was chatting with her next door neighbor, sharing her good news! WHAT?! REALLY?! Yes, I’m not lying or exaggerating. Mom is all about putting this behind her & getting back into her normal routine. Now, rest assure, the fam has been making sure Mom isn’t overdoing it. She’s going at her own pace, which by most standards is “cruisin’” to say the very least. Case in point…on Friday, Mom said she needed to get out of the house and wanted to go to the bank. The conversation went a little like this:

Me: “Ma, why on earth do you need to go to the bank?!”

Mom: “Cause I need some cash”

Me: “What for? Where are you going?”

Mom: “I need to go shopping & pick up a few things at the store!”

That’s my Mom folks, can’t hold that lady back and don’t think for one second about getting in her way either! LOVE HER!

At this moment with her iPad in hand, relaxing on the couch with Dad, I see before me a woman with such determination & a will for living like none other I’ve seen. The zest for life my mother has is abundantly clear. Mom, you are an inspiration to me & so many others around you. I’m so unbelievably proud of you & how far you’ve come in your journey. If I am half the woman you are, I’ll be one very fortunate soul. I love you Mom!

XOXOX,

~Amy