2 Years, 9 Months, & 7 Days.

     2 years, 9 months, & 7 days...that's how long I've been in remission round #2.
     2 beautiful years, 9 glorious months, & 7 wonderful cancer-free days have been given to me to live on this Earth. Some days were better than others, some hurt like hell {inside & out}, & some felt too good to be true...but all were very much appreciated; much more than I can make palpable with my words that's for sure. I don't think you can ever get too comfortable before a scan or a blood test; how could you?...you entire life & the lives of those around you, are all resting on the results. That's pressure!!! Thankfully, my CEA (tumor-marker level in my blood labs) dropped from around 2.6 to 1.3 which is AWESOME!
     In between my first surgery in August 2010 & my 2nd chemo regimen that would follow, we made the decision to switch oncologists from FGH to The Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center in Morgantown, WV. I can honestly say that is the 1, no-doubt-about-it reason why I am still alive. Although not a colorectal specialist (because apparently, we don't have those in WV...yet), Dr K. completely took me & my family under her wing. She made me feel comfortable in the most uncomfortable of life situations. When my recurrence happened in mid-2011, you could see the disappointment on her face but she was also quick to reassure me that we would also win this round...& we did just that. She's been the most proactive,  let's stay one-step-ahead of another possible recurrence, kick-ass doctor & I'm so thankful to have her in my cancer-free life. ❤
     With good news comes a little sad news...our family said a final goodbye to our beloved pug-mix "Buddy" on March 9, 2015. He was 13-years-old (91-years-young in dog-years) & had been battling diabetes & occasional seizures for the past 7 months. He had been with us through our highest of high's & lowest of low's & was truly an integral part of our family. He is already incredibly, incredibly missed & will never be forgotten.

We'll love you forever, Budman.

Buddy Johnson

September 04. 2001 - March 09, 2015

"We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare, & love we can spare. In return, dogs give us their all...it's the best deal man has ever made."

love&lyrics,
- LISA -