“Anything is possible”

Sooooooo where do I begin? Well if 2020 wasn’t already a hot mess where everyone just wants to hit the Control + Alt + Delete button, restart and roll into 2021 like nothing ever happened ... I myself and my body decided to throw in a “wow factor” with some “C” (and yes, at times it is hard to type/ say the full word cancer). On Monday, December 7th I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  I’m sure the “shock factor” is a lot for some right now as it was/ is for me ... but in all honesty, I feel totally fine physically (mentally is another story) and I have absolutely no side affects or feel differently at all at this point in time. #blessed So I’m sure most of you are wondering so much right now but FIRST I need to express how grateful and thankful I am to my family, close friends, friends of friends and my Verizon team. THANK YOU for loving me, THANK YOU for checking on me everyday, THANK YOU for offering help in anyway shape or form, THANK YOU for SHOWING UP even though I could...

Today I had my first appointment at Sloan with my specialist Dr. Paul Hamlin.  Mom came with me to this appointment because I had a feeling this would be the session where I would fully understand what is going on and have my treatment plan in place.  With our snacks in tow, we managed to get there in an hour and twenty.  Not bad for Covid land (eye roll).  Check in went very smoothly as per usual.   At around 2pm the nurse came to get me for vitals.  Healthy as a horse obvi (except for the cancer part) HAHA!  After my vitals were taken it was time to meet with Dr. Hamlin and his team.  Very young group it seems or maybe I'm just old now? Who knows? But everyone was super nice and welcoming.  Dr. Hamlin came in to review what was going on and talk about my treatment plan. First he wanted to make sure that I had a support system around me through my journey.  It's soooo very important to have that! Then he addressed my exercising (lo...

Off to NYC to get my PET scan done prior to meeting with my specialist Dr. Paul Hamlin. Being my independent self I was planning on driving myself even though my Mom and Maureen offered to take me. My brother shot me a text earlier that week basically telling me he would drive and I shouldn’t really go alone. I took him up on it and we cruised in together. Of course we had to stop for food ... obviously I could not eat. Chris prepped me for the appointment since he’s been through the process in the past. “You will basically get this huge water bottle drink that tastes like a watered down Gatorade... just chug that”.  I mean how hard could that be!? I’m used to chugging alcohol 😂 We arrived at Sloan early as requested and got to park anywhere on the streets of NY (thanks Chris).  They were running a bit behind so I had time to look at the amazing view of the FDR and the river.  One by one people were being called into their scans or to drink their magical drink. Finally i...

Maureen and Bridget came by my house to surprise me because I was basically denying visitors.  I guess I felt like I didn't want to put anyone out or be like a sad story so I just tried to stay home alone and cry in my cave.  I was really happy that they came by and surprised me.  Bridget came around lunch time, rang my bell like a weirdo.. I hid of course because I never answer my door!  Of course I get a text saying "open your door hello I'm downstairs."  Gotta love my sista!  Maureen showed up later that night, driving from LI during rush hour, god bless her.  She basically thought..."I'm going to just drive there and show up... I doubt she will throw me out or slam the door in my face."  That was a true gamble on her part.... I opened the door for her obviously 💛 My family and close friends checked on me throughout the day and night.  I'm so very grateful to have them in my life 💙

On Wednesday, December 2nd Dr. Wong called with the pathology report (not the diagnosis).  Dr. Wong confirmed that I was showing signs of Hodgkin's lymphoma.  Shocking of course to me.  I think I blacked out a some point on the call... honestly I think I was crying and laughing.  He confirmed that this was not the full diagnosis but still wanted to give me a call to let me know because this was most likely the direction it was heading.  You can hear in his voice it wasn't the call he wanted to make nor something that I wanted to hear on a Wednesday night alone at home.  Mom came to my place that evening to just hang with me and make sure I was doing OK and that I wasn’t alone in this journey ♥️ A little background on Hodgkin's.  It's a cancer of the part of the immune system called the lymphatic system.  As the cancer progresses it limits the body's ability to fight infection.  As your white blood cells are fighting, symptoms could be swollen...