Marathon Revelation

So much has happened since 4 days post chemo infusion 1! Tomorrow I complete infusion #3. But since September 12 I have had a lot of time to reflect, and a lot of both bad and good days to share. I'm going to do my best to summarize, and give some specific prayer requests before the big day tomorrow (you'll see more about why later).

Picture This

Imagine you drove to work today, like most Thursdays, you get out of your car maybe with a holiday Staburcks drink and start walking in. A person you never met takes your purse/brief case/stuff and drink and says not today. Today, you are running a marathon. Starting right here. Obviously, for the majority of people this would pose a challenge. Unless, you just happen to be already near done training for one, which if that is you - go you!

You tell the random person, I'm not ready to run a marathon - wrong clothes, no sneakers, no mental preparation, can't run over a mile what the heck are they talking about? The stranger says time starts now and your off. The first half mile you walk jog cause you know you can do that although in flats it's not the same as your sneakers and are just absolutely utterly confused as what is happening and how in the world you are going to get to 26.2 miles unprepared.

I've decided this is the best narrative I can give of what it feels like to walk into work one day and by 4 pm be told you have metastatic breast cancer. Nothing can prepare you, and then once you start treatment with the complications you already face from the disease spread you realize - holy s*** this is a MARATHON.

This has been hard for me to wrap my head around. Both previous times I had breast cancer it was early stage and I was given steps to complete until I would be cured. I am competitive and I like to win, so this was great for me - fine bring it on - I can do all the things check them off and move on with my life. It's taken me the last 6 weeks to realize that's not this. I hope this short narrative puts this into perspective just a little.

MEDICAL STUFF

Chemo Round 1 -

I did really well post chemo for 4 days and then my mouth quite literally started falling apart. I had severe mucositis inlcuding canker sores on my tongue cheeks roof of mouth etc. it was near impossible to eat
Day 6 I ended up in the ED with a fever - my white blood cells had dropped far too low and were 0. I was admitted to the hospital for the second time (in 3 weeks - mind you I have never been admitted to a hospital before this year) and spent 3.5 days getting IV antibiotics and trying to eat applesauce.
Post discharge due to the still extremely low white blood cells and inability to eat much of substance I was extremely weak for another 4ish days. Justin was working in Gainesville, so thankfully my mom stayed at the house with me and Alexa and helped me with everything. Slowly I felt less weak. Due to the white blood cell count being low we pushed back chemo by a week so instead of dose 2 at 14 days it ended up being at 21 days.
I got the results of my bone scan - the cancer is there as well. So far - lung, liver, bones.
I ended up losing 10 pounds that week due to my mouth, but Lyla still gained 6 ounces. The kids a warrior ❤️

Chemo Round 2

The day before chemo round 2 Justin and I met with my new interventional pulmonologist. It had been over 3 weeks and my chest tube still wouldn't drain which is a issue (my lung is still collapsed).
He is awesome, made a plan post chemo to put TPA in my chest tube to break up any of the cancer debris that likely was clogging it so it would drain.
Chemo Day went as expected - we got to see my oncologist before chemo and she said the tumor on the outside of my chest is showing favorable response (it was disgusting and still is but dying!!!) We decreased the overall dose of chemo by 20% in hopes to have more white blood cells left after treatment 2.
My hemoglobin had also been very low and Chemo 2 would drop it more - we planned for a blood transfusion a week later.
Post Chemo I got the TPA instilled and we headed back to Orlando
The morning after chemo #2 was NOT ok. I was excited because it was the Florida Breast Cancer Walk! I had 78 team members and we raised $15,000 I had friends and family travel from all over Florida to be there in support but my body wasn't having it. Justin pushed me in a wheelchair while my body felt like it was on fireeeeee. I walked across that finish line though 💖
Overall after the first 3 days chemo 2 was okay if you can call it that. My mouth super sore but not as bad as the first time. I got a blood transfusion to help my hemoglobin.
New issue - random coughing fits sometimes at rest often when I walk. It is really affecting my ability to move and be "normal" as I can be. It'll be on my prayer list.

OTHER MEDICAL THINGS

CHEMO 3 is tomorrow !! Praying for my body to hold on and less side effects
After chemo I go to have a ultrasound guided biopsy done of my chest wall. My oncologist doesn't have enough tumor information from the inside to make decisions about genomics, or to confirm hormone status for my further treatment options post chemo and Lylas birth!

I think that's pretty much a summary. Marathon day 52!

Prayer Requests

Successful chemo day 3 with as little side effects as possible. Whatever that means for this cycle, I'm learning I have no clue!
Successful chest wall biopsy with as little pain as possible. That it would allow Dr Daily to get all the info she needs to make treatment plans. Currently we think my cancer is triple negative, there would be more treatment options if it was hormone positive. So maybe that could be a good thing and a prayer too.
Continued strength, courage, and hope for Justin and I as we live this 24/7. It's hard.
Lylas growth continues ❤️
That we would continue to feel Gods presence each day

ISAIAH 54:17 No weapon formed against us will prevail. ❤️

Here are some photos from the walk: