Life Is DuVine

Remission 

the state of absence of disease activity in patients with a chronic illness, with the possibility of return of disease activity. Remission refers to the response of a cancer to treatment. It does not mean that a cancer is cured.


                     Remission to me...

It feels like freedom. If feels like water, when you're so thirsty. It feels like fresh clean air, when you need  a deep breath. It feels like sun that warms you on a cool day,,,it's that warm blanket from the dryer when you're cold. It's a revival of the human spirit,,,to make you want life back,,,to fight even harder for it,,,to never give up,,,never give in.    

Remission to me looks like 

Friends from DuVine sent me this jersey. The day I got it was one of those "sick" days...it was just the encouragement I needed to stay focused. To remember that I would feel the sun on my face again, and I'd be able to lift my own arms. So  thank-you to DuVine for walking along with me on this journey too. 

God, just a prayer away...no matter where you are. "Weeping may endure for a night, but the morning will bring joy, he wont give you more than you can bare."
 I was never alone. 

LSU Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery is top of the class.

According to Dr. Boudreaux, Dr. Woltering, and Dr Wang, "You are 1 of the lucky ones". 

Will it come back? "yes" .... who knows when though! Am I more likely now to develop some other type of cancer? "yes"....  probably colon or pelvis .... 

Which brings me back to the beginning.

 Statistics are just calculated odds, and people beat them all the time. 

And Today, I DID! 

Today, there is no evidence of carcinoid tumor in my body! My doctors, who feel more now... like family, will continue diligently to treat the symptoms of carcinoid syndrome. Frequent scans and blood draws to scout for tumor markers will alert us to anything new. All those in my herd who circled around me will be ready to fight again and will be on guard! On October 21, 2011, I had carcinoid cancer. On March, 21, 2012, I am in remission from carcinoid cancer. 

  

Dream Big, Work Hard, Have Faith

Been a long hard ride, there's still a long rode home, but I'm on my way back to ME!

This picture was taking in 2008, another time in my life that I had to fight through obstacles, climb a mountain that I believed to be insurmountable. But...as for me.... I might die tryin, but I don't give up. I've always loved these animals. Horses have always been my escape, my passion. YeHah! to the day I get to ride again.

Dream Big, Work Hard, Have Faith

So next week is one of those that I can't help but worry about, but in no way can I change.  I will be re-staged! (In words we all understand!!!) Staging begins at 0 and goes to.... complete your "Bucket List" (one of my favorite movies). I know the news I want to hear... but I have comfort, whatever the news,,,, I'm not riding any faster than my guardian angel can fly!

“You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight.” ― Elizabeth Gilbert  

It's not always easy to see that "beauty within life." Reading the above quote made me think about it differently. "Entitlement"... I'd never equated being entitled to finding something beautiful. But I liked it! There are times when we look back on events of our lives when we were grieving, deeply hurt, perhaps unfairly challenged, mourning, maybe even a heart broken, but our life was changing. Carcinoid taught me to see the beauty in all of them, because in some way, all of them, reminded me that I AM LIVING, and in living I was entitled to experience more of this life and of God's magnificent beauty.