Sunday, May 1, 2011

New Week, New Plan

So as this week begins I am having a slight amount of anxiety for what is ahead of me.  Chemo, more chemo. If I said I was surprised, I would be lying.  I had a feeling.  My leg has been giving me some pain and I wake up frequently with charlie-horses at night.  I just had a feeling my leg lesions had grown.  Sure enough, they have.
So I will be on a new chemo regimen that is considered a trial because it is used to primarily treat leukemia patients and is new (kind of) to treat leiomyosarcoma patients.  Very strong drug with just about every side effect imaginable.  I am okay with this, I have come to terms with it.  I will take chemo every day of my life, if it means being here to be a mother to my children.  I will not let go.  Not now, I am just not ready.  Is that selfish? Some say it is, but that doesn't bother me anymore.  People can say whatever they want to say, but until they have been in my shoes, they need to keep the negative to themselves.  I have been surrounding myself with all things good.  No time for people who bring me down, even if not intentionally.  You would not believe the comments I have heard lately....Here are a couple of examples:

"With your medical condition, you might not do that, you don't know if you will be here this time next year."
"Well, the statistics aren't good, I am just trying to be realistic."
"You probably won't be here next year, so we need to do it sooner rather than later"
DOES THIS LOOK LIKE I AM DYING?
I mean SERIOUSLY!!! WTF!!!! I refuse to live my life as if I am dying.  I live my life for each day and I consider myself blessed to be here and have the amazing life I have.  I will not look into my future and see nothing.  I will continue to look into my future and see my children graduate high school, then college, then get married, or whatever it is they want to do.  I see myself as a nurse again, helping people.  I see myself happily married and enjoying every second with my soul mate.  I see myself LIVING!!!!!
So....here is the deal....if this is not what YOU see me doing, then keep your mouth shut.  I don't want to hear it.  I don't want to feel it.  I want no part of it.
I have been hurt by some close family members over this "cancer-thing".  I guess maybe I expect too much....like a phone call once a week or even a text "hey, how ya doing" kind of thing.  I must be expecting too much or they just don't give a shit.  One or the other, it's whatever.  I certainly don't expect people to be calling me and checking on me everyday, but I know if it were my close family member, I would be supportive and encouraging...but that is just me...
Anyhow, I can't control others.....I can't make sense of it all.  So I will just continue to live.....life to the FULLEST!!!!!
Might I suggest something to my fabulous readers....use me as an example, use me as an excuse.  An example of how life can take a turn in a matter of minutes....as an excuse to do all the things you dream of doing, an excuse to be all it is who you are.  Dig deep....find your spirit.....find out who you REALLY are, and be that person.  From now until eternity.  Don't waste another moment feeling sorry for yourself or making excuses for why you aren't who you want to be.  OWN YOURSELF.  BE THAT PERSON YOU SEE IN YOUR FUTURE, NOW!!!!!
Don't ever take another second for granted.  I can't tell you how much time I want to spend with my family.  There aren't enough hours in the day for me to spend with them.  I have been having crying spells in which I need time alone to work through.  Then I have a sense of guilt because I could have been using that time to spend with my girls or playing with Clayton.  Just last night Caitlyn asked if she could ride with me to pick up Brooke from a birthday party, I said no babe, I'll be right back.  I had planned that car ride to get Brooke for a "let it all out and crying spell".  Then I found myself crying because I didn't let Caitlyn go.  That was 20 more minutes I could have spent with her.  I am so confused.  I enjoy my "alone" time, the minimum amount I get....I use it to think, listen to music, plan my future and sometimes just cry.  I don't want my kids to see me vulnerable or weak.  I want them to know that I am a fighter and this is not going to get me down.  Maybe that is wrong, maybe they should see my emotions....I'm not sure, this is all so new to me.  We will work through it.  We always do.  What I do know is this:  I will do anything and everything to make it out of this and I will be a changed person.  I already am.
Thank you for the love, support, and faith.  I need them all so very much!
xoxoxoxo
Rach



xoxoxoxo
Rach

9 comments:

  1. Rach, you have spoken a mouthful. I only wish I could take away the pain and uncertainty you're facing and wave a wand and make it so you never had to worry about any of this again. You're so right not to listen to the negativity and to treasure each day and each moment. You're having to let enough poison flow through you right now in an attempt to fix what's wrong with you that you don't need to let in more poison from the "Debbie Downers." Know that there are many people behind you who believe in you and wish you the best of everything, every day!

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  2. I'm going to buy you a shot of tequilla in Austin the end of October & we are going to laugh at these negative Assholes. K

    @blob_fish

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  3. You are amazing, Rachel, truly amazing. You are going through so much and you are worrying about other people'e feelings. That speaks volumes about your character. I knew that about you the very first time we met. I knew that you were one of the most unselfish people I had ever met who cares more about others than they care about themselves. Can you believe it has been seven years now since we met on that magical journey to Colorado?

    I was just thinking yesterday exactly what you wrote in your blog today. Who would have thought on that trip to Colorado that we would be having to watch you go through this someday? Who would have thought that all that giggling would turn to tears? Who would have thought how unpredictable and uncertain life is for all of us? Who would have thought that in a instant one's life can drastically change? In an instant. With a diagnosis, an accident, one second - can change our lives forever.

    I know you are going to beat this Rachel. The experimental treatment sounds very, very good to me. Your determination and attitude are phenomenal. As far as the remarks from your family members, well, you just need to not be around those people who would bring you down. This is far too tough a fight to have to pick yourself up off the floor from a remark from a person in your family! I hope these people are aware of how hurtful they have been and will guard their words very, very carefully in the future.

    I will be praying for you as I have continued to do. I will call you to see when we can get together when you are feeling like it. I can drive to your home anytime between my obligations for work. If I am not there physically please know that I am there with you in spirit. Every night when I go to bed I read several verses in my Bible. I think of you and pray for you every night. There is one I read over and over again for you. It is:

    "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". Hebrews 11:1

    Please hold that verse in your mind and your heart Rachel. It is an affirmation that what we hope for can be - even though we cannot see it now.

    If we don't have hope then we indeed have nothing. Our God is a God of hope and possibilities and miracles and healing and He will not let us down. He has a plan for you and His plan will be achieved not matter who tries to convince you otherwise. Hold onto Him, Rachel. In life He is really the only one we can count on no matter what happens. Human fraility will ultimately make all of us fail but He will never fail us. Never, ever, ever!

    I love you so very, very much.

    I will check with you in a few days to see how you are doing.

    I Love You, Baby Girl,

    Becky

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  4. To BlueLittleGirl--thank you so much. My children are what I worry about most, but I am assuring them that I am strong and will NEVER give up fighting. Even if they have to amputate my leg, I will run a marathon afterwards. I will be okay. I just know this! Thx again for your comment, so glad to have your support. #youreawesome!

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  5. Truly S--No more Debbie Downers for sure! I am with the Prissy Positivites! Thank you for your continued encouragement and support hun! xoxoxo

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  6. Blob--You mean to tell me I go thru all of this and I only get ONE shot of tequila.....Will you at least pitch in for the salt too? #kidding!
    I am looking forward to Austin in October!!! We have some mad partying to do, YO!!

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  7. Tonya, I couldn't do this without your support. There are no words for how much I love you. You might be almost 1000K away, but you are right here inside me heart! I LOVE YOU!!

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  8. Becky, As I have said millions of times before, I am so blessed to have met you and have you in my life. YOU are a TRUE friend, YOU are like family to me. YOU are one of the sweetest, most self-less people I know. I love you with all my heart, friend!!! Thank you SO MUCH for those words of encouragemnt and all of your prayers, thoughts, and support. I will never forget it and it helps me get through this, it truly does! I LOVE YA GAL!!!!

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