Bald Mommy

The past couple weeks we have all gotten used to “bald mommy”. While Amos has yet to see me without my hat on (he asks before seeing me, “Do you have your hat on?”), Arland is completely unfazed by my lack of hair. I find myself being shocked everytime I look in the mirror. When I talk to people I feel like I have my hair, so when I see my reflection, it throws me a bit! But, as I said, we are all getting used to bald mommy.

Tonight I am writing my blog with happy tears in my eyes. I have made it to the end of this difficult road of chemo. Friday is my final round of 16 infusions! 16! This battle has been long, challenging, and tiresome, but I made it through. While I know I still have to get through at least a week of feeling sick, I believe it will seem more doable knowing I won’t have to go back and get hit with another round of the Red Devil. After two months of this drug, I definitely know why they call it that. Today I am finally looking ahead, looking at the next step, looking toward the finish line. And boy, does it look good.

As I continue on with my road map, I have the next few stops lined up. I will be having a double mastectomy and reconstruction in three weeks. The date is not officially assigned. After recovering from this, I will begin my next stage of treatment, radiation. This will be everyday for about 4 weeks.  All of this may change once I have my surgery and they see how my body has responded to the chemo, but for now this is what the road map reads. It helps me to know that I have only two more parts to get to a full recovery. So, I am not putting on the breaks, I am going full steam ahead. 

I have said it before and I will say it again, I am so thankful for my medical team. The nurses that have been with me every step of the way have been angels. They have guided me through the trenches of chemo and have even cried alongside me. It is an odd feeling to be so thankful that chemo is over and yet, I will be sad not to see my nurses weekly! I look forward to the day when I walk back in with Edwin on my hip and hair on my head and say THANK YOU, I have made it! 

My Marigold this week is completing 16 long sessions of chemo. I look back and remember my first session when I had my allergic reaction and the fear I had, then moving into 8 hour infusions, finally ending with the Red Devil. It has been a journey. One that has made me so strong and thankful for each and every good day I have. I don’t waste them, I celebrate them. Yes, my marigold is completing chemo, holding my bald head up high and marching in with a smile on my face. I can do this! Tiny but Mighty!