Yorktown: A Most Memorable Day

Today was my last day of radiation. 28 treatments now complete! I am so thrilled to have it behind us. I really wanted today to be memorable so I had asked a high school friend, Dallas Roe, who owns a company, Miss Priss Tutus, to make me a pink one. It turned out so cute and was so fun to wear today! My mom came and I was thrilled that she could be there and it also allowed me to bring the boys which made the day so incredible. They have been asking to see the radiation machine and asking so many questions. I really wanted them to see it and be a part of this day. Melanie, Wes's sister, has been staying with us all week and took me out last night to Charming Charlie's to pick out some other pink accessories for my outfit! She got me a pink scarf and flip flops. I wore my grandmother Barbara's pink earrings and the button that my office made for all the staff to wear that has been my facebook profile picture during this journey.

The boys loved the tutu. They were so cute. Collin said, "I think my mommy's a ballerina and I love your tutu mommy." They thought it was so fun. The radiation staff loved it too. They let the boys come back to the treatment room to see the machine. (They told me later they were very scared of it because it was so big) They even let me take photos in the treatment room. They played pomp and circumstance during the last treatment and gave me a certificate they all signed. (Earlier this week, they played Katy Perry's Roar which was also fun. They said another patient had a mix CD her friend had made her and she left it for them to play for other women)

Afterwards, we all went to "mama bakes safe cakes", an allergy friendly bakery to get cupcakes and ice cream. Then we rode to my dad's office which was nearby to see him for a minute.

The boys all wore pink bowties that Amanda Gard had sent them! They looked adorable.

We greatly missed Wes who was writing hard working on his second day of comprehensive exams at Georgia. He has three days in a classroom by himself writing for 8 hours on only 2 questions per day! I have never seen him this stressed. Tomorrow is his last day and he has the hardest part, a listening history exam and the amount of material is unbelievable. Right now he is listening to some sort of monk chanting. I will be so glad when this is over! haha We cannot wait to celebrate both of our huge weeks this weekend!! It has been a crazy summer being in radiation and having him study until 1 or 2 am nightly for this test. When he is finished, he will be done with his coursework and will start his dissertation. He will be one giant step closer to Dr. York!!

It is so hard to put into words the emotions of today. Being on that table one last time. I have prayed as that machine went over me daily that all those cancer cells would be killed and I would have no lasting effects from this treatment. My oncologist and nurse have said I did great. My skin looks sunburned but can look a lot worse and they said it doesn't ever look better than what I have. I have made them believers in calendula cream which was one suggestion they gave me to use on my skin. I have taken some naps in the evenings but really have not had much fatigue. Being a working mom of three, I feel like I'm not a good judge of fatigue. I am always tired!

We are just so humbled by God's mercy guiding us on this journey. It has been quite an experience and we trust God's purpose in all of this. Not a day goes by when I don't wonder what the next step is for us. I know that we will be forever changed after this diagnosis and it's hard to not dream about how God could use this experience. I don't want to be the same now that I am on this side of the cancer experience. I know I will appreciate life more and look at each day with my family as such a gift. March 5 seems like such a long time ago now. That day and the following were the darkest days I have ever experienced and yet God brought us out of it so quickly and I realize that it isn't like that for everyone. I don't know why He chose to give me mercy but I plan on using the days ahead to serve and glorify Him wherever He leads. We can only rely on Him as we never know what news each day will bring. I hope my children will look at these pictures in the future and know a little bit of what this journey has been like for our family and how God has used it to shape us. These verses were in my devotional this morning and are so appropriate.

Psalm 9:9-10, “The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (NIV)

Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (NIV)