Friday, May 10, 2013

Happy Birthday Godmother


linda
I love having a godmother I really do. We could not be more opposite but there is a serious bond. She took me to the movies when I was little and her boyfriend carried me on his shoulders. We would go into Small World and I would buy one thing, something small and made in China but I loved that! I was in her wedding and got to be a Junior bridesmaid, I felt so cool. I got my period and was with her PHEW that could have been awkward with my dad!  She took me to see Michael Jackson, I am sure she did that solely for ME!!!!!! She had a baby and asked ME to be her godmother, now I was cool. I even lived with her for awhile, god help them. Yes we have had some ups and downs but managed to put it all behind us, isn't that what family is about? She may not have been by my bed during this stupid dumb breast cancer journey but I felt like she was. I felt her worry and fright. I felt her love.
So today I am sending her an early HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Thanks for not only accepting me for me when I know you had other ideas but loving me too. Thank you for giving me some awesome childhood memories. And thank you for always treating me like a princess!!

linda

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

OOOOOOO that sludge


sludge
May 7th 2012
LAST YEAR ON THIS DAY....
Lump found, doctor called, mammo set up.I went in to have a mammo and I was nervous as hell. I have had a lot but this was serious. As the attendant was placing my lumpy breast in that flattener she asked if there as any changes. Would a lump with black ooze coming out be a change? She pressed down on my breast and black sludge came out all over the machine. ‘Well there isn't anything coming up on here.” Really cause there sure is a lot coming OUT on here. We went to a sonogram. As she rolls over the lump it still doesn’t show up. “I feel it when I roll over, but nothing shows” She proceeds to check normal and tells me I “should” consult with my doctor. YOU THINK??!!

I went off to my GYN, have I told you how awesome they are, like super duper awesome. He felt my breast and the lump, took a sample of the black ooze and made some calls. This is “NOT NORMAL” he said and every nurse in there agreed with him. They were not panicked but I could see major concern. The first doctor wouldn’t see me until August 31st cause the mammo said “normal”, jesus I would be dead by then. I had an appointment for May 31st with a breast care doctor. My GYN family told me to call if I had any questions, concerns or changes. Not once did they say “don’t worry”, maybe that was what they were supposed to say but let me tell you they knew I was going to and I think they were too. I called and called a lot, honestly I think I have the BIGGEST folder there, not sure that is a good thing.

My life spiraled from here. Google became the devil. The internet is great yet diabolical at the same time. I was in the height to Race for the Cure and in a sea of pink. Survivors at every turn. I kept thinking about Linda and her smile, she gave me comfort. It could be so many things, but I had to wait. Don’t you just love waiting?? The fact that we have to wait for all this is nuts. The thoughts and ideas in our heads is what really adds to the stress.

Let me just state that NO LUMP is normal and if anything black, yellow, green or purple (oh I would I have loved that) comes out of you it is NOT normal. Unless of course you are an alien then this maybe completely normal. But for this princess no friggin way!!!

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Cinco de Lumpo


what-if
May 5th 2012
6:17am
“Crap is that a friggn lump?
 TOMMMMMMMM I think I found a lump”
 “Oh brother here we go” (eyes rolling)
“No really feel this” Silence, pure silence.
 Tom feels the lump and this dark, black; crap comes oozing out of my nipple like an oil spill. “FUCK, what the mother fuck was that?!" this was Tom saying this not me. It was so messed up to see that ooze out of me it freaked him and believe me he watches 4 babies come out of me so he doesn’t freak easily. Yup it is a lump but it can’t be cancer, no friggin way. Tom's first reaction was UGH because I found "lumps" all the time. BUT nothing can prepare you for what a solid lump feels like and the wave of emotions that come over you in a split second! Fear, panic, mortality all running through your head and pushing them out is not an option.

 I had to get ready for Race for the Cure registration, I text MC …..
“SHIT BALLS I have a lump and there is black ooze coming out”
“What the hell did you just say?”
 “OMG reread it I am getting in the shower”
 The next came a million questions, have you met the woman she asks a lot. But we decided that she would feel it at open registration. So I head over and leave Tom home with the boys and a computer, BAD IDEA. Google is the devil when you are looking for medical help. If you look far enough it says you are fine just a clogged duct but if you look a little farther it says breast cancer. no it cannot be!

Walking into the center Kate and Deb are sitting there having a chat…
“Hey you!”
 “I found a lump” (there was no stopping the tears)
“What are you serious?” (Why would I joke about this, ok I do joke but cancer no way?)
 “Yes, it is probably nothing”
 “Go home you don’t have to be here”
“Yes I do”

 For some reason I felt like I had to be there. I know being around that pink, breast cancer crap was a little much but something told me to stay. I kept watching the race video from last year and hearing myself say “Can you imagine a cure?” UMMMM I can’t imagine this fucking lump in my boob right now.
 In runs MC…
“Let’s go to the bathroom. Take your shirt off” (get your mind out of the gutter this is a breast cancer blog not porn)
“It is right here feel it and press a little”
“Jesus Christ it’s a lump and what is that sludge? It is probably just a clogged duct.”

 You know when someone tells you something and you want desperately to believe those words but you can see the fear in their eyes. I knew at that moment it was cancer but I tried so hard to think “WHAT IF?” what if wasn’t??!!! I sat there in a fog making small talk and wondering if this lump was destroying me inside. I sat there and watched people come in to register for a race that was about breast cancer and I had a fucking LUMP. I sat and watched my kids helping out because I was so involved in the race for the past 7 years and they really love being a part of this day. I sat there and thought WTF breast gods all I do for breast cancer awareness you give me a mother fucking lump. If this is nothing and only supposed to teach me a lesson I get it. Message heard. I sat there and every now and then felt the lump, YUP still there.

In walks Linda with her husband and mother. I watched as she came up to Kelly…
 “Would you like to register?”
“Yes we would. I just finished radiation. I will be a survivor this year.”
  I looked at her standing there with her incredible smile, her eyes lighting up and her loved ones next to her and I was overcome. I thought I swear if this is stupid dumb breast cancer I am going to be just like Linda with a smile, light and my family, I am going to be a survivor. I never knew Linda’s name until last month but I think of her every day. I think of her eyes and her smile and how they game me hope. She has been and always will be my inspiration. Every time I think about her I cry just a little for her survival and what she meant to me.

Your mind is a funny thing remembering what it wants when. I cannot remember shit anymore and sometimes I think I remember something and realize that it didn’t happen to me but I saw it on an episode of Melrose Place (what I can so be Amanda Woodward). I can remember my kid’s births cause that really hurt especially #3 I think that resident still gets nightmares over me, the day my friend Lisa died and Phil that was heart breaking, walking down the aisle holding my dad’s arm to be marry my TFO but everything else seems to faded. I blame the pot, cancer and menopause depending on what the memory is and when in my life it happened. But this day my lump day is like it was yesterday, it changed my life. Yes the obvious, my body but the emotional battle is no joke. Unless you had heard those words “You have cancer” you cannot understand this, do not try because I will rip you apart. I have been thinking about this day all week sometimes making me shake my head as to where I have come sometimes making me cry that this even happened and sometimes making me proud of what has become. A little rollercoaster for sure, I have done a very good job keeping that tiara on this lumpy ass bumpy ride.

 The last thing I did that day was text Nikki I needed a silver lining.
“I found a lump"

Well ya gotta cut loose, footloose kick off your .... (that is her ring tone she didn't text she called)
"Well don't Google it" (when I knew the minute I hung up she was going to).
"Too late Tom did a little, it is probably nothing come on,  I mean that would be nuts"

Then she said what every princess wants to hear "Let's go get a pedi" ......