April 2013

I am so excited I finally committed to the Avon walk to end breast cancer on April 20-21, 2013 in Houston. I am so excited! I will post more as time goes by. For now here is my personal page. http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk/Houston?px=6760005&pg=personal&fr_id=2180 I am so glad I am at a stage in my life where I feel like I can accomplish this! I would be honored if anyone would like to walk with me. After the 2012 events are over, Team Lana will be created. Their rules. Please contact me if you are interested! Love you all~ Lana

I signed up for the Avon Walk!

Surgery Number 5 is tomorrow

Since March of 2011 I have had a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders placed, an emergency surgery to remove the right expander, a surgery to put in my portacath, 10 rounds of chemotherapy and a surgery to replace my right expander as well as many saline injections into the tissue expanders.  During this time I was on evil steroids and the chemotherapy which caused swelling and weight gain.  After my last chemotherapy in October, my weight quickly dropped and in this process my left expander area up with extra skin.  My boob man, Dr. Streitmann, wants to remove that excess skin to insure my implants will be even, when I get them in 3-4 months.  Anyway, I have that quick cosmetic surgery tomorrow at 11:00am.  I have put my life in Dr. Streitmann's hands enough, that I am confident this is going to go off without a hitch and the recovery will be simple and as easy as he says.  There should be little recovery with this.  No drains and I can shower by Saturday.  Those who have followed my journey, this is nothing compared to the past 12 months.  I am asking my wonderful prayer warriors to keep me in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow to have no complications and a smooth surgery.  Say a prayer for Josh too.  He's such a prince.  I am not nervous at all.  This is part of my reconstruction and as crappy as another surgery sounds, I want my implants to be as perfect as possible!  I will update everyone tomorrow or Saturday!  I am really close to having new TATAS! 

Just checking in

We have just been living life and rolling along.  I am feeling really well.  My hair is growing.  I am in between saline injections and the breast implant surgery.  I am having some extra skin removed on March 23.  It's a quick procedure.  Just a nip and tuck to sculpt my extra skin from gaining and losing weight so fast.  I will take it!  My Plastic Surgeon and I have decided it's one of the best ways to make my upcoming, new tata's even.  Hey, what is one more surgery, right?  I see my Oncologist for my 3 month check up on the 29th.  That is kinda racking my nerves.  I can't help but think, "what has happened to my body in the past 3 months?"  Funny thing about chemotherapy.  While you are in the middle of it, you feel like hell and can't wait for it to be over, but when it is, you feel like you are out of ammunition.  So the days between doctor visits are hard.  A lot harder than I imagined them.  I try really hard to be positive, but I won't lie, it's not easy sometimes.  Being diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer sucks because it's so aggressive and recurrence is greatest in the 1st 2 years.  I sure wish there was a cure.

Jackson is doing great!  We went to the Rodeo on Friday, March 9th, which was Josh's 37th birthday.  On top of that, it was Paint the Rodeo Pink Day AND Reba performed!  It was like that day was made for us to go to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  Jackson liked the cows a lot and he LOVED the Mutton Bustin.  He kept trying to convince us he was 5 years old and he needed to ride the sheep.  Sweet boy.  By the time Reba came on he was so done with the day.  We stayed until she sang Fancy and left.  He was worn out and so were we.  It was a good day.  Life is good.  Very good!

I have to tell you all that I am reading a new book Rocking the Pink by Laura Roppe.  It's a book about a fellow Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sister that wrote about her journey.  It's a VERY touching book.  Diagnosed with the devil or not, this is a great read.  It makes me want to write a book too.  For now, I have decided to blog.  If you are interested in her story her website is www.lauraroppe.com

Peace Y'all!

New Beginnings

I haven't posted on here since July of 2010.  A LOT has happened since then.  Let me start back exactly 1 year ago today.  At 11:38am on February 10, 2011, at age 32, I was given a terrifying diagnosis of Breast Cancer.  As of now I have had a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders placed, emergency surgery to remove the right tissue expander, a surgery to put a port in my heart for chemotherapy, 10 rounds of chemotherapy, and surgery to replace the right tissue expander.  So 1 year later, I have no evidence of disease and I am in remission.  I am so grateful to have all of that behind me.  I am getting hair back!  My eyelashes are thick and pretty!  I am getting eyebrows!  I feel wonderful.  I am so thankful for my life.  When you battle cancer, being thankful for your life means a whole lot more than it did before.  I pray everyday to keep any recurring cancer away from my body and to continue to be able to enjoy my life cancer free.  I love my life.

Onto better things.  Josh and I moved to Humble, TX in 2011.  We have an amazing home and the best neighbors anyone could ask for.  Josh is working for Valerus Compression Company in downtown Houston.  He's busy, but is very happy.  This was an awesome move for his career.  He doesn't get enough credit for being so wonderful to me this past year.  He's my prince, my rock.  He's Jackson's best friend.  I am still staying home with the Jackaroo.  He's 3 1/2 now.  I can not believe he's almost 4.  WHOA.  Jackson goes to school 3 days a week.  He absolutely LOVES it.  He's a smart little thing.  This age is really fun.  BUSY, but fun.  I love that little kid more than anything.  He's my angel.  We are truly happy!

I am so ready to keep up with this blog and leave my Caring Bridge posting.  I feel like this is where my thoughts should go.  I will continue to keep everyone updated on my journey, but I will post more about our life and family here.  I am so thankful for the support everyone has given us this past year.  I don't know how to thank our family and friends and prayer warriors.  I hope you all know I love each and everyone of you. 

Here is to new beginnings!