Wow. The pace of my life between the last two scans has been 100mph or more. My main takeaway has been this: when I’m busy living life as fully as possible, I am far less worried and anxious. I hardly thought about my upcoming scans this time. But maybe you’ll agree that I didn’t really have time to worry or overthink.
In March I wrote this:
I often obsess over that 10%, but I am challenging myself to live into the 90% in the coming weeks. I have a ton of amazing things happening in the next few months, including camping in the Grand Canyon (we leave in two days. #NotReady), a family vacay on the beach, MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING OMG, camping in Yosemite, Pyoca, and Great Escape… My head will be spinning (in the best possible way) between now and my next scan, which will take place the week after Great Escape in late July.
Take that list, and add a promotion and buying a new house. “My head will be spinning…” Ha! Yeah, it sure is!
First came an epic camping trip with some amazing students (and an amazing coworker!) to Grand Canyon National Park:
Next was the most rejuvenating family vacation to Florida EVER:
In May, I was promoted into a new position at AU:
… Which meant that I had to move out of the Residence Hall! I put an offer on a house the very next week!
My best friend since we were 13 got married in May:
And then her brother and I joined the newly weds for Part 2 of their honeymoon, camping in Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks! (Yeah, we know that’s weird.)
I was home for about a week before heading to a great week at Pyoca:
In the short time I was home after Pyoca, we added a baby to our friend family! Welcome, Annie!! (She is just a few hours old in these photos!)
The very next day I left for The Great Escape Midwest, one of my favorite weeks of the year!
I was home for about 24 hours before going in for my next scan. Wow. I’m a little overwhelmed just putting together these photos 🙂
The great news: Another scan has come and gone, and the results were way more boring than the rest of my life. Everything looked great. The spots in my lungs that we started watching last time did not change at all (which means they are nothing to worry about. Probably scars from flu season).
I won’t have another scan until January. Before that, I will hit my 3-year “No Evidence of Disease” anniversary at the end of September. I’m very thankful to be 3 years “NED.” I will have scans every 6 months for the next 2 years (just 4 more scans!), and then I will officially no longer be an oncology patient when I hit my 5th anniversary.
With that being said, you won’t hear much from this blog anymore. It feels great to get to “retire” it. Thank you for following along, offering me so much support, and walking this journey with me for the last 3 years. It has meant the world to me!
My new mantra as I sit in my new home, feeling the peace that surpasses understanding wash over me:
“Every good and perfect gift is from above.” James 1:17
I pray peace and good gifts for you in the coming months!
Thanks for sharing. Love you!
Amen to that…………… look forward to having dinner with Dave in about 2 hours. 🙂
God bless……
What a happy post, Maggie! You are so right! Staying busy, traveling to new places, and celebrating with friends and family makes life sweeter! Continue to kick cancer as you kick up your heels! XOXO
Deb Gangstad
I am so very happy for you Maggie! You have handled this cancer with such grace and with the help of the good Lord you have overcome so much. Love reading about your feelings and accomplishments. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Beautiful family to walk you through this journey and friends to keep that beautiful smile on your face.
I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
Jan
Maggie, your blog made me tired just reading it! You have had so many amazing things happen to you…..great scan report, many wonderful trips, great promotion, and beautiful new house! Your mother would be so proud of you and I know she is in Heaven just beaming down on you!
All of these accomplishments do not surprise me at all!!! I knew in third grade that both you and Jody were going far in your futures. May God continue to bless you!!! Much love, Kay
Yay!! What great news! And although I’ll miss your blog…you have such a gift for writing, I’ll keep you in my prayers for continued good health. Congrats also on your new job and what a beautiful office! Not sure how much I’d get done. I’d probably find myself staring out of those windows all day! 😃