Life Goes On

Hello and happy Tuesday to all my friends! A little reminder from my Saintsational friend Ashtyn reminded me a blog update is definitely in order. So much to talk about, prepare yourselves.


Today was a long day at the Clinic with many tests and appointments. Our day began at 11 with a hearing test to make sure the chemo hasn't affected my hearing. So, Dad and I rolled down Carnegie in the Jeep with the top down to start our day. Rocking a nice pair of Livestrong shorts and an Ace bandage, I was ready for the day. The hearing test was great, despite my convinced mind that told me I did horribly. No hearing loss for this girl! (In fact, I improved in some areas? Go chemo?) Next my dad and I took a break at ABP a restaurant at the clinic and it was the first time eating at that specific location since my first day down there on February 13th. That was the day I saw the restaurant and cried because we have them at SLU and it made me miss school even more. I was bundled up in a wheelchair with my leg propped up and in MASSIVE amounts of pain from the biopsy. So much has changed since February. I asked my Dad to take a picture of me outside the restaurant again.


After lunch, we went over to radiology for an x-ray of my new leg and boy was that cool! It was INCREDIBLE seeing the extensive work that was done to put my leg back together, tumor free. So many thank go to Dr. Joyce and his team, the metal knee and half femur look amazing and seem to be working out just great! After the X-ray, I had an appointment with Dr. Joyce for the first time post-surgery. My mom made it down just in time for that so we were all there. Jane, Dr. Joyce's assistant, led us back to our room and I noticed it was the exact same room we were in the first visit on February 13th when I met Dr. Joyce. Today was filled with lots of Deja Vu. Jane took half my stitches out and after looks from a few doctors and then Dr. Joyce, she got the okay to take them all out so now I am STICH FREE! Boy does it feel good not to have to wrap my leg or or deal with the itchiness! Dr. Joyce was very please with my knee bending (despite my anticipations) and also thought my stitches looked great. Minus a few spots of little scabbing, its just one little line and will heal fantastically! Because of my great results of dead tumor cells and the little scabs on my incision, Dr. Joyce and my oncology doctors decided it was a good idea to wait until Monday to start chemo. This will give my incision time to air out and further heal until the chemo starts. Frankly, I do not mind one bit having a few more days off and getting on a "Monday schedule" for doctor/chemo visits. (It frees me up for the weekend!)


Unfortunately though, I can never have a day where everything goes smoothly. I feel something bad always has to happen just when you think you are in the clear. As we are leaving Dr. Joyce's office with great news, and being allowed to be full weight bearing and walking, my bad leg's foot got stuck on the carpet and I stumbled forward, tried to grab my dad, but instead hit the ground with a fast hard bend on my knee. I felt dizzy and instantly in pain as I tried to hold back tears making my way to the nearest chair. My mom called Dr. Joyce out to me and he decided that no damage was done as far as his work on my leg. Unfortunately, I pulled or strained all the muscles in my quad with the fast bend of my knee so my whole thigh is in massive pain. I can never cut a break can I?


We got home, threw some ice on it, took a shower with my new stitch-free leg, and it was time to turn around and put a happy face on for Joe's 8th grade graduation! He is the last of the Evans' to graduate from Gesu so it was a bittersweet evening. Joe looked great rocking a bow tie and we got great pictures after the ceremony. CONGRATS TO JOE AND ALL OF HIS FRIENDS! He is Ignatius bound for next fall, GO CATS! After we snapped some pics, Joe headed off to the graduation dance and Mom, Dad, Kenz, Mark, Nonie, Papa and I headed home for a family dinner. We reminisced on my graduation and Kenz's and talked for a few hours.


It was then that I realized I have a pretty special family. Despite my great news day, the little spill I had and the pain I was in from those strained muscles really threw me a curveball and I was not in a good mood. They picked me right up as they always do and turned my frown upside down. I was so proud of Joe tonight and so happy for my parents. It was a special moment for us.


I also reminisced on my life in the last year. On year ago today, it was June 5th, 2011, my graduation from Walsh Jesuit. It was a warm sunny day and after graduation, my family had a little party in the back yard with some family and close friends. I fell asleep that evening with my bag packed for an early morning flight out to St. Louis for my dad to take my first steps on SLU's campus as a true Billiken for orientation. We flew out on June 6th just in time to make it for a 9 am start time for orientation. It was on that day I made some of the best friends I have today. It was the day I met my roommate, Emma, and her dad. It was the day I met Kaitlin and her parents. It was the day I met Ali and her parents, all of these girls are some of my closest closest friends. I love you all. It was the day I met some of my best guy friends, Greg and Kevin from Texas by playing them in a corn hole game with Emma. To sum it up, I had a blast and I met some amazing people those two days. A few days later I would meet my other best girl friend, Alex the dancer at our Saintsations summer camp. It is unreal how much has changed in one year.


As I sit here and think about my year and how big this day was last year to me, I never thought I would be writing this blog, about my updates on treatment for cancer. I never thought I would be out of school, I never thought a lot of things I guess, but LIFE GOES ON. Despite these challenges and struggles, we grow and advance every day. We become better people from the simplest of things on a daily basis. Meeting someone who could be your lifetime friend, a hello from an old one, or a hug from someone you love. I am convinced that if you open your heart and your mind, you can be anyone do anything you want and you have the resources laying right in front of you. Take advantage of them and live your days because everything changes in seconds.


I put together a little collage to show you some of the changes. On the top row I have June 5th, 2011 and June 5th, 2012. Two graduations, mine and Joe's.  On the bottom row is where I started from and where I am now. Sitting in front of ABP in my chair and completely unsure of the future, my first visit to the Clinic on February 13th. In the bottom right corner, I am proud of say I am standing, on my own two feet, in front of ABP on my neg leg and TUMOR FREE. Let me just say, you all have gotten me here. Standing on my feet again, and for that, I am forever grateful. Although so much has changed in a year, it's changes for the better. Enjoy every second of life because it will pass you by so quickly. I wish you all nothing but love and peace. Goodnight!