August 2016 happenings...
August 8, 2016
I had my exchange surgery. The lovely expanders (formerly known as Lucy and Ethel) came out and the implants went in. A very successful surgery has given me a less than desirable look which will most likely lead to another surgery this summer. It's all part of the battle and the journey.
August 16, 2016
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk Kick-Off
I was asked to be a guest speaker at the kick-off breakfast for the 2016 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. Without hesitation, I accepted. It was one of the greatest moments of my life! I am so glad I did this because it has lead me to a great passion of mine, speaking about my journey and raising awareness!
My parents, my sister, Cole, me, and Cole's parents
My sister and I - true survivors!
Valerie Pritchett and I
I was so excited to have the opportunity to meet her!
#friendsforever
August 25, 2016
1 Year Cancerversary Celebrations!
My colleagues celebrating with me
1 year cancer free calls for a great celebratory dinner!
#crabfest
September 2016 happenings...
September 2, 2016
Filming on City Island
Valerie Pritchett asked to interview my sister and I so she could share our journeys and help to raise awareness of breast cancer.
September 3, 2016
Senators Paint the Park Pink
I was asked to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Harrisburg Senators game. Of course I would! Such a fun time and a great way to raise awareness and share my journey!
Cole, me, and my parents taking a selfie at the
Making Strides booth
Me on the jumbotron during my pitch
Me throwing out the first pitch
September 13, 2016
Recording Radio Promotions for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk
I was asked if I would be willing to record radio promotions for the Making Strides walk - of course I said yes!!
I became known as "one-take Jake" because it only took me 1 take to record each of the promos I recorded! Go me!
Our beautiful group of gals that have become great friends!
October 2016 happenings...
In the News
October 4, 2016
Here is the link to the news story that Valerie Pritchett did on my sister and I.
You may want to have a tissue ready!
http://abc27.com/2016/10/04/know-your-breast-cancer-risk/
Pink Day at School
October 6, 2016
Newville Elementary hosted a pink day to raise money for my Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walking team, Sisters in Stride. This day was also my sister's last chemo treatment!
My dear friend, Heather, and I on pink day.
Heather's grandmother is a survivor.
Donation from our School to Pink Hands of Hope
October 2016
Our school donated $1,100 to Pink Hands of Hope!
Way to go Big Spring!
Steeler's Breast Cancer Awareness Game
October 9, 2016
To celebrate my 1 year cancerversary, Cole surprised me with tickets to the Steeler's breast cancer awareness game.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk 2016
October 15, 2016
I joined the Making Strides team as a committee member very late in the game, but it has become a passion of mine! I cannot wait to continue helping to make this successful event even bigger and better each year! I'm all about raising awareness, sharing my journey, and helping others!
Real Men Wear Pink
Here I am with Dan Green and Jordan Piscioneri, members of the new group, Real Men Wear Pink, to Making Strides. These men helped to raise thousands of dollars in the fight against breast cancer.
#survivorsisters
Called up on stage by Valerie Pritchett
Cole and I - love the pink beard!!
Part of my walking team - Sisters in Stride
Survivors!
Big Spring Breast Cancer Awareness Football Game
Coin Toss
October 21, 2016
I was asked to be an honorary captain for our varsity football team and to do the coin toss at our breast cancer awareness game. Of course I said yes!!
I'm the one in the pink to the left of the team!
Hershey Bears Pink the Rink
October 30, 2016
I helped out with the silent auction of the Hershey Bear's jerseys.
Money from this auction went to the American Cancer Society.
I spent a little money myself! I bought Nathan Walker's jersey.
A precious group of gals having a great time raising awareness!
November 2016 happenings...
Hope Lodge
November 20, 2016
At the November Making Strides committee meeting, I was recognized as a Pacesetter for the walk. This means I personally raised over $2500! I raised $2513! I was and still am ecstatic that I reached my goal! As a Pacesetter, I was invited to the Hope Lodge in Hershey where we took a tour and treated the guests to a brunch. What an honor to be a part of this humbling experience seeing the dollars I helped to raise help others!
abc 27 News (above) was there to film this event
as well as WGAL channel 8 (below).
Cole tried desperately to avoid the cameras,
especially when he was in the kitchen!
A wonderful group of people!
December 2016 happenings...
Erin's Donation
December 7, 2016
Erin Hurley, a former student of mine, donated her locks to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths program. According to her and her family, I was an inspiration and Erin wanted to help others battling this disease. Love, love, love the Hurley family!
Of course we had the media involved!
Any way to raise awareness, I'm all in!
January and February 2017 happenings..
Taking time to slow down a bit! It's been several busy months. I'm feeling the exhaustion! But things will pick up again in March as I prepare to get back in the swing of things with Making Strides. I am so excited to be part of an amazing team of friends that share my passion!
Happening Now and in the Future
So where am I and how am I now?!?! Big questions!
In October, I was selected as a Voice of Hope for the American Cancer Society. I'm honored to be selected and cannot wait to continue my mission, my passion of sharing my journey and raising awareness! I have been a part of a few conference calls and will be a part of a conference/retreat in March to really get started on being a Voice of Hope. Super excited for this! If you are part of Relay for Life, please contact me. I'd love to help in any way I can! I'd love to speak at your event!
I had yet another PET scan (my 5th since diagnosis) in December. My blood work was great as was the scan! All clear! Still NED (no evidence of disease)! My oncologist is the best! Dr. Lee will continue to order PET scans every 6 months for me for a few year. I was stage 3 and hope to never be stage anything again!
Side effects...
Chemo brain still exists. Fortunately, it's not as bad as when I was going through treatment, but it's definitely still there. It's very, very frustrating. Searching for words and not remembering things - it takes a toll emotionally.
Acid reflux/indigestion/heartburn - never had these in my life until I started chemo. It's an everyday thing now and sometimes it really hurts and literally makes me vomit without any notice. Yeah, it's that bad.
Pain from one of the meds I have to take is a constant. 24/7.
Taking other medicine to counteract what one medicine is doing sucks, too.
But I'm alive, right!?! Yeah, that's great news, but not what a survivor always wants to hear. Why, you may ask? Not because we'd opt for the opposite, but because we miss all or part of our old self. We miss being pain free. We miss our energy. We miss our scarless bodies. We miss not having to be so careful to not break a bone. We miss so much of what and how we used to be because of what we were diagnosed with and had to go through! And to top that off, survivor's guilt is incredibly painful! Rant over because I'm feeling positive once again and because I know that things can always truly be soooo much worse! See, my moments don't last too long sometimes!
Many people continue to reach out to Cole and I telling us their stories about them or someone in their family being diagnosed. It's horrible that we had to go through what we did. But it's a blessing that we can be of help to so many others battling this beast.
As I conclude this post, I look at today's date, February 12. In 13 days, it will be 2 years since Dr. Barton called me and gave me the dreaded news that nearly dropped me to the floor. "I'm sorry. It's breast cancer." On March 13, 2015, (a Friday the 13th to top it off), I was officially diagnosed with stage 3c breast cancer. Stage 3c! STAGE 3C!! My God! Stage 4 is the only thing that is worse than stage 3c. How did I not get diagnosed at stage 0, 1, or 2?? How did I skip those?? I did self-exams many times each month in the shower. I never felt anything. What I didn't know was that I was missing an important area - the area where the lump was - in my armpit. Had I known better, perhaps I could have found this lump sooner. But I can't and I won't look back now. I continue to look forward. I'm a positive person 99% of the time now. But I continue to give myself my moments. I need them.
I leave you with this. Please do the self-exams. Women and men! Men, you are not excluded from breast cancer, sorry! Get your regular check-ups and mammograms. Know your family history and if you have a family history of breast cancer, look into genetic counseling and testing. If you don't have a family history of breast cancer, as was my case, stay on top of all of your medical appointments. My breast cancer has been the start of my family's cancer history.
I will also leave you with my email address - just in case you need it or want/need to pass it along to anyone that needs a shoulder to lean or cry on...please know that I am here for you!
wendyy720@gmail.com
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