Just Dropped By to Say Hello!

Hi Everyone! I guess by now you all thought that I dropped off the edge of the world....I didn't! I'm here and ALL IS WELL!!!!!!

I am so, so sorry that I haven't posted lately...in fact, I haven't even been to the board in a long, long time and I must say, I missed you all...truly, I did. But not a single one of you has been out of my thoughts or prayers as I keep fighting this dreadful monster in my own way. I needed a long, extended break...I still do, but I just had to check in and tell everyone hey!

My wonderful husband Bert continues to do very well. It will be two years in July and last scans showed NED and CEA down at 2.5. We celebrated out 30th anniversary and I prayed that God grants us many more. The few side effects that Bert had from chemo are all pretty much gone now and he looks, feels, and is great!

Mom is another story. While she remains asymptomatic for her lung cancer (good thing), they did discover new growth now in the upper right portion of her lung in December. It was confirmed as cancer in February (PET) but hadn't grown on changed any since December. She is currently under watch with new scans due in about three weeks. If there is any change that time, plan of action will be put into place and I am thrilled that a plan of action is still available. She has been fighting this monster (lung cancer) for almost three years now, enjoying for the most part, quality of life, and that, I know my friends, is a blessing.

As for me, I continue to work full time, play on the computer, research cancer, indulge in my hobby of buying, selling, trading, keeping antiques and collectibles and sometimes, but not as often as I used to, withdraw into myself because this awful disease is always on my mind and I am still trying real hard to work on it no claiming me as well. Cancer is that way you know. Even healthy people it effects because it borrows into your head and stays there, sometimes taking over everything else. Hence one of the reasons why I've been laying low for so long. I've missed you all and I know I've missed a lot of what's been happening lately, but somehow, someway, and PLEASE DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND, I still wish deep down inside that I never would have had the need to find this board. But since it was my destiny to walk the road that I walk, I know the dear Lord did intervene and I found you, my lifeline, my friends!

Many big hugs to you all and in the famous words of our governor, "I'll be back."

Monika :-)