Honor the Tribe

Today I say farewell to my students- the class of 2014. And the message we were left with was our motto from the school year, "Honor the Tribe". What is honor? How do you define honor? And what is your tribe? 

My tribe at Bountiful High has been very instrumental in my life this year helping me get through a challenging time. I hope that they know how helpful they were to me. And when I look at the list of names of students I have taught for three years I feel honored to watch them grow and they honor me by their success. Our tribe is unique. We are measured by our footsteps and those of us at Bountiful High can hold our heads high. 

I am excited for the summer. My skin is starting to heal. Joey said it looks like someone tried to burn me with an iron. But I only have 7 more Herceptin infusions. My last one will be Oct 23 and then they can remove the port. The Herceptin is not an infusion with bad side effects. Other than the time that it takes the only drawback is potential heart damage. Me EKG in April looked great and I'll have another one in July. I am hoping my reconstructive surgery will be in August so I have time to heal before a new school year. 

I think that as I was listening to the graduation commencement and thinking about my year Faulkner's words hit home:

"I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail."

It has been a long year and I have prevailed. My heart goes out to my dear friend who lost a child this week to Batten's disease. She is prevailing in many ways that perhaps we never anticipated. But what an honor she has been to her parents and family. 

My students have been amazing and taught me many lessons this year as I endured. Honor the Tribe!

I won't give up

I did it! Today was my last day of radiation therapy!! Woot woot. I had a playlist that I was listening to the past few weeks as each day it was getting harder to go to Salt Lake every day and my skin was getting more red and raw and sore and tender. One song in the daily playlist was Jason Mraz, "I Won't Give Up". And I didn't!! 

I am so excited to be ready to let the skin heal and to enjoy the summer and to no longer be sick. This is a great day! Hooray! Thank yoh for all my supporters. And to all my new friends who are still fighting their fight..... Don't give up!

Stay strong.... End in sight

I am so excited. I only have six more radiation treatments. My skin is red and raw and I can't wear anything tight or it aggravates the area. I keep applying the ointments the doctor has recommended. 

But I realized that the little things that have helped me get through every day. I listen to music as I get radiated Mondag through Friday and I realize how much music is calming and a form of therapy. 

I also am grateful for my rides to my treatments. After working all day I am so tired and so my mom or Joey will drive me to St. Marks every day. They realized I had an inner ear infection last week which has added to my dizziness. 

The hardest thing is not being home to take care of the house and kids after school. And I have to think about dinner at 7 am so that I don't have to figure it out after I get home from radiation. 

I am beyond thrilled that this stage is nearing an end. I am tired of being tired and sick. My hair is growing back fast and I have some gray hairs. Cancer gave me gray hair! 

For those of you that haven't seen the recent dove video that focuses on breast cancer it might be worth your time. It helped me refocus and to readjust how I view my battle wounds. 

http://www.today.com/video/today/55080718/

My mother-in-law and mom wrote the following after watching the video:

I have been touched the past few weeks with the opportunity to strengthen others from this experience. I am so grateful for that opportunity. It is a blessing that others can find strength from the trials we go through.