Yummy Lunch

One of my favorite things to do during my days was to go out with my girlfriends. It always kept me smiling and feeling some what connected to life some how. I really loved rekindling and strengthening friendships during my treatments and while I needed to take life slow.
It is so good to have friends surround me.

There is something on my head!

Some of you have not seen me in a few months. Well this is what I am looking like these days. September 5th was my last chemo, so it has been 2 months and a week! My hair has grown this much!





So here are some pictures of the bald one who will soon be bald no more.





Everyone loves to rub my head and call me fuzzy, chia pet, a little duck and little chicken. So far these have been my new names. On occasion I hear Alena!




















Sometimes I look in the mirror and I look like my Dad when he was little with a buzz. This picture reminds me of that look.

The wee little hair

My hair is coming in in slowly. You can still see my scalp but my hair is umm almost a half and inch long on top. There is a mixture of blonde and a darker color, so it is hard to really see the new hair. I can't wait to see what it will look like in a few months.
I am finding more mobility in my arm and I test myself to see how far I can reach. It is crazy to think about all the things I used to do with out thinking. Now I have to ask my self all the time if i am able to do certain tasks, but it comes with the surgery territory.
My energy level is coming along. Yesterday, all my family spent the day building a tree house. I was in a chair most of the time answering to "can you give me the hammer, here hold this or I need that pencil." I think I was the most tired out of all of them!!! I really laughed at myself over that one. I was falling asleep at dinner!
Thank you all for sharing with me a very important time of my life. It has been wonderful receiving so much love and seeing the capacity of love. It truely is endless. I hope all is well in your lives and that you are seeing the blessings God gives us daily. I love you all, Alena

Guess what....???

Well, it is a little late for me but I want to let you all know that I am in REMISSION!!!!!!!!!!!! I went to my oncologist today and she was very happy to report to me that I have absolutely no cancer in me. So, Dr. Bodai did a very good job by the way on my surgery. I was very confident with him being my doctor. The path report said that there was no cancer to be found. The chemo wiped it all out! I then asked Dr. Hui, "then why did I do a mastectomy?" Well, because I had an invasive type of cancer it was the best way to make sure it was gone and dose not even stand a chance! I am very happy and I am so happy for all of you praying as hard as you did because you saved me! This is such a miracle. I walked out of the hospital just in awe for the blessings God has given me.
I still need to take tamoxifen for five years and I will start that in a few weeks. I still can't move my arm very well and Dr. Hui laughed at me because of this. I am in such a hurry to heal and she just smiled at me as I talked to her about what I try to do and what I want to do. She told me I need to take it easy for six weeks sometimes even more. This was good for me to hear so that I chill out and just listen to my body and not what I WISH I could be doing. I have rested a lot lately and I feel more responsible for doing so. Sam and my Mom are happy for this. I only can move my arm to my shoulder hight so pretty soon I will start physical therapy. I am very excited to do this. It will be nice to have help guiding me through my recovery.
Reconstruction wont start till six months from now. I have to be patient on that part. None the less, I am cancer free and watching my hair grow back. Slowly it is coming back. I cant wait to wake up one morning and see that my scalp is gone! I want to see that hair! Winter is coming and my head will be wishing it had its hair back.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!! Everyone have a spooky time and dont eat too much candy....Cancer LOVES sweets! Eat veggies! But, my favorite snack is still melted chocolates dipped by a banana. Yummy.

I cant find my camera so I haven't put any pictures up. But as soon as I get a recent photo on my computer I will show my hair coming in!!!

Looking better than ever!

Well, I didn't get much new information from my Doctors visit today. We just took the drain out and I feel much better now. I have no idea when my reconstruction will be, but that is ok because he hooked me up with a great store! If you know what I mean!!!! I am feel absolutly beautiful and I am loving life. I will let you all more details later.

Healing Words

When I came out of the surgery and I was exclaiming joy from surgery I was not far off. I truly felt from the Lord that the cancer was taken care of and that I had reason to rejoice in him! Well, Dr. Bodai called today and told me that there was not cancer in the lymph nodes and he made clear margins. I am cancer free! I had such an amazing feeling of love from my savior as I woke up and he told me I was ok. I can't believe that he allowed me to feel that comfort even before the results. The Lord does speak to us today. I know that if we seek for him in our lives he will bless us ten fold. Thank you for all the prayers and for the fasting. YOU all made it happen. YOU all have amazing faith. YOU moved my mountain! Isn't it amazing what we can do in the quiet of our homes or even in a car ride pleading to the lord for our desires. He will bless us with what we ask if it be his will. I know this to be true. In my hardest time while sick and feeling like a big blob he was there for me. Oh...I want to tell you . The night before I wrote in my journal that I wanted to know what it felt like to have a hug from the savior. Everyone always talks about warm arms around them and they knew that there were being hugs by angels. Well, Saturday night as I laid in the recliner and my mind was racing with discomfort and my body felt like hell I would feel moments of peace. My mind was quite. The same feelings you get when you hug someone you haven't hugged in ages, like the world stops and all that matters is that you are in there arms. It is quiet, still, warm, loving and peaceful. I felt him! Thank you for your prayers. They helped me so much.

p.s. i wish for you to pray for another friend of mine who was just recently diagnosed with cervical cancer. She is a wonderful mother of two and a wonderful wife and she is only 24 years old. Her name is Nicolette Lawerence (Dicus) Please pray for her...it is now her turn for love and support.

Im doing just FINE!!!!!

Hi everyone! I am feeling great and I am getting used to the new way that I feel. I have been resting alot and moving around as much as I can. This afternoon I made my own lunch, cleaned up the kitchen, and even took out the trash! Then I went straight to putting on my make up which I then cried off! I was feeling so overwhelmed with the love that I have been feeling from all my family and friends. Man, do I feel the prayers working. My Mom picked up my Great Aunts wheelchair this afternoon, so this evening Sam took me out for a stroll. Jenny took all the kids in their family stroller and we looked at all the Halloween decorations. This was a perfect evening for a walk out in the night with the family. I look forward to everyday. I can't wait to get past this time in my life and become the new woman, in which cancer has given life to. If there is anyone who wishes to come see me and wondering if it is ok...Come on over. I am at home all the time! I would love to see any of you. I kind of feel like a freak show!!! Well time will heal all and I will be up and running as soon as I can. Thank you all so much the love is overwhelming. I love you, Alena