I RISE, TRIUMPHANT!

"Triumph cannot be had without the struggle."

- Wilma Rudolph -

JUNE 5, 2023

Saturday, June 3 marked 7 months since my diagnosis! Holy CRAP!!!

7 WHOLE F@@KN' MONTHS!

It's ok. I MADE IT!

I KICKED CANCER TO THE CURB AND HOW!

Back in early January, just before my first surgery, all I focused on was spring. I wanted to be all done by spring! Well, even though what I was hoping for was March 21, in fact, I am done in springtime. Summer doesn't arrive until the 21st. It's still spring and I am done. I'll take as A WIN!

And a few days ago when I woke up, I was greeted by an old friend: MY OLD SELF. Sure, a little worn from the battle, a few scars to show for it, lots of lessons learned, and yet full of gratitude and stronger than ever before!! ANOTHER WIN!!

I AM STRONG AF!!!

I didn't wake up tired today. I have some pep in my morning step and that feels really REALLY good! I have been teary these last few days, tears of joy and gratitude. It's been a long road. But through it all, I have been blessed, surrounded by such incredible love-humans, caregivers and an amazing oncology team. Oh my love-humans - so many carried me and held me up when I could barely lift my head off my pillow. Who nourished, not only my body, but my soul. Who have brought me so much joy through support, loving check-ins, messages, flowers, notes, and oh-so-sweet and generous gestures. I am one lucky girl and I will never ever forget the kindness and love during these challenging months. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!

GETTING STRONGER EVERY DAY!

I'm in a rehab program called HEALTh at UHN's Rumsey Rehab Centre. It's a great program to help me get stronger and increase my vitality and longevity. This is a program available to all woman at any stage of breast cancer treatment! Amazing.

Last Friday, I had a big win! We were doing resistance training. I was using 5lbs weights (rather than bands), and I was able to increase my reps to 25 for each exercise!!! I can't tell you how big this is for me. HUGE!!

You see, by the end of 2022, I was not physically well. I had experienced a hip injury which turned into serious knee issues and barely being able to walk after a playful hop-scotch jump on the beach labour day weekend. I must have landed oddly and I'm sure the pandemic weight gain didn't help the matter either.

I went to physio several times which helped a lot, but I still struggled. Then the news of breast cancer in early November. The emotional upheaval further added to my physical decline and an increase in food intake trying to soothe the stress wasn't helpful. I was noticing my ability to push through getting less and less. I was in decline.

All that December brings is usually stressful enough, and then the added stresses of getting my then 88-year-old Dad in for his knee replacement surgery and on the mend before I, myself, would be out of commission with my own medical journey, life was taking it's toll on me. Tying up lose ends and getting things sorted before heading into the unknown journey that awaited me in 2023 was just, well, crappy, overwhelming and A LOT.

With the lumpectomy in January, I was now experiencing even more inactivity. Add to that some serious emotional eating plus being fed delicious gifted meals! Let's just say stretchy leggings and over-sized comfy tops have been my 2023 uniform. Thank you spandex.

In April, I committed to walking every day, and even though I held true for over 3 weeks, fatigue derailed that pretty quickly and continuing knee issues were making my walks difficult. SOOOOO....

I'm celebrating every little baby step of improvement. And I'm doing it. Showing myself grace when needed and crushing it whenever I can. Actually, scratch that... I AM CRUSHING IT EVERY SINGLE DAY! One way or another. If having cancer has taught me anything, it's that there is progress when facing forward and putting one foot in front of the other. All the steps count - big steps, baby steps, and wee-wee teeny tiny steps too! All the steps, big or small, marching towards a goal.

COMPLETING TREATMENT BY SPRING ✅

KICKING CANCER TO THE CURB ✅

LIVING JOYOUSLY ON THE DAILY ✅

GETTING STRONGER DAY BY DAY SO THAT I CAN THRIVE... work in progress

At the beginning of the 2023, I chose a word that I would carry with me for the year. TRIUMPH!

I wanted to be successful in beating breast cancer. OH YEAH I DID!

I also wanted to share my story with hopes of helping others whether in their own breast cancer journey or some other challenge. I wanted to expose my highs, my lows and my in-betweens. And I know I have made a difference... so many friends have gone for their mammograms (hooorraaay!), I have had people reach out after finding out that they too have breast cancer, and I have received countless notes and messages from people who have found my shared journey inspirational and uplifting. I can't tell you what this means to me. I knew sharing would be helpful in my own healing, and knowing that it also has helped others in theirs - I am so very touched.

Here's the lesson: SHINE YOUR LIGHT! Be bright and beautiful. For with your light, you are lighting the path for others. SHINE BRIGHTLY, LOVE HUMANS!

Here I am... TRIUMPHANT! ❤️

So, what's next?

The crazy thing is that this isn't the end. The journey just looks a little different from here. I'm still on the Pink Road, just more on a side street rather than the main drag.

💖 There's daily hormone therapy for 3+ years via a pill called Tamoxifen. That's a whole whirlwind expedition in itself! More on that another day.

💖 The continuation of my rehab into July.

💖 Upcoming appointment with my Oncologist later this month.

💖 Bi-weekly meetings with my Breast Cancer Support Group (these women are AWESOME!)

💖 Stepping back into my life, slowly and intentionally. Along with all the fears and uncertainty.

💖 Figuring out a lot of stuff around my business which has been on hiatus since this whole journey began. That one is a doozy! Feeling quite overwhelmed with uncertainty at the moment. Ugh.

💖 Deciding how I want my life to be going forward.

Though in-hospital treatment is now complete, the reality is that having breast cancer has created quite a shake-up in my life. HUGE UNDERSTATEMENT. And now it's time to plan where to go from here... one step at a time.

More to come!