IN THE CLEAR!

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

I'm still jumping for joy and have been on a happiness high since yesterday. It's now been just over 24 hours since hearing the wonderful words from the surgeon's lips: "We have great news! We have clear margins."

F@@king fantastic news I'd say! WOOHOOOO!

"Clear margins" is the sweetest two-word phrase EVER!

I have clear margins!!!

Clear margins mean that the edge of the tissue removed during cancer surgery does not contain cancer cells, suggesting that all of the cancer has been removed.

After my first surgery, not all my margins were clear so I had to have a second surgery, removing additional tissue to get clear margins. Hearing the news that I needed a second surgery was a shock. You can read about it HERE.

But not yesterday. Yesterday, I was given the fantastic news that surgery #2 gave us clear margins! (insert happy dance here).

Once Dr. Escallon left the room, I jumped off the examination table and started to cry. I was shaking with happiness - tears rolling down my face - a big ugly ECSTATIC cry!

And since then I have been floating on a HAPPINESS HIGH!

Celebrated with my parents by sharing Pasteis de Nata (the ultimate Portuguese celebratory treat). You can watch my Instagram post HERE. And had a lovely dinner out with David. ❤️

Next steps: Meet with my oncologist (next week) and radiologist (soon) to plan out the next steps in treatment. No chemo. Step by step towards ringing that end-of-treatment bell!

For now, I'll be riding this wave of euphoria.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to Dr. Escallon and my surgical team, to my love-humans who hold me up, support me and shower me with so much love, every single day. I am forever grateful.