Monday, October 29, 2007

~Last Chemo Treatment Pictures~


~HERE IS EVERYONE WHO HELPED ME FIGHT MY CANCER AT DR. GHOSH'S IOWA BLOOD AND CANCER CARE~

Above is Holly, the one who did all my blood work

Above is Sarah the receptionist who checked me in and Becca who took my vitals

My Good Buddies Lanette, My ON CALL ONCOLOGY NURSE who will be there for me for as long as I need her and Mindy, Dr. Ghosh's Nurse Practitioner


~Above THE FAMOUS DR. GHOSH....WHO SAVED MY LIFE~

Lesta and Natalie, My Chemo Girls who hooked me up every time. WHAT A FUN BUNCH THEY ARE!!! I can't believe I am saying this but I am going to MISS THEM!!!

~THE BELL YOU GET TO RING WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED WITH CHEMO~


~AFTER RINGING THE BELL with BOB....CHEMO IS OVER!!!!~

I AM HUGE!!! Those Macy Day Thanksgiving Parade STEROIDS they gave me and the anti-nausea medication so I wouldn't throw up made me LOOK LIKE A MACY'S DAY PARADE BALLOON...I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT AT ALL!!!

Okay.....NOW WHAT???? Right now I am really at a loss....I have been so focused on fighting breast cancer and now that I am done with chemo I thought I could just go back to my old life....I am finding that is not the case. I am finding I am feeling better everyday but I tire out around noon and still need to sleep. I am finding I am a bit depressed and don't know why....THIS IS REALLY STARTING TO SUCK....

STILL HANGING IN THERE.....Amy

(PS...Becky, I wore my scarf to chemo but got a hot flash and soaked thru it so I had to switch scarves. Please forgive me as I so wanted to get a picture of me in it)

34 comments:

~Becca~Bluebird Rose said...

Hi Amy!!
Always nice to *see* you and hear from you....
I'm certainly no expert, but from what I've been told from others, that "What now" feeling is natural after chemo is over. I wish I had something that would help......
Sure am glad you got to ring that bell, girlfriend!!
Blessings & Hugs;
Becca
:)

Anonymous said...

Oh Amy!!!
After chemo...LIVE!!!
Trust me...you just went through the darkest days of cancer...now it is a matter of finding your feet....talk, talk, talk....go to your support group...come here and tell us about you...about your days....just go with the flow...in no time at all everything will seem like a bad dream....
Much love,
Solange

Betty said...

Amy, I swear I am crying because I am so glad to see your smiling face. You do whatever you have to do to get your spirit back. Sleep, pray, love. I think that's a book...Love ya gal! Take care of yourself. I think you look amazing and no where near resembling a float in the Macy's parade. Now...my backside...that's another story!

BittersweetPunkin said...

Hi Amy!! Oh this post brought me to tears... I am so thrilled for you...Praise God!...and who cares if you think you are huge...you are alive!!
Blessings to you Darlin'!!!!!
Love,
Robin

regina barnett said...

So glad to see that you are smiling. and the cemo is over. now take it one day at a time, getting your strength back. God is with you.

Anonymous said...

Amy, It's so good to see your beautiful smiling face! Everything will fall into place soon and it will all have so much more meaning now. You always told me not to put that negative energy out there, and I know you can get through this and the depression will fade away. Lean on the Lord because your melancholy is only temporary. You have a wonderful new life ahead!! Woo Hoo!!
Love & Hugs, Camie

Anonymous said...

A few more months Amy you'll be a whole lot better:) each day as you say, you feel it:) I think you look great for having just been put through the wringer! It must be that HUMUNGOUS smile across your face!

& it takes really awesome special people to work in these places doesn't it? THEY are all BLESSINGS!

Anonymous said...

Amy, I think you look fantabulous!!! I've never heard of the Macy's float theory, sorry but it made me laugh. It will only take a few months to rid of the steroid weight. I had p-monia once and had to have the steroids...you will lose it!
I'm crying tears of joy for you right now. You really do look super amazing!! You've been through the darkest days, the rest will be brighter and shinier for you.
After my sisters round of chemo was over she also felt left in the dark, she said as long as she was getting chemo she knew she was fighting the cancer. Finally she got tired of waiting for one day to follow the next with nothing happening, so she went back to work, getting on with LIVING, and spoiling her grandchildren.
I'm glad you got to ring that bell, I probably would have hung from it as long as it would hold me..LOL
It is so wonderful to see your face with a smile. I've missed you, and wondered everyday how you were getting along.
Hugs & Good Health,
MaryB.

blessings said...

You're just "time" away from being back to normal. Sleep through what you can, laugh a few minutes every day, dream a few more, Read your Bible and pray a bit, go outside for fresh air, write the grocery list, smell something pretty, sip your favorite drink slowly... No more "cancer" between you and normal, just time. YOU are in charge of your time now. Praise God! Blessings... Polly

Anonymous said...

Hi Amy! You are BEAUTIFUL!!!! Wonderful to see you smiling in these photos. Enjoy every single minute of your life, every single minute of the day, take it a step at a time. Rest, sleep, laugh, life's good.Prayers as always...

MJ said...

Glad to see you are back! Hopefully you'll have more energy soon! I suspect that this experience has been life-changing, nothing will be the "same" again and that is okay too. Good luck on this next chapter...

Alison Gibbs said...

Amy so happy you got to ring that bell. Take it a day at a time. Thinking of you.
Alison

Lori @ Katies Rose Cottage Designs said...

Amy ~
I am sitting here with tears streaming down my cheeks and chills because it is amazing to see you at the end of your chemo journey ~ wow ! I am thrilled for you, precious Amy !!!
You are going to get feeling better and better every day and have an amazing journey ahead of you ~ I am happy to get to be with you just a tiny bit ~
Lots of prayers and hugs !!!

Anonymous said...

I've been reading your blog and I'm so glad the chemo is over. My mother had breast cancer in 02 and she has recovered beautifully as I'm sure you will too. It DOES take some time to get your energy back. Don't over do it. You've been through alot and your body needs rest and good nutrition. You WILL feel better. Every morning when you open your eyes thank our Savior for LIFE! Now, enjoy living!! I'm so happy for you. (hugs)

Anonymous said...

Amy,
I don't think you look fat. You look healthy!

Depression after chemo is not that uncommon. Finishing is a double-edged sword. You're glad to be done, but then you feel scared at the same time. The whole cancer adventure is a long process of learning to live the life of a survivor.

~elaine~

Mary said...

Amy, You look Beautiful!!!!I see color in your cheeks and a smile on that sweet face. What wonderful, caring Nurses and Dr. you had.
Love the picture of you and Bob.
His Love shines, like a star on his face:) May God continue to Bless and heal you. Love and Hugs Mary:)

Meggie said...

Amy! How great to see you again looking so well. So nice of you to share photos of the folks who took such good care of you. We are all greatful to them all. Take you time getting back to normal. Rest, rest, rest...your body's way of recovering. Take care.

Simply Shelley said...

Amy , it's so good to see you smiling and do you ever a reason. You really look great and so blessed ! Pray you will very soon be feeling better than ever. God Bless you, Shelley

Anonymous said...

Oh Amy I have tears in my eyes - CHEMO IS OVER! I am so happy for you and I pray that God has two special angels watching over you 'cuz YOU DESERVE IT!

Big hugs,

Joy
xox

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

You silly girl, you don't have to apologize!! I just love you so much and am SO HAPPY for you that you made it through the chemo. Look at how your glow is coming back!!! Bob and you are so adorable together!! BTW, the water weight from the meds will come off. Knowing how busy you are, you will lose the weight. Your "sisters" are looking mighty big these days!!!! HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!!! Aren't you happy with them? Now I cannot call you a Pirates Delight (sad face..I still am!) ha.

Happy Halloweeeeeen my dear friend!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you bunches and oodles and oodles!

B.

Lori said...

Amy, What a wonderful treat you've given me this Halloween, Chemo is done and you shared your wonderful smile with us! god does great things, even when we think he may not!!!! You go girl, party of a lifetime to you!!! HOORAY Love, Lori

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

Hi, Amy! So glad to see you posting again. Each day you will get stronger. I'm so glad you got to ring that bell, & then skeedaddle outta there! Take care, rest lots, sweetie, & continue to get stronger.

Always love & prayers,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

Patricia said...

I am so happy you rang that bell. Considering the pain you are in and have experienced, along with the sheer exhaustion, depression would be a normal step in the road to recovery. A support group can tell you the steps you will face as you live on. A coworker of mine died 8 months after diagnosis and 9 months after her baby was born. Stories like yours give hope after stories like hers. Here's a toast to a long and happy life for you.

marylou said...

Hiya Amy:)
As my sister and I always tell each other, "one day at a time":) Just be super duper proud of yourself and all you have endured cause, honey, the best is yet to come:)
Hugs, Marylou

FarmHouse Style said...

Amy, I am so happy for you. You've already done the hard part, you fought cancer...and won! Your body will recover more each day.

Rest when you need to, take care of yourself...and drink in each moment:)

Rhonda

Anonymous said...

Accck, I think my first post went into cyberspace. I'm glad you got to ring that bell. You look fantabulous!! I can see the smile in your eyes coming back. The steroid weight will come off, be patient with it, it helped keep you well.
Thank You...Thank You for giving many women hope.

Sweet Remembrance said...

Hey sweet girl...
Congratulations! You finished chemo...You look absolutely beautiful...
Priscilla

Anonymous said...

Amy-girl, I am sooooooooooo happy for you that you can begin the healing AND the LIVING again.. it will all be okay, you'll get through this - give yourself time, take it slow, breathe in and out... keep the faith. My dear neighbor went through this and felt like you do now when she finished her chemo - it took her a few months to shake the "depressed" feeling, but when she did, boy did she make up for lost time! She grabbed her life back and has been doing beautifully ever since AND she is healthy! (((((hugs)))))

Love you Amy!
Kim

ellen said...

Sweetie Pie..you go girl!
I am in awe of your courage, your strength, your everythingness!!!!!!!!!!
Love to you and beyond that!

Pear tree cottage! said...

Dear Amy, how wonderful you look and even from way down here in Australia I can see the glow of a very special beautiful lady. You have shown us all what courage you have within you to fight and what determination you had to get to the day of ringing the bell!

As a woman my gosh Amy I am so proud of you I truly am.

blessings always to you!
Lee-ann

Dawn-Hydrangea Home said...

Congratulations Amy! I just have to say you look great - you have such a glow in those pics. And I wish you much health!

Cape Cod Washashore said...

Hugs and kisses, Amy! You do look fabulous! And wahoooooo ... chemo is a thing of the past!!! =) xoxo

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on finishing chemo! Your strength is so very inspirational!

Louise said...

Hi Amy, I discovered the link for your blog from Sweet Cottage Dreams. I know that reading through your posts is going to be poignant for me as my lovely mum had breast cancer, but she always said the whole way through her treatment, what wonderful girls and boys the nursing staff were in the clinic and day ward, without having the care of these wonderful people, being able to see this aggressive treatment through, would have been so much harder. Take care every day. Louise x