September-08-2007

What a beautiful day

I wanted to send out an update about my summer to all of you, so if I am leaving anyone out please let me know :) To begin with, I just finished nursing school, my second bachelors degree, at the end of July. It was a tough year but I am so proud to be done. I was offered a job in the NICU with the premature babies without even having to apply, and they are paying back my school loans! What a blessing! :)

During August, I have spent much time studying for the dreaded NCLEX (nursing exam), spending quality time with Benjamin (my hero), and babysitting two kids that I have known for over two years. It has been a relaxing and fun summer! I was able to visit Chicago, Lake Murray in South Carolina, hours and hours on Bens boat and jet ski, etc! Not to mention how unbelievably excited I am about Teddy and Kristin's baby girl due Oct 5th. I cant WAIT to meet her!!!! She is the excitement of our family and auntie Jami is very excited!!!

Unfortunately at the beginning of August, I found a lump and my family practitioner and I figured it was a cyst, which is common at my age. After a sonogram, mammogram, and stereotactic core biopsy, three different doctors realized that after all, it was breast cancer.I have approximately a 3cm mass that is poorly differentiated and part of it is ductal carcinoma and the other part ductal carcinoma in situ...both making it invasive. Ill need surgery, radiation, and chemo. Tough news to swallow. The blessing in disguise is that less than 24 hours after finding out (and after ben, myself, and my brother spending hours on the phone), my brother amazingly got me an appointment at Sloan Kettering, the number one center in the COUNTRY for breast cancer. They specialize in invasive cancers in women my age (0.6% of all breast cancer patients are younger than 30). This is awesome because they know what I want regarding protecting my fertility, using a plastic surgeon, etc. I am SO excited! Nothing can bring me down now!

I have been so blessed with family and friends. Ben has been my hero through this entire process and couldn't do this without him. Because Sloan Kettering isn't covered by my insurance, I am in awe of my friends, who are planning fund raisers left and right and are by my side. I feel great, know I am in awesome hands, and couldn't be more excited (believe it or not) about how this is turning in out. Like my brother said, cancer has never met a more strong willed and stubborn person!!!

I will update you guys as I proceed along. My job is understanding and keeping my position until I return. Thank goodness! But rest assure that I am confident, strong, and am handling this well because I know everything will be alright. I am nicknamed sunshine for a reason...have to let the light and happiness shine! Jami