Still N.E.D.
Happy December, friends! I have shared this on socials, but I’m officially logging it on the blog: I’m still N.E.D! 🥳
After Novembers’s CT Scan and December’s brain MRI, we have another “all clear!” This marks 6 years since my breast cancer diagnosis in 2019, and 2 years of No Evidence of Disease. I am so excited and grateful, and can’t believe a whole year has gone by. No hospital visits, no surprise surgeries, just predictable monthly infusions!
I find myself answering a common question these days: “Are you in remission?” Well, no. Living with NED is really the best outcome I could have hoped for. A best case scenario. While there are no visible signs of cancer in my body, we’re still actively treating it as if there were. Every 4 weeks, I receive an immunotherapy infusion that keeps my body trained to stop cancer. Yes, it’s much less toxic than chemo. Yes, my hair is growing and I feel pretty well. But no, we’re not in remission over here. 🤪 To me, “remission” implies that cancer is a closed chapter of one’s life. That cancer no longer plays an active, disruptive role in your daily life. I love that for other survivors, but it’s not a realistic expectation for metastatic breast cancer thrivers. Thus, I celebrate NED with wild enthusiasm!!
In the swirl of schedules and holidays and life, I often forget what a miracle it is that I am here. What a gift it is to be planning lessons for a Sunday school class, to use my brain in an office, to drive my car all by myself, to need haircuts, to make plans for the future! I know that many are not afforded that opportunity. I appreciate these anniversaries because they remind me how far I've come, how far God has carried me, and how He'll never leave me. ❤
I invite you to look around today, sweet friend, and note all the small things that are so very “normal.” God is with us in every breath and detail. He knows all that your heart carries, what the day holds, and what you need- even if we don't! May we all see Him at work in the goodness sprinkled around us!
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. -Ephesians 3:20
How’s life going?
So many things have happened, and we simply have to catch up. (If you’ve been reading the Goodness & Grace Newsletter, you probably have the most accurate headlines!) Pull up a chair, friend!
I realize it is December, but it seems the blog is missing all of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month happenings! I invite you to read the Still Good Monthly #8 for a quick list, and read the Hickory Daily Record here!
I'm officially a published author! I wrote a story for Wildfire Magazine's Oct/Nov issue, all about young Metastatic Breast Cancer Thrivers. The whole magazine is beautiful! I wrote about my sweet friend, Stacy. I hope I can honor her memory by sharing her with so many people, reminding other MBC Thrivers that friendship is brave and worth it, in all places. 🩷 Read my story here!
April Stearns, the editor of Wildfire, actually came on my podcast! Episode #80 is a special conversation about the healing power of storytelling, and how we can all amplify voices that need to be heard! Such a cool opportunity.
I wrote a devotional for MBC Thrivers! Yes, it’s true! 😍 This project has been on my heart for a long time, and I'm so excited to share it. The Thrivers Affirmation Toolkit is the resource I wish I had during my own breast cancer journey. A guide to help you navigate the emotional and spiritual weight of it all with compassion, grounding, and renewed confidence in God’s unchanging love for you. Sound like you or someone you love? Check it out!
…ok I have to pause here and say: Who is this girl?? 😂 This fall has been so very busy, and just rereading this list and attaching all the fun links has me questioning if it’s even real. Leading a fundraiser and advocacy campaign in my town, writing a story for a magazine, interviewing the editor for my itty bitty podcast, and publishing my own ebook for my online shop that will donate 15% to MBC Research….WHAT?? God is doing some BIG THINGS! 🥹
Lastly, I have a new job! Ever since my school tutoring job was cut due to the budget, I had been praying about what was next for me. I’m still working at church, but needed something else to fill the gaps. While I had my eyes and ears open, nothing really fell into place until after our Japan trip. (Which was quite convenient, honestly!) I’m now the Marketing and Community Outreach Coordinator for Patrick Beaver Learning Resource Center. And you know what? I really, really like it. 🥰 This is the third part-time job where I’ve said, “This is pretty perfect for me.” (It’s like somebody up there knows what they’re doing- LOL) I get to design pretty flyers and social media posts for a literacy nonprofit, and utilize my teacher knowledge at the same time. I get to visit schools and take pictures of tutoring. I even get to tutor myself starting in January! PBLRC provides such great services for the community, and I’m excited to help share their story with those who need it!
So now I’m a MBC Thriver, writer, podcaster, small business owner, sunday school lesson planner (in layman’s terms), and a marketing coordinator…it’s kind of wild! I’m still figuring out my new routines, when to rest, when to create, etc. November was a little bumpy, and I was a little anxious when I got sick, but the world didn’t stop turning. Everything accommodated just fine.
God has created such a beautiful little life for me! It makes me teary-eyed to think at how far I’ve come, how much has changed, and how, miraculously, it’s ok. 🩷 What a gift!
I’d love to wax poetic a little more on that, but this sleepy girl has two jobs to go to tomorrow haha. You are all so kind to keep up with me, to walk alongside me on this journey, and cheer me on. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, friends! I’ll see you on the other side!
