Hi everyone!
I know that it has been a while since my last update, please forgive me. I am just trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing!
Well, Relay was great fun. We all had a great night. We raised about $1,800.00 that night in donations and selling our wares. That brings our total so far to about $3,000.00 for Joyce's Journey 1 and 2. We all wore t-shirts that matched and said Joyce's Journey on the front and were a beautiful teal color. I ended up ordering 54 shirts, so there was a lot of that color going around the track. We sold necklaces, crosses, lemonade, do it yourself mosaics and outdoor tea lights. The night was so windy that we could not keep our canopy up!
It was great walking the survivor lap with my father-in-law, Wallace, who had been diagnosed with lung cancer the year before I was diagnosed. Thank goodness his cancer was not as far along as mine was so he did not have to have the horrible chemo and radiation!
My ex-sister-in-law, Sherry, also walked the survivor lap with me. She has been completely free of her leukemia since 2005 when she underwent a bone marrow transplant!
A constant encourager in my life, Chelsa, also walked with me as she is a skin cancer survivor. It was an awesome time!
The next lap walked was supposed to be the survivor and their caregiver walking together. Ronnie walked with me and Wallace's wife, Pat, walked with him. That was very touching to me also. Of course, Lily and Riley couldn't stand seeing Mimi and Pawpaw walking without them, so they joined us on the track. We were all holding hands and sporting huge smiles!
The organizers asked me on the Thursday night before the relay if I would be willing to speak at the relay about my story. I agreed, then began having butterflies. I am not a public speaker! It was better when I found out that I wouldn't speak until about 1:15 A.M. Not a lot of people left at that early hour! My speech lasted maybe 7 or 8 minutes (seemed like a lot longer!) and my people left there said I did a good job. I hope it helped someone there who has just been diagnosed or has a loved one going through testing. It was to promote doing everything we can to fight cancer.
I did have a CT scan done last month and went to the Dr. for the results last week. Great news! He said that it showed no new signs of cancer anywhere! Yea,Yea,Yea!!! I think that I will be going for scans and seeing the oncologist every 3 months for the next 2 years. I'm glad of that because I know now that I can have cancer growing inside of me and not know it!
I am trying to start a walking routine so I can gain my energy back and get that left lung expanded on out. I do get pretty winded still but I just need to work on it every day. I also did go back to the hairdresser and am once again BLOND!
Ronnie and I are going on a week vacation to South Padre next week with Jerry and Ginger. It will be good to go and not think about being sick. I just want to have a fun, relaxing time with good friends!
Again, thanks for continued prayers,
Love ya, Joyce
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Looking forward to Relay!
I'm getting more and more excited as the time draws near for the Relay for Life! It is 2 weeks away and the final preparations are being made. I am so glad that I delegated other people to do some of the work. Knowing how I am - I would forget something really important until the day before - then I would do a lot of fretting about it! I'm a superior fretter! (I know that is not something to be proud of!)
For all of you who have donated to the American Cancer Society on my behalf, I thank you so much! I know that the excellent care I received and the drugs that were administered to me were connected to research that the A.C.S. has funded throughout the past few years. Also, the A.C.S. provides care and services to every cancer patient. I personally found out that they have a room full of wigs and scarves that are free to cancer patients who are in need of these. There are so many, many other things that they provide that thankfully I did not need! (If you want to donate and don't know how to do it - go to www.relayforlife.org/azletx and click on Joyce's Journey or Joyce's Journey 2 and it should guide you through it. Anyway, thank you so much!
I hope to see many of you at the Relay on Apr. 24th at the Forte Jr. High football field starting at 6:00 P.M. We are going to have a great time together and I will love seeing everyone who has been praying me through my journey!
Love you all!
For all of you who have donated to the American Cancer Society on my behalf, I thank you so much! I know that the excellent care I received and the drugs that were administered to me were connected to research that the A.C.S. has funded throughout the past few years. Also, the A.C.S. provides care and services to every cancer patient. I personally found out that they have a room full of wigs and scarves that are free to cancer patients who are in need of these. There are so many, many other things that they provide that thankfully I did not need! (If you want to donate and don't know how to do it - go to www.relayforlife.org/azletx and click on Joyce's Journey or Joyce's Journey 2 and it should guide you through it. Anyway, thank you so much!
I hope to see many of you at the Relay on Apr. 24th at the Forte Jr. High football field starting at 6:00 P.M. We are going to have a great time together and I will love seeing everyone who has been praying me through my journey!
Love you all!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Reflections
I have had some time in the last 2 weeks to reflect back on the last year. I know each one of us goes through something in our life that is very life changing. If you haven't experienced that yet - enjoy where you are now! But most of us have gone through something, especially if you are in your 40's or 50's.
Exactly a year ago, I had a wreck. When it happened, I didn't think it was anything life-changing. Some careless driver just pulled out in front of me and totalled my 14 year old truck! Oh well, I wasn't really ready to buy a different vehicle and I really liked that old green truck. I really didn't find out until the end of April that the simple wreck would lead to 12 months of major surprises and total changes in how I viewed life. And I know that God was with me the whole way!
First was finding out that I had to have neck fusion surgery. That sounded really scary! But it really wasn't that scary and the biggest nuisance about it was having to wear that horrid neck brace for 9 hot weeks! In fact, I've almost forgotten that I even had neck surgery and the scar is very hard to see. Thanks Dr. Bechtel for doing such a good job!
But the life-saving part of the whole wreck thing is the fact that I think about every day. Remember, if they hadn't done the pre-op chest x-ray, I still may not have known today that I had a mass growing in my left lung! That's how it is with most lung cancer patients - they don't know until it's big and spread to other areas! Thank you, God, for saving my life and making me aware that you are with me.
Next was going through another even more major surgery - the removal of the lower lobe of my left lung and having a doctor come in to tell me the dreaded words. Cancer that had spread to a lymph node. This would require chemotherapy for the next 4 months of my life and then another 6 weeks of radiation! Are you ever ready to hear something like that?
I remember being calm and maybe thinking that surely he wasn't talking about me! 6 months seemed like an eternity away. I couldn't even imagine myself in 6 months. I do remember about halfway through the 16 weeks telling my girls that I just wanted to close my eyes and blink and it would be after Christmas and the chemo would be over! It seemed so long away! But look! It is the first week of April and I'm still here and that too did pass!
What have I learned in the last year?
Life is precious and not guaranteed!
What seems like an eternity away is really not and time does go by.
Most important - that God does carry us in the palm of His hands and does get us through anything even if at the time we are going through it we can't feel Him or see Him.
That the prayers sent up to God on our behalf are heard and are very powerful. I never doubted for a minute that many people were praying for me. It seemed that somehow I felt them all! I only hope that I return the prayer favor for those in need of it. I believe the words of Babbie Mason's song"Standing in the Gap". When I didn't have the strength to pray for myself - there were many that were standing in that prayer gap and praying for me!
My prayer now is that I am able to see why God got me to this point. I pray that I give Him all the glory for my blessings. I pray that I use my life for Him and listen hard for the whispers that He gives me everyday.
Love to you all! and thanks for all you did for me and my family.
Joyce
Exactly a year ago, I had a wreck. When it happened, I didn't think it was anything life-changing. Some careless driver just pulled out in front of me and totalled my 14 year old truck! Oh well, I wasn't really ready to buy a different vehicle and I really liked that old green truck. I really didn't find out until the end of April that the simple wreck would lead to 12 months of major surprises and total changes in how I viewed life. And I know that God was with me the whole way!
First was finding out that I had to have neck fusion surgery. That sounded really scary! But it really wasn't that scary and the biggest nuisance about it was having to wear that horrid neck brace for 9 hot weeks! In fact, I've almost forgotten that I even had neck surgery and the scar is very hard to see. Thanks Dr. Bechtel for doing such a good job!
But the life-saving part of the whole wreck thing is the fact that I think about every day. Remember, if they hadn't done the pre-op chest x-ray, I still may not have known today that I had a mass growing in my left lung! That's how it is with most lung cancer patients - they don't know until it's big and spread to other areas! Thank you, God, for saving my life and making me aware that you are with me.
Next was going through another even more major surgery - the removal of the lower lobe of my left lung and having a doctor come in to tell me the dreaded words. Cancer that had spread to a lymph node. This would require chemotherapy for the next 4 months of my life and then another 6 weeks of radiation! Are you ever ready to hear something like that?
I remember being calm and maybe thinking that surely he wasn't talking about me! 6 months seemed like an eternity away. I couldn't even imagine myself in 6 months. I do remember about halfway through the 16 weeks telling my girls that I just wanted to close my eyes and blink and it would be after Christmas and the chemo would be over! It seemed so long away! But look! It is the first week of April and I'm still here and that too did pass!
What have I learned in the last year?
Life is precious and not guaranteed!
What seems like an eternity away is really not and time does go by.
Most important - that God does carry us in the palm of His hands and does get us through anything even if at the time we are going through it we can't feel Him or see Him.
That the prayers sent up to God on our behalf are heard and are very powerful. I never doubted for a minute that many people were praying for me. It seemed that somehow I felt them all! I only hope that I return the prayer favor for those in need of it. I believe the words of Babbie Mason's song"Standing in the Gap". When I didn't have the strength to pray for myself - there were many that were standing in that prayer gap and praying for me!
My prayer now is that I am able to see why God got me to this point. I pray that I give Him all the glory for my blessings. I pray that I use my life for Him and listen hard for the whispers that He gives me everyday.
Love to you all! and thanks for all you did for me and my family.
Joyce
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Who am I?
Yes, that's a big question. So far in my life, I have enjoyed different titles and surroundings that labeled who I was.
As most of you know, growing up I was pretty much a pampered little girl who liked to sleep with her grandmother instead of my own comfortable bed. I always felt so protected when sleeping with her - being alone was scary. By the time I turned 11 though, I was sleeping in my own bed alone and seemed to manage alright. Besides, before I knew it I was a teenager who really didn't need my parents hovering over me all the time and especially not my grandmother!
So, then while still in those teen years I met the love of my life and we got married at the age of 18. I then acquired the title of Mrs. Ronnie Smith. I was a wife! ( Then I was back to sharing my bed with someone and feeling protected and not scared.)
Then, after about 3 years , I gained another monumental title , Mother. Amy was born! What a thrilling time. And a full time job! Then 3 1/2 years later , Starla was born and a different title - mother of 2. Then 3 1/2 later , Brandon was born and a couple of new titles - mother of 3 and mother of a boy! And life was good and past so fast!
I really hadn't planned in all this happy home life that I would get a full-time job, but it happened! After Brandon started to school, I started working for Kerri full time and got my next title - Interior Designer. And yes, I even had an official card from the state of Texas telling me that is what I was!
Of course, with children growing up and starting their own lives , different titles came for me. The next new title was when Starla got married - I then became mother-in-law. And no, I didn't become the nosy kind(I don't think). And so it continued with Amy and Brandon marrying also.
Of course, my prize title is Mimi. With my 4 precious grandchildren, Gracie,Lily,Riley and Dakota, that is the title that makes me smile and beam with pride! They are so precious.
The next title is the scariest one I've ever known. Cancer Survivor! I'm still not sure what God has planned for me to do with this title, but I know he will reveal it's purpose to me. I am sure that God loves me and has a plan for me. Pray for me to have my brain open to his message, my ears open to His whispers!
As of this past Monday, I have finished my radiation and now in the game of waiting for either something to feel different or just waiting for a check-up every 3 months.
Meanwhile, my new title seems to be RETIRED. I can't wait for the flowers to start blooming!
As most of you know, growing up I was pretty much a pampered little girl who liked to sleep with her grandmother instead of my own comfortable bed. I always felt so protected when sleeping with her - being alone was scary. By the time I turned 11 though, I was sleeping in my own bed alone and seemed to manage alright. Besides, before I knew it I was a teenager who really didn't need my parents hovering over me all the time and especially not my grandmother!
So, then while still in those teen years I met the love of my life and we got married at the age of 18. I then acquired the title of Mrs. Ronnie Smith. I was a wife! ( Then I was back to sharing my bed with someone and feeling protected and not scared.)
Then, after about 3 years , I gained another monumental title , Mother. Amy was born! What a thrilling time. And a full time job! Then 3 1/2 years later , Starla was born and a different title - mother of 2. Then 3 1/2 later , Brandon was born and a couple of new titles - mother of 3 and mother of a boy! And life was good and past so fast!
I really hadn't planned in all this happy home life that I would get a full-time job, but it happened! After Brandon started to school, I started working for Kerri full time and got my next title - Interior Designer. And yes, I even had an official card from the state of Texas telling me that is what I was!
Of course, with children growing up and starting their own lives , different titles came for me. The next new title was when Starla got married - I then became mother-in-law. And no, I didn't become the nosy kind(I don't think). And so it continued with Amy and Brandon marrying also.
Of course, my prize title is Mimi. With my 4 precious grandchildren, Gracie,Lily,Riley and Dakota, that is the title that makes me smile and beam with pride! They are so precious.
The next title is the scariest one I've ever known. Cancer Survivor! I'm still not sure what God has planned for me to do with this title, but I know he will reveal it's purpose to me. I am sure that God loves me and has a plan for me. Pray for me to have my brain open to his message, my ears open to His whispers!
As of this past Monday, I have finished my radiation and now in the game of waiting for either something to feel different or just waiting for a check-up every 3 months.
Meanwhile, my new title seems to be RETIRED. I can't wait for the flowers to start blooming!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Happy Birthday to Me!
Yes, that's right. Tomorrow I will celebrate my 56th birthday! Wow, how time flies. I does seem ,though, that the older I get the more I forget. Does that sound familiar to anyone but me? I am learning though to enjoy life and appreciate every day that God is giving me. I just pray that I am showing His glory through the trials I have gone through. I know that God is holding me in the palm of His hand and getting me through each and every day. I just don't want to be missing the opportunities He is giving me.
My radiation is going very well. I still go every day - usually at 2:45. It only takes 5 to 8 minutes for the treatment unless it's the day that they take x-rays. That day takes probably 15 minutes! The drive there is 45 minutes there then 45 minutes back home. I've got the routine down now. I do see the dr. every Tuesday also. He said last week that everything seemed to be going as he planned. I think the only side effect I feel is tiredness. My skin has not started looking sun-burned yet. I am half-way through now, so that's usually when things start happening. I am able to drive myself in , thank goodness.
Ronnie and I just got back from a few days of staying in the travel trailer. Don and Shara are building a little house in Hico and Ronnie and Kenneth are using their talents there. Gwen and Kenneth take their trailer too, so we set us up a little home away from home! This time we got there on Wednesday and came home today(Sunday). Gwen rode with me into Ft.Worth on Thursday and Friday so I could get my treatments. It took us about 2 hours to get there then 2 hours back. It is a nice scenic drive, though and she is a good traveling buddy!
Oh, yes, before I forget - remember that I have told you before that Michelle is soooo smart? Well, she is and she has passed all 4 parts of the C.P.A. exam! She is extremely happy to have all that test studying and test taking behind her! She has literally been doing some kind of school-work and studying for the last 21 years! It has paid off now. She says that she is tired of studying and not planning on taking any test if she can help it.
The Relay for Life is getting all planned. Joyce's Journey has enough people to have 2 teams. Yeah! We have organized and have given responsibilities to different people so just one person won't be overwhelmed. We are not going overboard anyhow - we just want to make a little money for the American Cancer Society and mostly have a fun-filled time together!
Here's a couple of updates - Janice came through her surgery very well and is home recuperating. The biopsy came back begign! Yeah!
Calva is still getting her radiation to her head and spine. Unfortunately, hers is making her nauseated. Boo. She knows that she will make it through it and the nausea is only temporary. Keep praying for all of us.
Love you all!
My radiation is going very well. I still go every day - usually at 2:45. It only takes 5 to 8 minutes for the treatment unless it's the day that they take x-rays. That day takes probably 15 minutes! The drive there is 45 minutes there then 45 minutes back home. I've got the routine down now. I do see the dr. every Tuesday also. He said last week that everything seemed to be going as he planned. I think the only side effect I feel is tiredness. My skin has not started looking sun-burned yet. I am half-way through now, so that's usually when things start happening. I am able to drive myself in , thank goodness.
Ronnie and I just got back from a few days of staying in the travel trailer. Don and Shara are building a little house in Hico and Ronnie and Kenneth are using their talents there. Gwen and Kenneth take their trailer too, so we set us up a little home away from home! This time we got there on Wednesday and came home today(Sunday). Gwen rode with me into Ft.Worth on Thursday and Friday so I could get my treatments. It took us about 2 hours to get there then 2 hours back. It is a nice scenic drive, though and she is a good traveling buddy!
Oh, yes, before I forget - remember that I have told you before that Michelle is soooo smart? Well, she is and she has passed all 4 parts of the C.P.A. exam! She is extremely happy to have all that test studying and test taking behind her! She has literally been doing some kind of school-work and studying for the last 21 years! It has paid off now. She says that she is tired of studying and not planning on taking any test if she can help it.
The Relay for Life is getting all planned. Joyce's Journey has enough people to have 2 teams. Yeah! We have organized and have given responsibilities to different people so just one person won't be overwhelmed. We are not going overboard anyhow - we just want to make a little money for the American Cancer Society and mostly have a fun-filled time together!
Here's a couple of updates - Janice came through her surgery very well and is home recuperating. The biopsy came back begign! Yeah!
Calva is still getting her radiation to her head and spine. Unfortunately, hers is making her nauseated. Boo. She knows that she will make it through it and the nausea is only temporary. Keep praying for all of us.
Love you all!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Relay for Life
I have had 4 days of radiation and all is going well. They have marked my left chest with target looking markings in permanent ink. I go in every day except Sat. and Sun. I just go in and put on a lovely hospital gown and they take me to a big x-ray room. I lay on the table and be real still! This big x-ray machine zaps me from the top then it travels down below me and zaps me from my back then it comes around to my side and zaps me again. All this takes about 5 - 8 minutes and then I'm through. I don't feel any different yet - although I am so tired already. I guess the going into Ft. Worth every day is going to tire me out. I saw the dr. today and he showed me some pictures of the areas that the radiation is hitting. Pretty interesting.
I am definitely having a team at the Relay for Life here in Azle on April 24th. The name of my team is just like my blogspot - Joyce's Journey. So far I have about 28 team members! We are going to have such a fun night. We are working on fund raiser ideas right now. If you are interested in making a donation to the American Cancer Society under my team name - just go to www.relayforlife.org/azletx and go to Joyce's Journey. The theme of the whole relay in Azle this year is the silver screen so I picked Mamma Mia for the theme for my team. Now we just have to come up with decorations and stuff to go with that.
I still say that I could not have made it through all the mental and physical troubles I have gone through if it hadn't been for my wonderful support team. Ronnie has been the greatest caregiver anyone could ask for! My children have been with me every moment providing me with anything I ask for. My friends have called all the time to check on me and been the greatest chauffeurs! I don't know how people handle all this without support! Most of all, though, is the power of all the prayers that have been said on my behalf. I know that the prayers are what gave me the inner strength to keep thinking positive when I felt so bad. I remember around Thanksgiving time telling the girls that I wished I could just close my eyes and wake up and it was after Christmas already. Those were the worst days of my chemo treatments. But here I am - way past Christmas and I'm still here and positive that all will be well. God is good - He heard my pleas and the prayers of others and got me to this point, of this I'm sure!
My cousin Calva started her radiation treatments on Monday. Keep praying that she will sail through these also. My other cousin , Janice, will have surgery tomorrow(Thursday) and have the spot on her kidney biopsied and frozen. I pray that it is nothing more than a cyst. I'll keep you posted.
Love you all!
Joyce
I am definitely having a team at the Relay for Life here in Azle on April 24th. The name of my team is just like my blogspot - Joyce's Journey. So far I have about 28 team members! We are going to have such a fun night. We are working on fund raiser ideas right now. If you are interested in making a donation to the American Cancer Society under my team name - just go to www.relayforlife.org/azletx and go to Joyce's Journey. The theme of the whole relay in Azle this year is the silver screen so I picked Mamma Mia for the theme for my team. Now we just have to come up with decorations and stuff to go with that.
I still say that I could not have made it through all the mental and physical troubles I have gone through if it hadn't been for my wonderful support team. Ronnie has been the greatest caregiver anyone could ask for! My children have been with me every moment providing me with anything I ask for. My friends have called all the time to check on me and been the greatest chauffeurs! I don't know how people handle all this without support! Most of all, though, is the power of all the prayers that have been said on my behalf. I know that the prayers are what gave me the inner strength to keep thinking positive when I felt so bad. I remember around Thanksgiving time telling the girls that I wished I could just close my eyes and wake up and it was after Christmas already. Those were the worst days of my chemo treatments. But here I am - way past Christmas and I'm still here and positive that all will be well. God is good - He heard my pleas and the prayers of others and got me to this point, of this I'm sure!
My cousin Calva started her radiation treatments on Monday. Keep praying that she will sail through these also. My other cousin , Janice, will have surgery tomorrow(Thursday) and have the spot on her kidney biopsied and frozen. I pray that it is nothing more than a cyst. I'll keep you posted.
Love you all!
Joyce
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Wonderful news!
Yes, I got wonderful news yesterday. I had a pet scan done last Thursday and I went to see Dr. Sorgen(the radiation oncologist) yesterday and he told me the scan did not show any new cancers anywhere. Yeah! I am going to start my radiation treatments tomorrow ( Wednesday) . They will last for 6 weeks - 5 days a week. As of right now, I will be going at 4:30 every day. It just so happens that my cousin Calva is going to be starting her radiation tomorrow also! She has recovered from her brain surgery very well. She thanks everyone for all the prayers ( as do I)
My other cousin, Janice, will be having kidney surgery on Feb. 12th in Arlington. They are going to do laproscopic surgery and biopsy a small spot she has on her kidney then freeze the remaining spot. Pray that this is not malignant but only a cyst of some sort.
I am working on the planning of my booth for the Relay for Life here in Azle on April 24th and 25th. I am excited for all the participation so far and know it is going to be a fun night. I am trying to get in touch with the guy to make us t-shirts so everyone on the team will have matching shirts for the evening. We are also trying to come up with the best ideas for fundraisers. We had to choose a movie theme for our booth, so I chose Mamma Mia. Got to come up with decorating ideas now. My mind is whirring!
In case you didn't know - Starla lost a baby a couple of weeks ago. She was about 2 months along and the fetus just quit growing. The same thing happened last year at this time so the dr. is working on figuring out what is happening. She is doing fine. Also, the day after she found out that she lost the baby - Aaron got laid off from his job! Double whammy! He was fortunate though because he found another truck driving job a couple of days later. Keep them in your prayers.
My other cousin, Janice, will be having kidney surgery on Feb. 12th in Arlington. They are going to do laproscopic surgery and biopsy a small spot she has on her kidney then freeze the remaining spot. Pray that this is not malignant but only a cyst of some sort.
I am working on the planning of my booth for the Relay for Life here in Azle on April 24th and 25th. I am excited for all the participation so far and know it is going to be a fun night. I am trying to get in touch with the guy to make us t-shirts so everyone on the team will have matching shirts for the evening. We are also trying to come up with the best ideas for fundraisers. We had to choose a movie theme for our booth, so I chose Mamma Mia. Got to come up with decorating ideas now. My mind is whirring!
In case you didn't know - Starla lost a baby a couple of weeks ago. She was about 2 months along and the fetus just quit growing. The same thing happened last year at this time so the dr. is working on figuring out what is happening. She is doing fine. Also, the day after she found out that she lost the baby - Aaron got laid off from his job! Double whammy! He was fortunate though because he found another truck driving job a couple of days later. Keep them in your prayers.
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