We never truly understand the impact cancer has on someone until it happens to you or someone you love. Last year, in September, my sister was diagnosed with cancer. She got the news that she had Lymphoma. At that point she had to endure biopsies to determine the type of lymphoma and the stage of cancer. It was in October that she learned it was stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. By the way, September is Lymphoma awareness month. The first part of November, she began a chemo cocktail known as ABVD. She continued these rounds of chemo until April of this year. During this process she had her ups and downs. She lost her hair; was sick to her stomach; dizzy; lightheaded; weak, but she always remained positive. I’m not certain I could be as strong as she has been since her diagnosis. Growing up, Lisa was always my hero and she remains my hero today, well into adulthood.
Lisa’s fight was not over. This August, she went in for her PET Scan where he all prayed that she was in remission. This was not the case for Lisa. Although the chemo did kill those cancer cells in the lymph nodes that were originally affected, she had new hotspots in her lungs, a long with areas in her clavicle area. She still remains hopeful and positive that this will be cured. Actually, our whole family is with her on this. We know she will beat this and kick Cancer’s butt. Again, she had to endure painful biopsies, one consisted of four incisions and the separation of her ribs to get to one of the nodules inside of her left lung. This was the most painful of biopsies, as they say that it is worse than having open heart surgery. The reason for this is all of the nerves and the separation of her ribs. I hated knowing how much pain my sister was in and there was nothing I could do to help her. In true form, Lisa remained positive, loving, and optimistic. Shortly after this surgery, she had the biopsy of her bone marrow, where she found out that the cancer has not spread to this area. We were so excited about this, because this means that she can have her bone marrow transplant and be her own donor. Her fight is not over, as she begins her new chemo cocktail, ICE, on the 10th of this month. We will continue this journey with her and hope that you will follow with your good thoughts and prayers
Lifewithfamily 