And We’re DONE!!!

And that’s a WRAP!  Yep…….today I walked out of Duke Cancer Center Radiation Oncology Department with a flood of emotions as I completed my 31st and final treatment.  What an incredible feeling.  I’m not really sure I’m going to know what to do with myself now that I have an entire week of no doctor’s appointments/treatments, etc.   I stopped to take a pic of the EXIT just before I walked out of there this morning.  What a welcome sight!

Walking into my treatment this morning – I was so happy and eager to get this, the FINAL one in the books.  The girls got me adjusted on the table and as they walked out the door to go get ready for my treatment – it really hit me that this was IT…….this long awaited final treatment was finally going to happen……and then the tears just came……and came.  I think I became overwhelmed at just everything that had transpired over the past nine months……the good and the bad……..and the tears proved to be very cathartic and probably long overdue.

Yeah – I know this is gonna sound crazy……..but I’m really going to miss seeing my 3 radiation therapists.  I’m pretty biased, but I think I had the absolute BEST therapists on the planet.  Christie, Erin and Lauren were amazing and took such great care of me.  God definitely gave each of them a heart for serving and caring for others and I’m thankful that I got to know them……but I hope the next time I see them it’s at the mall or somewhere FUN!  Margaritas maybe??!!  I couldn’t have done it without them cheering me on!  And the smiles you see in the pic below……these girls wore those smiles non-stop.

And this guy…….he has been the absolute BEST.  From the first day of radiation when I wasn’t sure where to park or what to do……he explained the drill to me and what I needed to do……and EVERY MORNING SINCE he has yelled “Good Morning” to me from across the way.  I don’t care if I parked in the deck, did valet or got dropped off – this fella saw me each and every day and always had a big smile and well wishes for the day.  Now THAT’S going above and beyond!  He even put his chap stick on so he was picture ready!

So guess what??  This chick ain’t setting an alarm for tomorrow!!  I have NO WHERE that I have to be.  What a blessing!  Granted……the fatigue is still hanging around like a bad cold……and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon so I’m told.  But that’s okay.  I’ll just plan to “watch Netflix and chill” for awhile.

I follow up with my medical oncologist next week……to discuss immunotherapy and next steps.  My Duke My Chart is already full of return appointments…..with the surgeon, for my mammogram, follow-ups with medical and radiation oncologists, labs, etc.  So I’m far from being DONE – but the 3 biggest hurdles are behind me – surgery, chemo and radiation!  That’s definitely cause for a celebration.  Kyra and Byron – I see some mango margaritas in our future! (but we’ll need some larger than this one!!) 🙂

And let me just say again how thankful I am that I live so close to such a world renowned facility like Duke Cancer Center.  I’m fortunate to only have to travel 32 miles to get there…..I’ve met so many folks from near and far who travel many miles and hours to get top notch care from some of the best physicians and people on the planet.  I’m definitely thankful to be just a short drive away.  I honestly cannot say enough just how awesome everyone I’ve encountered has been.  They are definitely top notch over there!

Now I’m off to enjoy an entire week of NO APPOINTMENTS!  Halleluiah!

Thank you Lord for seeing me through these past nine months.  For never once forsaking me……..for being available day or night when I cried out to you……for showing me your Mercy and Grace time and time again…….for holding me up when I was too weak to stand on my own…….and sending me angels in so many forms……..I cannot take credit for making it to this point.  For that – I give you all the glory, honor and praise……and I humbly thank you for all the blessings you have shown me (both big and small) along the way.  Amen.

Blessings,

Sonja

So I really liked both of these versions of Acts 20:24…….and I couldn’t share just one!

Acts 20:24 New Living Translation (NLT)

24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

Acts 20:24 The Message (MSG)

22-24 “But there is another urgency before me now. I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem. I’m completely in the dark about what will happen when I get there. I do know that it won’t be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead. But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.

Author: temporarylumps

A Christian wife, mom, daughter and friend View all posts by temporarylumps