About Kelly

I have Stage IV Breast Cancer. I am living with it everyday. Some days I do well. Some days not so much. This is my journey. Thank you all for taking this journey with me. I thank God every day that I have. I am so lucky to have friends and family who care. Life is a journey, not a destination. I will continue on this journey as long as I am able. . . :) Kelly It happened on April 27, 2006. I was showering and getting ready for work. As I was washing my D cups, I felt a lump . . . what? I didn't notice that before, and (Oh crap) it felt BIG. (I would later learn that big was 6.5 cm). I got on the American Cancer society website, and checked out my risk factors. Stress . . yes, poor diet . . . in denial, but yes. But I had delivered and breast fed four babies. I didn't have any other risk factors . . . but looking at that screen, I knew I had just hit the lottery in reverse. Oh my, I had Cancer. Shock, disbelief. . . all the wave of emotions. I have 4 kids. What about them? Will I be able to take care of them? Will I make it through surgery? What else will I have to do? I hadn't even had a baseline mammogram. I wasn't even 40. (I had just turned 38 in January, and Parker was only one). If I had waited two more years, I am certain I would not be typing today. If I have one piece of advice, it's this: If you think something is wrong with you, DON'T WAIT, Don't let your doctors put you off. Take action, you are your own best advocate and ally. Doctors are more careful if they know you are reading reports and keeping up with the latest treatment. By the time I found my lump, my cancer had already spread (metastisized) to 4 lymph nodes and my liver.( I would find this out later.) I blogged about this journey on myspace. I left it there along with my slideshow of losing my hair. For two and a half years my journey was documented there. Now, for a number of reasons, the journey continues here . . . Thank you all for taking this journey with me. I thank God every day that I have. I am so lucky to have friends and family who care. Life is a journey, not a destination. I will continue on this journey as long as I am able. . . :) Kelly

It is with a sad heart that I am informing you that Kelly lost her courageous battle with breast cancer Sunday, February 14th, 2010.  I am thankful to everyone that followed Kelly's story on this site, it made her happy to share her story and struggles with you, and receive your thoughtful and kind words of encouragement. Kelly left nothing to the imagination, from treatment to the unpleasant and unwanted side of effects. I believe her willingness to share these personal struggles is what drew people to her site,and Kelly as a person. Pray for Spenser, Carter, Conner and Parker. Team Kelly