Thank You

Exactly one month ago I sat next to my new oncologist and watched as he wrote the words

INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER

at the top of a white piece of paper. Over the next hour and a half with lots of pauses and questions I also watched him list the words:

Chemotherapy

Surgery

Radiation

Hormone therapy

Words I knew, but now will become a huge part of my life. Those words will save my life.

I wanted to start this blog for weeks now, a way for me to document important milestones on my journey, keep all my family, friends, and all who care about me updated, and also a way to talk about my diagnosis and hope to give an awareness to what I've learned so far about breast cancer. Oh, I've learned so much and I've got lots to share!

This has been overwhelming from the beginning, but now that I'm "in this" and we're getting into a normal life routine again (wait...what's normal?), I feel like I'm ready to write about this cancer journey of mine, or at least the parts I feel important to share with others.

But for this first post I mostly want to say THANK YOU. Every single text, message, visit, thoughtful package, phone call, letter, dinner or thought sent my family's way has been cried over by me. Not a day goes by (literally) that I'm not reminded by all who love me how much you love me and care for me and pray for me and my family. You all carried me during those first weeks-gave me strength and lifted me up when the fear was at an all time high. 

I look back at those first few weeks and can see how I have been strengthened by those around me: mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It's like I've got my army assembled to fight this battle.

I decided to name this blog Lyon Strong because I always tell my boys you can be strong and brave like a lion! Now we're putting my words to the test.

During that first visit with Dr. C, he looked into my eyes and said that my cancer can be curable, and I'm holding onto those words. I'm counting down the days until I can say I'm cancer free.

Thank you for caring about me and my family. Thank you for your prayers. I keep telling everyone to keep praying because I feel those prayers, I want and need them! So thank you and I love you all!