Biking my way through radiation

Hi, friends. I had my last session of radiation Oct 4! It feels good to finish the 25 sessions, and overall I'm feeling ok! The main side effects have been fatigue and diarrhea, but they have been relatively manageable. The coolest thing is I've been able to bike to radiation each day. It takes 15-20 mins each way and is along the Olentangy River trail, so it’s been such a nice commute and helped my mental and physical health. I hadn’t been on a bike since my diagnosis last November and am so grateful that I can ride now! 

I also started back at work part time at the Sierra Club. That has been good, but it’s hard that right as I’m catching up on things and making plans I have to be out again for surgery, scheduled for Nov 8.

One of the pelvic tumors was growing the first 2 weeks of radiation, but now it has stopped and my doc expects it to stay that way until surgery. I’ll also likely start a new chemo as close as 2 weeks after surgery. Not sure about what type yet but should know after my next appt Oct 26.

Fiona started kindergarten, and it’s going great. She is at a Spanish immersion school, which is part of Columbus public schools. She is making friends, counting to 100 in Spanish (with some help from her dad), and copying all the words she sees around the house. She says her favorite part is riding the bus home! She even won the Buen Gaucho citizenship award in Sept for being responsible. :) We got to attend the assembly and also showed off our LL Bean modeling skills. 😆

Nora is doing great at daycare. There are a few babies in her classroom now, and she loves helping to feed them and take care of them. She also likes to pretend to be a baby when she's at home. Holding onto her youth!

We've been enjoying the cooler weather the past few weeks. Tessa and Brooklyn visited, and we got to pick pumpkins and go to the zoo! We all had a fabulous time, and the cousins loved partying together. 

Ali and Julie came to visit the weekend before, and we went apple picking, tried out coffee shops, ate the best South Indian food from Dosa Corner, and rode bikes to radiation.

In September, we participated in Steps for Sarcoma, one of the largest single fundraisers for sarcoma research in the country. Liam's parents, Janice and Mike, joined us along with our Cbus friends the Ferrell Schotters. I got to meet other survivors I know from an online group. And we had waffles, hot chocolate, and face painting! The girls insisted on princess dresses for the 1 mile walk, of course. 

We also took a trip to Cincinnati before school started. Met Fiona the hippo (born the same year as our Fiona), explored the city, and got to see some friends! 

Our friends from Tacoma, Adela and Chris, visited right before my radiation started! We had some wonderful adventures, including Friday night wrestle fest.

We've also enjoyed time with Cbus friends :)

Those August scan results were difficult to take, but we've still been able to enjoy the past two months, especially due to all the love and support from our friends and family. I tend to focus on the positive in these posts, but I will admit how hard things feel sometimes. My own grief and anger and fear come in waves. The other day I was shopping with Fiona for her school clothes, and we were waiting in line behind an adult woman who was thanking her older mother for getting her pajamas. I thought about the possibility that I might not get to spend time with Fiona and Nora when they are adults, and I felt engulfed by a wave of sadness. I try to let myself feel these emotions and not hold back. Other times, the grief/anger/fear is just lapping at my ankles. Always there, but not enveloping. I heard this metaphor for grief on the radio, and it really resonated.

We are coming up on the 1 year anniversary of the diagnosis on Nov 5th, so I'll post again around then.

Sending so much gratitude and love to all of you. 

xoxox

Molly