HELLO THERE
Yes, it is me Jackie…
You probably forgot all about this blog of mine. I don’t blame you; it has been ages since I
have posted anything. There has been so
many times I have wanted to write but I tend to get sidetracked very easily.
Our oldest daughter is 19! Ahh yes, how can we have a 19-year-old now? Our two youngest are 13 and 11. I have a hard time fathoming this!
Oh, we also have a new addition to our
family; meet Rosie Jackson!
After being told “NO!”
and then Jason joking around saying “If you come up with the money you
can get her” I sold bunch of items on Marketplace. The next week (without Jason knowing), I just
went and had Rosie delivered to our house.
No, Rosie is not spoiled!
Not at All! I don’t care what Jason
and Alex say or well anyone else, I DO NOT treat her like she is a baby 🤣😉. But lets just say if she is spoiled and treated like a
princess or baby, what is wrong with that?
Not only is Rosie the newest member of our family, but I am praying that we can work with her to become a certified therapy dog (or whatever you call it);I would love to be able to take her to some cancer awareness events, children's hospitals, schools, etc. It would be great to be able to help someone by bringing some joy to their day. So if you could pray about this, I would appreciate it! I would love any input as well!
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Can you believe it is end of September 2019? I can’t! Each year, September is recognized as Ovarian
Cancer Awareness Month. More than likely
you have been hit somehow by the big “C’; whether it was you personally, a spouse,
a family member, a friend. Like you, I
know many people around me that are/were impacted by cancer from my dad, other
family members, friends, and myself.
Cancer does not discriminate!
Before I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it never crossed
my mind that I would be told “you have cancer”.
Yes, I would see all the ads at the doctor’s offices as well as
commercials etc. warning women about breast cancer and screening but I had never
heard anything about Ovarian Cancer. Now
that my eyes have been opened about ovarian cancer, I am amazed the number of women I know or have come across daily or even heard about on the news (for
example) that have been affected by it. Unfortunately, there is still minimal information circulating on women's cancers. Like me, many women know about Breast Cancer but they know nothing about some of the other female cancers like ovarian, uterine, and cervical (unless someone they know has gone through it or they have themselves have). I would probably say if you went and polled people on the street, most would know what pink awareness ribbon stands for and not many would know what the teal is for.
Ovarian cancer is considered a silent killer; unless there
is suspicion, there are no yearly tests or screenings proven to detect it. Unfortunately,
many times when women find out they have ovarian cancer, it is at the later stages.
Thankfully God knocked me down (literally) forcing me to
stop being stubborn and forcing me to see a doctor.
I was one of the lucky ones; the cancer was discovered early. The process wasn’t easy on myself or my family
especially with the surgeries, the chemo treatments, and all the aftereffects
of the chemo. Even four years later, I still have testing to make sure I am still healthy, my family still has fear that it will return, I
am still saddened we can not have another baby (but
have come to grips with it).
Can you believe it has been four years since my initial
diagnosis?
I am heading towards my
fourth year of REMISSION!!! YEY!!! Thursday, I had another follow up with my
gynecological oncologist; all is great, I am still cancer free! I didn’t have any worries when I went to the appointment, but it always feels good leaving knowing that you are
still clear. God is good!
Four years later and this month reminds me of all I must be
thankful for. It reminds me to always trust God, God
teaching me that He is in control, life
is short & to make the best of it, that Jason and I still need to take time to “date”
each other (like we did with my weekly chemo trips less the chemo) , continue
spending time with family and friends, and ask for help when needed.
I do not care who you are, please be proactive! If you have been dealing with something for a couple weeks or more (it may not have to deal with cancer, it may
be some other medical issue you are having) listen to your body. Consult a doctor and continue to search for
the answers to what is going on. Do not give
up!
Ovarian cancer---symptoms from the NOCC website
Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect, especially in the early stages. This is partly due to the fact that the ovaries - two small, almond-shaped organs on either side of the uterus - are deep within the abdominal cavity. The following are often identified by women as some of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer:
- Bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
- Feeling the need to urinate urgently or often
Other symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:
- Fatigue
- Upset stomach or heartburn
- Back pain
- Pain during sex
- Constipation or menstrual changes
