Chronicle of Monica's fight against Cancer

Hello everybody!  Today I start Radiation.  I have to go from Monday to Friday for 6 weeks.  I am still sick with the upper respiratory infection and bronchitis.  Please pray that I will heal very soon from this.  I haven’t been able to exercise for a week and a half and that is an important part of my recovery because it helps me among other things to have healthy lymph nodes and prevent complications with the treatment.  I have missed some of my physical therapy because of this as well.  It is also getting nicer outside and the kids are wanting for me to take them outside and play and right now I am very fatigued.  I am lucky if I can get the laundry done :-)  

Please pray that the side effects will be minimum or none.  Fatigue and burned skin are the most common side effects.  As soon as the treatment is done I will escape and go to Puerto Rico to celebrate with my love ones.  I think I will be celebrating for a long time :-)

I thank God for allowing me to be here and see Viviana graduate from Kindergarden, for allowing me to celebrate Noah’s 3rd Birthday, for celebrating Mother’s day and for many many more milestones to come.

I am doing pretty good.  I am receiving physical therapy for my left arm and I still have a long way to go but there has been improvement.  I have continued to go to the gym which is helping me to get to my normal self.  I am counting the days until I can lift weights, run and do Zumba classes.  Menopause has been creeping in little by little.  I have been able to handle the hot flashes without meds so far.  I will probably start radiation in 2 weeks and it will be for 6 weeks straight from Monday to Friday.  I have been able to start cooking, which Conrad is loving :-) as well as doing house chores.  This week I was able to carry Noah for the first time in a while and he was very happy ( me too).  Vivi is really liking that I am starting to be able to play tickle monster with her and be more active.   It  looks like I might be able to go back to work by September.  I really miss flying.  This Thursday my little monkey is turning 3.  I am blessed to be alive and be here to celebrate it.  Please keep those prayers coming, I still need them.   Thanks!!

I saw my oncologist today and got an amazing report.  My blood test was really good.  My white counts are up as well as my platelets.  I am still a little anemic.  The pet scan was great.  No cancer anywhere in my body.  The most exciting news was that the Dr was totally confused with my results.  She said she can’t explain how I went from more than 84% of my breast with cancer to only 5 mm.  She said that that would mean that my cancer was not invasive at all before I started the chemo.  The thing is; the tests from the beginning do show that the cancer was invasive.  She is so stomped, that she is going to sit down and review all of my test results from the beginning and compare them again to the pathology report.  

Ladies and gentlemen this is called a Miracle.  That is the logical explanation.  Glory to God for healing me in such a way and for the peace that I have that is not coming from me but from Him.  I serve the: I Am, God Almighty, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Savior who loves me unconditionally. To Him nothing is impossible.  This is a testimony of who He is.  I Thank all of you who have prayed for me and my family.  I will never get tired of thanking you.  Thank you for your love.  Please continue to pray for us.  

At this moment I am in a great deal of pain.  I have some scar tissue on my chest, and left arm that is really painful and the Drs told me that in the mist of the pain I have to do stretching exercises and work through it so I can regain my range of motion in my arms.  I am starting physical therapy next week.  The pain that I have right now, is worse than the pain I had right after the surgery.  This too shall pass :-)  

I saw the surgeon today and got my drains out as well as as my staples.  My tissue is healing really good.  I got the pathology report from the surgery and the tumor shrunk significantly with the chemo from 9cm to 5mm.  Out of 16 lymph nodes that they removed only 1 had cancer.  That is really good.  So Praise God for such a good report.  I will continue to recuperate from my surgery in the next few weeks and then I will be starting radiation soon.  I will also start physical therapy in 2 weeks to recuperate my range of motion in my shoulders, arms, chest and back.  Thank you for the prayers and please keep them coming.  I have a pet scan on Monday to check for cancer in my entire body and to see how my main organs are doing after chemo.  I hope and pray I get a good report from that as well.  Thank you to all of our friends that have helped out with meals, babysitting, praying and support.  We are truly blessed to have you.  

I am home and doing really good. I am able to walk around on my own. As the anesthesia wares off I will feel more pain but so far I am doing well. My family is taking good care of me :-)
Vivi wanted to see my chest, she said she was ready so I showed her. She reacted pretty good. I don’t have dressings on so the staples are exposed. She said it was yucky. Afterwards she was concerned and cried some. Then Conrad and I reassured her that mama is going to be fine. Noah is on a mission to see mama’s ouchy but I won’t let him. He wants to be next to me all the time.
I know there are hundreds of people praying for us and I thank you. I feel the prayers and God has answered them. The peace I have is a miracle. Also, the nurses and doctors were astonished at how well I was doing after the surgery as well as my attitude about my situation. It is a great testimony. The nurse that prepped me for the surgery was a hilarious Colombian lady who is a Christian and was comforting me the whole time and making me laugh. She knew I was a believer without me telling her. That brought me joy.
I was afraid of the surgeon having to cut through muscle during my mastectomy and he didn’t have to :-)
I had 3 breast cancer survivors that came to my room, randomly when they found out I was there and they comforted me and told me their stories. One was a nurse, the other one a nurse coordinator and the other one a volunteer who also brought me presents that are very useful for my recovery.
The attention I received at Northside Hospital was fantastic and so genuine.
As you can see, God is amazing. Nothing is impossible for Him.
Please continue to pray for us. Thank you!

I am back in Atlanta and getting ready for my surgery on Wednesday.  I got blood work done today and my white cells are very low.  That means my immune system is compromised.  That is a concern because I could catch something at the hospital while there or anywhere else.   Please pray that my white cells will go up and that I won’t catch any illness.  

I also saw my plastic surgeon today for the first time.  For me to be able to have a breast reconstruction my tissue has to heal well after the surgery and the radiation.  It is more difficult to heal well after radiation so please pray that my tissue will heal well so that I can be eligible for breast reconstruction.

Please pray for my surgery to go well and with no complications and for a good recovery.  Thank you!

As you know we are grieving the loss of abuela Carmin.  She went to be with the Lord last Saturday.  For those of you who know me well, you know the kind of relationship I had with her.  It feels like a piece of my heart has been removed.  I know I will get it back when I join her one day. At the same time, I know heaven has gained a very special godly woman and angels are rejoicing and celebrating her arrival.  There are many words I could use to describe my abuela but the most prominent ones I can use would be godly, humble, kind and loving.  Everybody that had the privilege to know her can attest to that.  She will truly be missed.  

I just got permission from the Dr to go to Puerto Rico to attend her funeral.  I leave tomorrow and come back Friday.  I have an ear and throat infection right now.  I am on antibiotics.  Please pray that my eardrums won’t burst during the flight.  Right now I am doing OK emotionally.  I am not sure what will happen when I get to PR.  I haven’t seen my family in a while and between that, the whole cancer journey and the sadness of missing my abuela, I am sure it will not be easy.  God has been so merciful to me by giving me so much peace and comfort.  I trust He will continue to carry me through this difficult times.  

My surgery is next week April the 3rd.  My mom is still planing on coming next week to help take care of me.  Please pray for her.  We will probably need help with the kids.  If you would like to help please send Conrad a message.  We are also in need of help with the kids for this week because I will be gone from Tuesday to Friday and Conrad has to work.  So if you are able to help from Wednesday to Friday please send him a message or call him.  We appreciate your help and prayers.

Hello!  I am still recuperating from my last chemo.  It hit me harder than the other ones.  My body is very fragile.  I am getting a little impatient to be able to heal, detox and gain strength.  This last weekend even though I was hurting, God gave me the strength to go to church and listen to Conrad share his testimony.  It was amazing.  I am so blessed to have him as a husband and to know and experience God’s work in his life.  

Noah started his Spring allergies and Vivi is doing good.  We are excited because next Friday my brother, sister in law and nephew are coming from Puerto Rico for a few days :-)  My parents might come too.  

Thank you again for your prayers and please keep them coming.

Please pray this with me as well. Dear Lord, I pray that today will be my last chemo ever and that the cancer will never ever come back. Please help me have a successful surgery, radiation and reconstruction. Please help me to deal with menopause and to have mild symptoms. Lord please heal my body and help me stay healthy for life. Lord thank you for the many blessings this cancer has brought me. I pray that I will see my children grow and that they will choose to accept you, love you and follow you all the days of their lives. I pray that I will grow old with Conrad and that I get to tell him how much I love him every chance I have. Thank you for carrying me through this difficult time. Thank you for the love and support of our family and friends as well as the support from total strangers that even without knowing us have prayed, donated and loved us. I am overwhelmed by your love and mercy. In Jesus name AMEN.

Last chemo!!!!!