The M Word

Well we received the news yesterday that Britt will need a Mastectomy on her left side. As Britt said in her previous post, there are several other areas of concern on that side that have turned up cancerous. Our next step is to meet with a surgeon and schedule the surgery, this will probably happen in the next two weeks. Three weeks after the surgery she can begin chemotherapy. Britt has come to terms with this as best she can, the fact is we have been living with this possibility since May so it is not sudden. Yes it has been since May that we have known, it seems weird that is has been so long. Britt has undergone three surgeries, and by my latest count 16 Dr's appointments since then, and finally we have the final diagnosis, and plan. But in a way this time has actually helped Britt and our family in many ways. It has given us both time to accept the inevitable and time to live. Britt was determined to do as much this summer with her family as she could before major surgery and chemotherapy sidelined her. So when Paige goes back to school on Monday, and she is asked what she did this summer, she can tell them she went to Yosemite, to Great America waterpark, she was splashed by a whale at Seaworld, walked on a tall ship in San Francisco, saw fireworks over Monterey Bay, and played in the surf in San Diego. When you get the news you have cancer the fear can be at times paralyzing, but Britt would not let it affect either her or the girls, and her strength has been amazing. I must also take this time to thank my mother for her help with the girls through all of this, it has made it so much easier. My thanks also to both of my brothers and their wives who despite being miles away have provided their own forms of support. I would also like to thank Britt's mom and sister for their help during the early part of the summer when this news came, and for the help they will be providing in the months ahead. And thank you to all ofyou reading this, for taking the time to keep up with us, and for the cards, and letters, and prayers that you have had for us, it has meant so much for both of us, and gives us strength for the coming days.

Brian