Monday, December 10, 2007
Not the kinda "Sun" I was hoping for.
So after only 4 radiaton treatments the entire right side of my chest, and right side of my back, look and feel like they've had a bit to much sun. When a shirt rubs it feels sensitive, like I have a mild sunburn. Sometimes some parts feel a bit itchy, but when I scratch it stings. I lotion generously twice a day, in hopes of delaying the sides effects, like a serious sunburn. It will come eventually no matter what I do, but I feel that the better I care for my skin the better it will feel. My situation of course is a little unique as the skin is thin and has much more scar tissue, which is more suseptable, due to the infection I had and the wound that took 6 weeks to heal closed, back in May. It also doesn't feel so good when the girls bump me or even give to tight of a hug. It's a good thing I don't need a bra, bacause that would be super uncomfortable for sure.So I'm a little nervous about how sore it will get; I'll just have to wait and see.
My Christmas greeting!
Janz Family Christmas Letter 2007
Well, this has been a year to remember and in some ways one I’d prefer to forget. Thankfully there were many shining moments that I’ll cherish forever that happened this year in the midst of our chaos. Through it all, God’s faithful hand has Guided, protected and blessed us, right into this Christmas season.
Our year began like any other, the New Year bringing new hope for our future as Chris and I respectively turned 30 and 35 years old. I thought hitting my mid 30’s was hard on me as I didn’t quite feel myself and was lacking the energy level I was use to. Little did we know, but I grew to suspect that I in fact was fighting a spreading and aggressive disease. After much ado, I was diagnosed with advanced Her2 positive Breast Cancer on March 16th. (We didn’t get the full diagnosis until after my Mastectomy on April 5th.)
I came home from the hospital on Easter Sunday afternoon and I shared a lovely Easter celebration with my family in the midst of many flowers and cards that had been sent by so many. The support never stopped pouring in through the year, through meals, gardening, childcare, housework, financial support, words of encouragement and most importantly prayer. We had three very successful fundraisers to help us with devastating loses and expenses; loss of income, childcare, housekeeping, prescriptions and other medical related costs. We first had “Tea Time for a Cure” on April 24th at abc restaurant, then “Friends for Feather” at Northview Church on June 24th and “The Janz Family Benefit concert”, featuring Kelsey, Colin and Chris Janz on Sept 21st. Through these events we were able to raised $20,000 for our family! Thank-you all for your support and willingness to be generous, you kept us a float during a very difficult time.Myfundraising for The Run for the Cure this year was very successful, $5,415 was my final total!
We had many prayers answered this year, some we didn’t even really know we had. Like the fact that we prayed we wouldn’t lose our house in the midst of my health crisis and now we find our selves owning and living in our dream house with a full recording studio for Chris to work from home in, that will save us so much in the long run. We are so grateful that we were contacted by caring friends who wanted us to have this house. They wanted to bless us and they have. We were also so happy to know that we could make over a $100,000 on the sale of our home that we’d only been in just over 2 years. We were even more excited when the house sold before we even listed it and saved us on real estate fees. Everything fell into place and we were assured that it was all meant to be!
We now call 34451 Thoreau Ave, Abbotsford BC, V2S 7H6, HOME! (As of Dec 1st, the snowiest day of the year, that’s a whole other story!!)The basement has a suite for Lizzy, my best friend who has been living with us since the beginning of Sept, and has been helping us with childcare and housekeeping and is just being a really great friend. Chris is excited to start working out of his own recording studio in the New Year. The girls, Carmelle (4 ½) and Cadence (2 ½) are growing, exploring and use to having more hair than Mommy. I’ve recovered from Mastectomy and lymph node dissection surgery, I’ve over come 6 months of chemo therapy treatments, I’ve just begun 6 weeks of 30 radiation treatments (each day traveling to Surrey cancer clinic) and I continue on with herceptin IV treatment, once every 21 days at the Vancouver Cancer Clinic, until August ’08. I’m over half way done my 18 month ordeal and I feel strong, healthy and healed. If you are interested in keeping up to date with our journey you can log on to my blog that I write regularly, through my website :www.featherjanz.comGod Bless you and your family this Christmas season, He has certainly blessed us!
Well, this has been a year to remember and in some ways one I’d prefer to forget. Thankfully there were many shining moments that I’ll cherish forever that happened this year in the midst of our chaos. Through it all, God’s faithful hand has Guided, protected and blessed us, right into this Christmas season.
Our year began like any other, the New Year bringing new hope for our future as Chris and I respectively turned 30 and 35 years old. I thought hitting my mid 30’s was hard on me as I didn’t quite feel myself and was lacking the energy level I was use to. Little did we know, but I grew to suspect that I in fact was fighting a spreading and aggressive disease. After much ado, I was diagnosed with advanced Her2 positive Breast Cancer on March 16th. (We didn’t get the full diagnosis until after my Mastectomy on April 5th.)
I came home from the hospital on Easter Sunday afternoon and I shared a lovely Easter celebration with my family in the midst of many flowers and cards that had been sent by so many. The support never stopped pouring in through the year, through meals, gardening, childcare, housework, financial support, words of encouragement and most importantly prayer. We had three very successful fundraisers to help us with devastating loses and expenses; loss of income, childcare, housekeeping, prescriptions and other medical related costs. We first had “Tea Time for a Cure” on April 24th at abc restaurant, then “Friends for Feather” at Northview Church on June 24th and “The Janz Family Benefit concert”, featuring Kelsey, Colin and Chris Janz on Sept 21st. Through these events we were able to raised $20,000 for our family! Thank-you all for your support and willingness to be generous, you kept us a float during a very difficult time.Myfundraising for The Run for the Cure this year was very successful, $5,415 was my final total!
We had many prayers answered this year, some we didn’t even really know we had. Like the fact that we prayed we wouldn’t lose our house in the midst of my health crisis and now we find our selves owning and living in our dream house with a full recording studio for Chris to work from home in, that will save us so much in the long run. We are so grateful that we were contacted by caring friends who wanted us to have this house. They wanted to bless us and they have. We were also so happy to know that we could make over a $100,000 on the sale of our home that we’d only been in just over 2 years. We were even more excited when the house sold before we even listed it and saved us on real estate fees. Everything fell into place and we were assured that it was all meant to be!
We now call 34451 Thoreau Ave, Abbotsford BC, V2S 7H6, HOME! (As of Dec 1st, the snowiest day of the year, that’s a whole other story!!)The basement has a suite for Lizzy, my best friend who has been living with us since the beginning of Sept, and has been helping us with childcare and housekeeping and is just being a really great friend. Chris is excited to start working out of his own recording studio in the New Year. The girls, Carmelle (4 ½) and Cadence (2 ½) are growing, exploring and use to having more hair than Mommy. I’ve recovered from Mastectomy and lymph node dissection surgery, I’ve over come 6 months of chemo therapy treatments, I’ve just begun 6 weeks of 30 radiation treatments (each day traveling to Surrey cancer clinic) and I continue on with herceptin IV treatment, once every 21 days at the Vancouver Cancer Clinic, until August ’08. I’m over half way done my 18 month ordeal and I feel strong, healthy and healed. If you are interested in keeping up to date with our journey you can log on to my blog that I write regularly, through my website :www.featherjanz.comGod Bless you and your family this Christmas season, He has certainly blessed us!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
What's your issue?
People don’t easily anger me, but someone did and they knew it, when they informed me that the root cause of all cancer is people having issues. I abruptly pointed out that all people have issues, so how come not everyone has cancer?!?! The arrogance of this comment angered me, as the person saying it doesn’t have cancer, therefore are they pointing out that then they must not have any issues?!? And I obviously do, since I’ve had cancer not once, but twice?!?! Now I’m not saying I don’t have issues, I know I do, but I don’t believe I’ve ever met someone who doesn’t have issues and if they think they don’t, then I believe that their issue is denial! I must add to this, what about all the children and infants that have cancer, are they also riddled with “issues”?!?!?
This person shared with me many of her views, beliefs and opinions that made me feel uncomfortable, before making this final comment. I thought it rather interesting when I realized that if I freely shared my views, beliefs and opinions with her, I would have run the risk of being labeled a Bible Thumper. I suppose if we openly share what we truly believe then we run the risk of being stopped. I won’t stop sharing what I believe, but I will walk away when they are sharing with me something I could do without. Hopefully they won’t be too offended and they will just respect where I’m at.
I’ve learnt to embrace my issues; that they are a big part of making me who I am today. I’ll continue to work on my issues and quite possibly develop new ones. I hope I have plenty of time to create all sorts of new issues to deal with!!
This person shared with me many of her views, beliefs and opinions that made me feel uncomfortable, before making this final comment. I thought it rather interesting when I realized that if I freely shared my views, beliefs and opinions with her, I would have run the risk of being labeled a Bible Thumper. I suppose if we openly share what we truly believe then we run the risk of being stopped. I won’t stop sharing what I believe, but I will walk away when they are sharing with me something I could do without. Hopefully they won’t be too offended and they will just respect where I’m at.
I’ve learnt to embrace my issues; that they are a big part of making me who I am today. I’ll continue to work on my issues and quite possibly develop new ones. I hope I have plenty of time to create all sorts of new issues to deal with!!
Friday, December 7, 2007
PMS, Bring it on!!
Well…how do I put this…my fertility returned today!! I was very excited, I never thought I’d ever say that!! It is a sign that my body is healthy and bouncing back. The Dr said it would be 5 months to 5 years, if it returned at all. This was more like 5 weeks, so I’m very happy knowing that my body is doing what it should at almost 36. I realized that I’ll take PMS over menopause anyday, and hopefully for at least another 15 years. The hot flashes and night sweats have been gone for a few weeks and I’m hoping the extra weight will just fall off me as well. I’m also sleeping better. I think my poor sleep, partially had to do with menopausal symptoms.
Not that I plan to use my fertility for anything… but I guess it’s just nice to know it’s there and that I still have a choice to use it or not to use it, even if I don’t.
Not that I plan to use my fertility for anything… but I guess it’s just nice to know it’s there and that I still have a choice to use it or not to use it, even if I don’t.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
1 down and 29 to go!
I got to shave my legs for the first time in months…not that I really missed it, but my hair has started to grow back fully in the last week. I’ve got full eyebrows and eyelashes, only the hairs are all 2-3 millimeters long. I’m sure I’ll have a crew cut hair-do by Christmas.
I went for my first radiation appointment today, it was much longer than I expected. It was just as difficult as the planning appointment, that was incredibly uncomfortable. My arm fell asleep and was very painful for about half an hour. When I thought I was just about to cry, the radiation therapist called out that I could move my arm. I told her those were the sweetest words I’d ever heard, it was a huge relief to move my arm. I have to stay perfectly still during treatment, can’t even move a millimetre or they have to start again. They assure me that the future treatments will go much faster, I sure hope so. As I was leaving the Surrey clinic, the first thing I saw as I left the doors was a rainbow. It was very uplifting, as I took it as a reminder of God’s faithfulness in my life.
I headed to Guildford to meet my friend Maria for dinner and Christmas shopping. We had a great time visiting and I got lots of gifts to check of my shopping Christmas list. It was a great way to make my day enjoyable and also miss the rush hour traffic on the way home. Mostly I’ll head to my appointments alone, some days bringing people with me. I don’t mind the time to think and be alone, though I guess I’ll see how a feel after doing this for weeks. One down, 29 to go!
I went for my first radiation appointment today, it was much longer than I expected. It was just as difficult as the planning appointment, that was incredibly uncomfortable. My arm fell asleep and was very painful for about half an hour. When I thought I was just about to cry, the radiation therapist called out that I could move my arm. I told her those were the sweetest words I’d ever heard, it was a huge relief to move my arm. I have to stay perfectly still during treatment, can’t even move a millimetre or they have to start again. They assure me that the future treatments will go much faster, I sure hope so. As I was leaving the Surrey clinic, the first thing I saw as I left the doors was a rainbow. It was very uplifting, as I took it as a reminder of God’s faithfulness in my life.
I headed to Guildford to meet my friend Maria for dinner and Christmas shopping. We had a great time visiting and I got lots of gifts to check of my shopping Christmas list. It was a great way to make my day enjoyable and also miss the rush hour traffic on the way home. Mostly I’ll head to my appointments alone, some days bringing people with me. I don’t mind the time to think and be alone, though I guess I’ll see how a feel after doing this for weeks. One down, 29 to go!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Home Sweet Home
Our “Home Sweet Home” isn’t so “sweet” yet, though it is starting to feel like home. We have beds to sleep in, the kitchen basically functioning and some boxes unpacked. There is so much more to do, it’s very overwhelming. The move it’s self, I’ll try to forget. Many things went wrong and could have gone more smoothly, but do any moves go as well as you’d like?!?! I guess not. Moving an entire family and household is incredibly stressful, we plan to never do it again! We are grateful for all the help we had from the Trinity student volunteers, our family members and Mark and Rachel Thiesen. My cousin Chandra and her husband Willie came down from Dawson Creek and helped us unpack for two days. Lizzy has been a huge help as usual and she’s all moved into our basement.
The snow on moving day made us especially cold and grumpy. Last time we moved it was in August and the hottest day of the year, I don’t which is worse…the bone chilling cold or the feverish heat?!?
It’s hard for me to see the end in sight; Us being settled and actually being able to decorate for Christmas. The thought of all of this and getting Christmas shopping and cards sent, gives me a rush of anxiety. I’ve decided that if none if it gets done, it’ll be okay; Especially since I start radiation therapy tomorrow, every day for 6 weeks. That will be a big part of my holiday season, though I don’t want it to be all I remember about this Christmas. I’d really like for things to be as normal as possible.
I think I’m even blog writing to avoid unpacking. As much as I want it to get done, I find it very overwhelming. Right now I’m just tired and all I want is a nap. The girls haven’t been feeling great and were up a lot in the night. Chris is working long days this week and doesn’t have much time or energy to do much more right now. Thankfully he has a few weeks off over Christmas and will have time to set up the studio; that will be like full-time work for him for a few weeks.
Please pray that I have the energy, time and focus to get everything done before the week of Christmas.
The snow on moving day made us especially cold and grumpy. Last time we moved it was in August and the hottest day of the year, I don’t which is worse…the bone chilling cold or the feverish heat?!?
It’s hard for me to see the end in sight; Us being settled and actually being able to decorate for Christmas. The thought of all of this and getting Christmas shopping and cards sent, gives me a rush of anxiety. I’ve decided that if none if it gets done, it’ll be okay; Especially since I start radiation therapy tomorrow, every day for 6 weeks. That will be a big part of my holiday season, though I don’t want it to be all I remember about this Christmas. I’d really like for things to be as normal as possible.
I think I’m even blog writing to avoid unpacking. As much as I want it to get done, I find it very overwhelming. Right now I’m just tired and all I want is a nap. The girls haven’t been feeling great and were up a lot in the night. Chris is working long days this week and doesn’t have much time or energy to do much more right now. Thankfully he has a few weeks off over Christmas and will have time to set up the studio; that will be like full-time work for him for a few weeks.
Please pray that I have the energy, time and focus to get everything done before the week of Christmas.
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