The pain continues so I try massage therapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture...hoping they can let me know if it's something different, if they can find anything else or at least help give me some direction to help with the pain. They basically tell me they aren't sure or it's probably the "muscle" thing. I keep with the anti-inflammatories, Tylenol, Advil, heating pad and none of it is helping. I'm thinking, well I have started being a little more physical with playing ball so it probably is my muscles being inflamed. One day the pain is excruciating so I decide to head to the ER. I tell them what's happening, they do some testing and come up with the same thing...INFLAMMATION!! Send me home and keep on with same routine. 

Then one day as I was having a shower, I'm lathering up and washing all over and to my surprise and disbelief I feel a lump on the bottom of my right breast, the same side I also felt the lumps in my lymph nodes. (I did get ultrasound on the nodes at one point earlier but they came out as nothing). Anyway, I make my way back to the Dr letting her know I have the same pain in the chest and armpit area but I let her know my new discovery of the lump in my breast. She gets me a mammogram a little earlier, Jan 2024. 

Christmas time and I'm on holidays, looking forward to family and food and fun. The pain has gotten more consistent and more painful. I keep on with meds, heating pad, etc, but I even have hard time sleeping, laying on my side or back, having to try and sleep propped up with pillows, doing whatever I can to be comfortable and sleep. 

December 26th - by this time I'm having a hard time to walk by myself, I go to a massage therapist and she's not sure of what is going on. I go to bed, wake up the next morning and as I'm trying to walk to the bathroom, I fall down and have to crawl. I feel the need to have to use the washroom but as I sit there, nothing wants to come out. The day goes on and I still need to use the washroom but still nothing and my bladder continues to fill up and starts to hurt. I call my mom and tell her something's wrong...I can't walk, I can't use the washroom. So we go to the Emergency and get some tests done, they do an MRI and come back and tell me I have a tumor on my spine. Go into surgery the next morning to get it removed immediately, with the Dr's coming back to let me know it's cancer - METASTATIC. It had started at my breast and moved to the spine, also had a spot on my liver, a part in my brain and my lymph nodes. Wow! If only they had given me the proper tests earlier!

Spent a few weeks in the hospital and had meeting with oncologist to make a plan for my journey. We started with 4 rounds of radiation to the spine to get what was left after the tumor removal, but was told it may not get all removed. Whilst starting with chemo as well, doing 6 rounds of that. Which leads me to where I am today. Radiation done, chemo done and now I'm on some hormonal infusions and bone treatments. Still having to do CT scans, echocardiograms, bloodwork to check on how things are going and see what the next steps will be. 

These days me and my body are doing what I can to keep going. Some days are tough as far as my back being sore, my bones and my muscles not feeling the best, but I'm slowly getting stronger walking around my house without my walker holding on to walls or whatever I can, getting in and out of the shower on my own and making myself breakfast. These are some things that people take for granted and I know since this has happened to me, I sure did. I still have to use a wheelchair when I go out which has been a hard pill to swallow as I never thought it would be me in his situation. Those times feeling heartbroken when I'm out and see everyone walking by me, trying to hold in my tears but some days I can't control it and they just come out. 

It has definitely been a journey this new life I have to live. Going through those phases and thoughts of WHY ME? WHAT did I do to deserve this? Feeling burdened to those who have had to step up and do extra to take care of me. Mourning the loss of my past life where I could just get up and go and do whatever I wanted, missing my son that lived with me but doesn't anymore because I can't take care of him like I used to. But I try to stay positive and keep good thoughts, and I'm determined to be able to walk again one day without a walker or wheelchair. I know I'm getting there as I was able to do it not too long ago. 

So with this cause being so personal to me, I felt a need and desire to do what I can and with your help, I will reach my fundraising goal and make a life-changing difference for many people as well as myself. I know I still have a lot to fight for and look forward to, and will do all I can to keep being here as long as I can.