Fourth Treatment

...means I'm 1/4... No! 1/3 of the way through treatments!

I was feeling much more anxious and emotional before (and after) this one. I left work Friday at noon and just burst out into tears for no reason at all, other than I was happy because I have wonderful coworkers and a supportive supervisor and sad probably because I had to go back for treatment, after being away for nearly a week and a half.

The doctor was surprised once again that I have my hair. I gained 3 pounds! They gave me Ativan through my IV which made me lightheaded and sleepy, so I slept for about an hour of treatment. I was so sluggish and still feeling emotional, so I decided not to head out to my friends' quartet gig at a local Starbucks. I did get a recording and they sounded great! Hopefully their next gig isn't right after a treatment. I feel pretty lousy the first few days afterwards. I don't get sick, but usually have this weird feeling usually in my mouth and throat. (The doctor said dry throat is normal with this chemotherapy. I am tracking this on a calendar, and I'm interested to see if the dry/tight throat pattern continues on Day 3-4 of this round). I also missed out on a rehearsal at the Stevenson's church for their annual Christmas Cantata tomorrow morning, but I will be going to their annual Ceilidh gathering this evening with my family! They are like family to me and I love this party every Christmas!

I still have some leftover school work to do for my first half semester and thesis, but I will have plenty of time after the holidays.

Is anyone traveling for the holidays this year?

Making excuses

I've always felt bad about making "excuses" for not being able to do something or go somewhere or why I'm feeling the way I do.

My co-workers say 'I can't believe you're working!' and I can't think of not working during this time, especially if I'm not feeling half bad. Even when I'm having a tired, I-don't-feel-like-doing-anything day, I think of it as just being lazy. Even when I'm feeling a little achy at the end of the day, it's nothing I can't handle. I almost asked to leave work early on Friday, but I told myself: 'take some Advil and move on!' The chemotherapy has nothing to do with it.

My mom says I shouldn't lift heavy objects like my books or laptop and she insists on helping me because of the port in my chest. And even though it's a valid reason (yes, I could hurt myself by damaging the port somehow), I still feel the need to lift my bags. The port is just an excuse to have other people carry my bags and feel bad for me, right? The port has nothing to do with it.

While I was getting tested and before my diagnosis, I kept thinking that it couldn't, wouldn't be cancer. The swollen lymph node was the primary symptom and although fatigue was another symptom, I've always been tired and enjoyed napping during the day. I thought I was overreacting. I've always been a lazy bum! Cancer had nothing to do with it.

I still think this way two months after I've been diagnosed and I'm trying to get over it. Cancer as just an "excuse." I think: 'I'm strong and I can do everything I need to, just like before my diagnosis. And if I can't, then I need to try harder!'

So, I couldn't sleep last night and thought I should take an Ativan, which I was given for nausea and anxiety, but I didn't believe I was truly anxious. Sometimes I'm awake in bed at the end of the day, thinking about things, which is normal, right? We all do it. Last night I was making another excuse for myself: 'I'm not anxious, I don't need that pill. I need to save it for the days when I'm really anxious, this is nothing.' But I was still wide awake thinking and when 2am approached, I decided I would take the pill and stop not giving myself what I need. I had a craving to watch a Tyler Perry Madea movie because I'd never seen one (it was as goofy as I thought it would be), so I took the pill, put the movie on, and within thirty minutes, I was out. I woke up late and felt rested. So, I think the drug helped. I need to accept that it's okay to have a little help, even if it comes in the form of a tiny pill.

Sometimes I do want to make an excuse and say "I can't do this, I have cancer, feel bad for me!" but doesn't everybody have something that is hurting them in some way? I tell my friends, co-workers, and students in the program where I work that I have been feeling great, because 1) I have! and 2) I don't want to give people an excuse to feel sad for me, because these people might be hurting, too. Physically, emotionally, mentally. We all hurt. So who am I to hurt more than anyone else?

I still want to be invited to events and dinners, even if I feel like declining because of my "laziness" or my need to be a complete introvert sometimes (okay, more than sometimes...I very often want to stay at home in my pajamas all day...). I never wanted it to be because of the cancer. But sometimes, maybe it is because cancer has everything to do with it. And that's okay.
 

Thanksgiving and Third Treatment

Time is flying. I can't believe Thanksgiving week is over and it's now December 7th. I couldn't be more thankful for my family who traveled from Pittsburgh, Massachusetts, and Florida to have Thanksgiving in New Jersey and for the Kucsans for continuing the tradition of stopping by for dessert at our home! (I will post pictures as soon as I transfer them to my computer.)

Kids table! :)

Monday after Thanksgiving I presented my thesis project in front of the faculty and classmates. It was only a five minute presentation with Powerpoint, but who doesn't get a little bit nervous presenting? I did well and am very proud of myself for not delaying this presentation until the following year. Here is the title page for my PPT:

I'm so excited to start researching more and writing over winter break. After I presented, I had a quick lunch at home, then headed to the hospital for my third treatment. The Lesters arrived shortly after we did for Mr. Lester's treatment, and I was really happy to be able to share that time with them and share our experiences.

I think ABVD (chemotherapy drugs adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazin) may be cumulative, but I'm not sure. I plan to ask my doctor next time. Having treatment on Monday instead of at the end of the week messed up my schedule, because I was feeling tired and "blah" on Tuesday and Wednesday- days I usually work and have class. I did go to class Wednesday night, but chewed on saltines and mint gum the entire time to feel better. I haven't felt nauseous/nauseated (which one is it, Alyssa? :), to the point of getting sick, but the first few days after chemotherapy, I have a funny feeling in my mouth, so chewing gum and crackers really helps! I've also felt a "tightness" of my throat sometime during days 3-4 after the past two treatments. I'm also going to ask my doctor about this. Drinking water and sucking on ice pops has helped alleviate this dry throat feeling. Today, Saturday (5 days after), I feel pretty normal.

So, I'm anxiously awaiting the morning I wake up with a clump of hair on my pillow. It's been about 37 days since my first treatment and I haven't experienced significant loss (and maybe I haven't washed or brushed my hair in a few days...hopeful preventive measures??). I'm trying not to run my fingers through it to see if I'm losing any of it, but I'm curious. It seems that I am losing the "normal" amount of hair that I've always lost after combing or washing my hair. My doctor walked into the office on Monday and said "you still have hair!" which made me laugh. I'm not holding my breath that it will be there for my next treatment and am prepared to lose it (but not really prepared at all). I've been Google searching "hair loss and ABVD" and it seems like everyone reacts differently to the regimen.

3 down, 9 more. 1/3 of the way through! Next treatment: Friday, December 20th.

Love,
Gilly

A New Look! (And second treatment)

I did it! Well, my hairdresser/wig consultant did it! She cut eight inches and I am excited to donate it. It will take me some time to get used to the new look and I'm really interested in seeing what it will look like when I let it curl naturally!
                                                                                                                                                                           

Before!

After!

Looks cute with my bangs and clipped in the back.

 My second treatment went well. I kept telling myself, 'it didn't hurt the first time, so it won't hurt this time'- and it didn't. The port in my chest is really amazing. The nurse sprays the area to numb/chill and after I take a deep breath in, she puts the needle in. It is painless, so I just need to remind myself of this every time I go in for a treatment. The time really flies. I had lunch, watched a little tv, but mostly just chilled out and thought about things. Two down! 

Today after the haircut and trying on wigs (I think I found the one for me!), mom took us winter coat shopping. I'm really OCD when it comes to clothes and sizes, but the first one I saw was the perfect coat in a beautiful plum color. (But still couldn't decide on a size!) It's very cute and I'm happy. Thank you mom. :) Juls and I relaxed tonight and watched a movie...but I fell asleep about halfway through with this little guy: 

Aww! Happiness is a warm puppy. (Peanuts) 

I've been having a great week at my assistantship. I've been working one-on-one with my supervisor, helping to edit an article for submission to a nursing journal. We are going to begin writing an article about voice disorders and she wants me to be her second author. I am thrilled for this opportunity. I think we will really start working over winter break, when the office isn't so busy. I've also been doing well in school, although I need to do a little catch-up work for my first half semester course. Maybe tomorrow I'll feel a little more motivated.

Thanks for reading, friends! Hope you are all well!
Gillian

The hairy truth

Hi everyone. I've had a mostly uneventful week, but have been getting little reminders from you that it's time to update!

I really have been feeling like normal. I've been working at my GA and attending class (got a 100 on my first quiz!). Over the weekend, I got to catch up with my fun friend Andie and hear Tim and our friends sing a beautiful concert of Britten music. 

Mom and I also visited a new wig shop. The weirdest and scariest part of this is dealing with the hair loss. I believe there is a stigma that people with cancer are sick and they are sick because they look sick and they look sick because they don't have hair. I don't think of my own cancer experience as being sick because I just don't feel that way now. Before I was diagnosed, I didn't believe I could have cancer because I didn't "feel" the way people with cancer usually "look." I didn't have any symptoms, other than the swollen lymph node. Instead of thinking of myself as sick, I think of myself as healing. However, when I start losing my hair and either going bald, wearing wigs, or wearing caps and scarves, people will notice. People will begin to think of me as sick. This is largely why I have kept my diagnosis confidential from my classmates, except for a handful of closest friends. I don't want to be thought of as "sick."

I'm watching a show on Netflix and a character was diagnosed with cancer. As I watched her struggle with the effects of chemotherapy and I feel very fortunate; I know many people suffer more than I do every day. My hope is that I will be in healing mode for the next six months and my hair loss will be the worst part of the process. 

That night, after visiting the wig shop, I watched the character experience denial, fear, shame, and acceptance of her hair loss. I know there is nothing to prepare me for my own loss. I can read about how others managed, look at pictures of beautiful bald women, or even try out a "bald app" on my phone (those pictures didn't turn out so well), but ultimately I will just have to see what happens and how I feel when I get there.  

I feel like I was placed in my district for my internship for a reason. There is a beautiful young teacher recovering from leukemia who gave me the information about the wig shop and owner and I am so thankful to have been led there. The owner, who is also a hairdresser, gave me new insights on selecting and wearing wigs, such as wearing hair accessories in my wigs. The most important thing though, before making my wig selection, is deciding what I want to do with my hair. 

Donating my hair is important to me, so that is a huge consideration. Part of my hesitation at this point are the "what ifs" of hair loss- what if I don't lose it, what if it only thins and I don't lose it completely? Also, the "when." When will I start losing it? Two weeks? Three? Another part affecting my decision to donate now, is that I have been afraid to cut it short and draw attention to myself in class, then show up two weeks later with a longer wig. 

I have done a lot of thinking this week and I am beginning to accept and understand that it isn't about what my classmates/society thinks, but it is about how I feel. 

I've been growing my hair for two years since my last donation. I wanted to donate it at the end of the summer but never had the chance. Well, now is my chance. Not only to donate my hair before I start losing it, but to take this opportunity to see what I look and feel like with a short haircut. And maybe even a Mohawk. ;)

Next treatment is this Friday, November 15th! Then it is Monday, December 2 (had to change some things around due to Thanksgiving). 

Love to all!

Gillian

Reiki Healing

I've been feeling good the past few days. Friday after my first treatment, I went back to the hospital for a Neulasta shot, which increases the amount of white blood cells and reduces the risk of infection after chemotherapy. The most common side effect is aching in the bones and I definitely felt that Saturday and Sunday. So I took some Advil and rested in bed when I felt achy.

Sunday, Laura, my mom, and I went to a Reiki healing session. This was my first time, so I can't really explain the technique until I know more about it, but there is a lot of information on the web! It seems to be a spiritual relaxation technique that promotes healing through energy (thank you Laura for the definition :). While laying on the massage table, two women performed the technique by guiding their hands about a half inch above my body, sometimes lightly touching places like my hair and feet.

So, my mom and one of the nurse practitioners has told me that they during past Reiki sessions, they have "felt" the energy throughout their body or leaving/entering their body, so they believe in the technique. I can't say for sure what I felt, but at one point the healer asked me if I felt something in my foot, especially my right foot, because her right hand itched when she passed her hands above my feet. I thought that this was crazy, like a ouija board or something, because how in the world would she know about my feet?! Could she really "feel" the "pain" or itch?! For over a year now, my toes (only on my right foot) will occasionally itch and usually when it happens, it is an intense itch. (Mom thinks it could be the nervous system, not athlete's foot.) I don't know what the healer actually felt, but it's got me thinking.......

Do any of you have experience with Reiki?

After Reiki, we made applesauce and it was delicious! I really enjoyed catching up with Laura. We had a special day. :)

Laura bought me that beautiful scarf and showed me new ways to tie it!!

Day 2

Day 1 after chemotherapy (Day 2 total?) and I am feeling pretty good. I had to schedule an ultrasound of my abdomen for this morning, since I was experiencing discomfort (bloating) since I had my eggs retrieved last week. That was expected, but we wanted to get it checked out anyway. Despite delays because of a too-vague ultrasound prescription, it went okay and I'm feeling okay. Mom and I are going back to the hospital later this afternoon for a follow-up shot to increase my white blood cell count.

I got in a couple of hours of work today and registered for some classes for the spring. And Joan is coming over tonight, wahoo! Excited to spend time with her!

Update: Yay friends! So grateful to have her company tonight. Much needed roomie reunion!

Happy Halloween and first chemotherapy day!

I

Alyssa said "oh no!! the side effects are crazier than I realized...you grew CAT EARS!!!!" 

LOL! Maybe by treatment 2, I will have a tail and whiskers! 

Update, 9:00pm: The first day went well. The chemo port in my chest is less invasive and risky than going through the veins in my arms. The nurse numbed the area, put the needle in only once, and was able to change the IVs easily. Tim, mom, and dad were with me. The time flew by! I didn't even watch a movie or read. I slept about 20 minutes. The entire IV therapy was about 3 and a half hours. It probably won't take that long next time. One down! We had grilled cheeses and soup for dinner. I hope my appetite doesn't change too much...I love grilled cheese! 

Later tonight, Clare brought pumpkin muffins and adorable owl masks! Then Tim and I started watching Monsters University (his choice- isn't he great?!). It was a good day!

                             

Tomorrow, tomorrow!

Well, tomorrow (Oct. 31) is the big day. First day of chemotherapy treatment. I'm not really nervous, I'm just ready.

What I am nervous about is how chemotherapy is going to make me feel. What will chemotherapy feel like going into the port? How long will my appointment be? Can I use the bathroom during treatment? I expect to be tired, but I wonder when, and how often? On the "bad days," will it be all day, just a few hours, or every other hour? When I get home tomorrow, will I want to sleep for the rest of the day or stay awake and watch movies? And most importantly, what will my Halloween costume be? :P These are questions I won't be able to answer for a while (or at least until tomorrow!).

Last night, I joined a chat group hosted by the LLS for young adults living with blood cancers. There were only a few others in the group and it seems that they had all finished their treatment. Their advice was to stay positive and let others help me when I need it. I've also heard from friends and family that I should start my treatment countdown after tomorrow. Step one to healing, success, survival!

Team Gillybean Lights the Night

This was the best weekend ever. I am mostly going to fill this post with pictures, because words can't describe how incredibly grateful I am for my friends and family. I have the most amazing support team. I couldn't do this without you.

Kasie flew in from North Carolina this weekend and we were laughing at how we thought we would raise $200 and it would be the two of us and my family walking for the Light the Night walk. We raised over $7,000 dollars in one month and there were about 25 of us walking as part of Team Gillybean!! Saturday was like the best birthday party, ever! When we arrived, I was greeted by Joan, Sara, and Mrs. A., then Mr. and Mrs. D, and Laura...I was so excited!! As everyone started arriving, I realized how big my support team is and how I am the luckiest girl in the world. I was honestly overwhelmed with the event. There were so many people, so many tents to register and get food, music was blasting, tickets for t-shirts, wristbands for balloons...I didn't know where to go first. I spent my time trying to catch up with as many friends as possible!

Before the walk started and we were all chatting, friends on my team said they called our team name over the loudspeaker! I didn't hear anything, so when I got to the stage and asked someone, they said Team Gillybean had won the contest for best t-shirt design!!! I couldn't control my excitement!! My talented friend, Alyssa, designed the shirts and it was just SO exciting that WE WON!! We are invited to an awards ceremony/brunch in December. I am definitely dragging myself out of bed for that ceremony!

The walk was really nice. It was about a mile and a half around the streets. I tried my best to talk to all my friends as we walked. I wish I got more pictures, but was too excited to keep track of my camera. If anyone has pictures, please send them! I will send an email to Team Gillybean soon with our pictures.

After the walk, about half of the team came back to "papabean's" and "mamabean's" house for dessert. My friends and family introduced themselves and shared how they knew me and their favorite memory of me. This was the highlight of the night. I got to catch up with old and new friends. We had a great time!

Pre-walk banner decorating: 

 

-Spirit walked into the picture and posed!-

 

-Kasiebean flew all the way from North Carolina, I am so blessed!-

Team Gillybean knows how to Light the Night:

-$5,000+ tent! We made TOP THREE under family/friends teams!!-

-Enthusiastic, beautiful, Nicki- super fundraiser!-

-Me and Timone!-

-JOANIE! She, her mom, and sister carried our banner!-

-Youngest Team Gillybean supporter, Emmett, and his beautiful mommy, Maia!-

-Westminster buddies: Maia, Joan, Rini, Kasie, PJ, Tim-

-High school friends: Andreas, Sherry, Doug-

-Sisters!-

-the gillybeans look like they are glowing in the dark!-

-My fun co-worker, Tracy!-

 Team Gillybean After Party:

Supporters from a distance!

-My other fun co-worker, Liddy, and her son, Graeme!-

-T-shirt design contest winner, Alyssa, and her HUSBAND, Steve, in California!!-

GO TEAM GILLYBEAN!!!! Love you all!!

Team Gillybean t-shirts!

They arrived today! I can't wait to wear them with everyone on Saturday! $20 for a shirt and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the LLS!

Design was by my amazing friend, Alyssa Brode. Check out her website for her other awesome designs: https://www.facebook.com/alyssabrodedesign
 

Thanks Alyssa!! You're the best! And thank you Kasie for hooking us up with an awesome t-shirt company! They arrived on time and they look great.

In the beginning...

...there was a swollen lymph node on the right side of my neck, above my collarbone. As mentioned in my previous post, the first scans did not show anything. So I carried on and didn't think much about it until I started waking up with neck pain a few months later. After an amazing summer traveling, singing in my best friends' wedding, and working with my aphasia choir, I went back to my doctor and was referred to get a CT scan of my neck and chest. They were looking for more enlarged lymph nodes, especially in the chest. My primary doctor called me that night and told me they did see swollen nodes in my chest and referred me for a lymph node biopsy. I originally thought it would be a fine needle aspiration biopsy, but found out the entire lymph node would need to be surgically removed. I was extremely nervous about this. I've never had such "major" surgery, not even a broken bone. When I learned that the surgeon was a friend whose daughter I taught piano lessons to, I felt better. Mom and I met with him before the surgery and he explained what it could be, and what it couldn't be. A few days later, my mom and Tim accompanied me to the biopsy appointment and waited (hours) for me to wake up after surgery. It was all okay! (Sleeping is my most favorite thing, so I didn't mind the chance to catch up on some z's!)

We were expecting to hear the results one week later, at an appointment with the surgeon. I actually got a text message from the surgeon a few days before the appointment, asking me to call him. I thought it could go either way. When I called him back, he asked if I was driving (I wasn't), then told me it was Hodgkin Lymphoma and told me how I am strong and it is very treatable. I was surprisingly calm. I was on my lunch break during my internship and just sat in quiet for a little while. I talked to my parents over the phone after work and that night I stayed over with them. Tim was in Canada until the end of the week, so I wasn't able to tell him until he got home. I wanted to tell him in person.

On Friday the 13th, my parents, Tim, Julia, and I met with the surgeon and afterwards, the oncologist. I don't remember everything we spoke about, but I can say that it didn't feel like the appointments we always see in the movies about finding out about "the big C." I think speaking with the surgeon over the phone before our appointment, helped me process and begin to accept sooner. I recorded the appointment with the oncologist so I could go back and listen. We discussed what treatment would be, likely chemotherapy every two weeks. Since then, I've been overwhelmed with making appointments for various diagnostic tests: bone marrow biopsy, CT scans of the chest and abdomen, pulmonary function tests, bloodwork, the works! They all managed to be scheduled and now I am just waiting for treatments to begin.

The bone marrow biopsy was definitely weird, but I got through it. I was laying on my side, as the oncologist sat behind me, and my mom and nurse practitioner (who are hysterical together, cracking jokes and keeping me calm) were in front of me, holding my hips and shoulders. At some points I could feel a sensation going down my leg and the doctor said he most likely hit a nerve. I remember the nurse saying "it will just feel like a bee sting!" to which I responded in a rushed, worried voice "but I've never had a bee sting!" I took off from work that day and rested at home with a large pressure bandage on my lower back.

For the CT scan of my chest and abdomen, I had to drink 900mL of a barium sulfate "liquid" the day of the scan, so that my organs, etc. would "light up" for the scan. I had to drink half a bottle every half hour. This has, so far, been the very worst part of this whole ordeal! My co-workers were very encouraging, but I could barely swallow the liquid after the third half bottle.I had to finish the last quarter of the liquid at the hospital- it took me nearly an hour and a case of the hiccups, before the radiologist said I was done drinking and took me in for the scan.

 -"orange creamsicle" milky liquid, mmm-

Pulmonary function exercises were kind of fun. I had to breathe into a tube while receiving instructions from the diagnostician. Long breaths, short breaths, fast breaths, slow breaths.

The oncologist also recommended that I start fertility treatments for egg harvesting. This is something I never thought would be part of the process. I started fertility treatments about a week ago, which only delayed treatment by a couple weeks. This was approved by the oncologist. I'm glad I am getting treatments for egg harvesting because I feel it is better to have options, just in case. More on fertility treatments later. 

That's all for now, folks! Thank you for your love and support during this time.

:)Gillian

First post: October 18th, 2013

Dear friends and family,

I am writing to let you know of an important cause that just became especially important to me. In September, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, which happened to be Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness month. (That must be a sign, right?) I noticed a swollen lymph node in my neck earlier this year, but preliminary tests came back normal. At the end of the summer, I went back to the doctor and was sent for more chest x-rays and a lymph node biopsy and one week after the biopsy, my family, boyfriend, and I got the results. The news was shocking to us all and we are taking it one day at a time! I wanted to share this news with you so that you can be a part of my incredible support team.

Treatment is expected to start at the end of October/early November at Somerset Medical Center, where my mom has worked for nine years. She knows and trusts the doctors, so I know that I am in good hands. The surgeon who performed the lymph node biopsy and will be placing the port for IV treatments is a friend and I trust him very much- I used to babysit and teach his daughter piano lessons. Treatments will consist of chemotherapy every other week (as of right now, no radiation).

My brave cousin, Natalee, was diagnosed with a rare form of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma when she was a sophomore in college in December, 2009. As of early this summer, she had her most recent and final clean scan- she made it! She finished her college degree and is currently working on her Master's in Occupational Therapy. Her courage and strength has been the inspiration for my journey. I am so proud of her.

I am in my last year of a Master's program in Speech-Language Pathology at Kean University and am motivated to graduate as expected in May 2014, although I may need to take time off. This will be difficult, but just fine. My professors have been extremely understanding to my situation and are willing to help me in any way possible. I am currently in an internship at a public school working with a kind, supportive supervisor. I am loving every minute of being with the children and know that this is the right career path for me. While I may not be able to continue this internship full time once I start treatments, I have been so blessed to have this opportunity. My supervisor and co-workers at my graduate assistantship in the School of Nursing Offsite Program at Raritan Valley Community College, have been so accommodating during this hectic time and have stocked the office with my favorite comfort foods- chicken and rice soup and hot chocolate! (And while I have your attention, here is a video of the choir I began for my graduate thesis project for stroke survivors with aphasia: http://youtu.be/Jsa2QO-ft6Y. Enjoy!)

I'm walking in the Light the Night walk with my family and friends under "Team Gillybean" :) and I would love for you to join us if you're local, donate, and/or share the link. It's Saturday, October 26th in Morristown, NJ at 5pm (bring the kids!). Here is the link to my team's fundraising page: http://pages.lightthenight.org/nj/Morris13/TeamGillybean. We are even getting "Team Gillybean" t-shirts made! We are planning to sell these t-shirts for $20 and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation. If you are interested in ordering an awesome custom-made t-shirt, please let me know! T-shirts were designed by my talented and thoughtful friend, Alyssa Brode, which makes the shirt so much more special to me. I can't wait to wear this shirt while we walk together for an honorable cause. My dad will be participating in a Team-In-Training athletic program to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and I know he would appreciate your donations when he starts (link TBA).

I am surrounded by so much love from family and friends. My parents have always been so generous, but are exceptionally supportive during this time. They have opened their home to me and my boyfriend, Tim, take time off work to accompany me to appointments, and Mom cooks and freezes meals for us. Tim is becoming quite the accomplished chef himself! I couldn't have asked for a better partner to support me during this time. My most favorite sister in the world, Julia, is my rock. My friends are offering their love and support in so many ways. They are strong for me, but I know they need your support, too.

So, I know that I will be okay. This is just a bump in the road and I am ready to start my journey and make a giant leap over that bump. For those of you who remember my blogging days from my study abroad in Italy, I think now is the right time to start a new blog to document my latest adventure. This email will be the first post (I tried to be creative with the name): http://gillymphoma.blogspot.com/

Before receiving this diagnosis, I did not know how to talk to anyone who had cancer and couldn't relate to what they were going through, but I am very open and positive about the situation and it would be so nice to hear from you. Thank you all for your support during my journey!

Love,

Gillian
"It is worth remembering that the time of greatest gain in terms of wisdom and inner strength is often that of greatest difficulty." -Dalai Lama