Graduations + Good Scans = Happiness

grad·u·a·tionˌɡrajəˈwāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. The receiving or conferring of an academic degree or diploma.

2. The action of dividing into degrees or other proportionate divisions on a graduated scale.
I’ve been a little busy lately. Both my children recently graduated, Michaela from college and Max from high school. First up was Michaela. 

We ventured out to Washington DC for a fun and memorable weekend. It was a beautiful sight watching Michaela receive her diploma. You see, Mark and I were not sure I would be around for this day. 

While we were waiting for the graduates to walk out, Mark turned to me and said that he wished every day that I would live long enough to attend the kid’s graduations. Thankfully, wishes can come true. A week later it was time to celebrate Max’s graduation.

Like Michaela’s graduation, I was thrilled to be at Max’s. At one point I had watery eyes, looked at Mark and told him I was so happy to be here. I am hoping to be around for another four years. I need to witness Max graduate college and Michaela graduate from law school. I think I will be at both.

The graduations were a happy time for my family and I was feeling great. I wanted and wished this feeling to last forever. Did this wish come true?

I had my nine week scans this week. They consisted of a bone scan, a pelvic, abdomen, and chest CT scan, plus a brain MRI. I met with Dr. M yesterday to discuss results. Guess what? Another wish has come true.

Dr. M said my body scans looked great. All tumors are smaller in size. This is wonderful news.  There was an issue with my brain MRI. Whoever read the scan thought one of the tumors was worse and one was better. Dr. M got in touch with my radiation oncologist, Dr. K, at midnight to get her thoughts. How cool is this…..my doctors discussing my health so late at night. Reading the MRI report was scary, but Dr. K said I was stable and to just monitor. More wonderful news. Yay!

Last week I had an appointment with my endocrinologist due to the thyroid cancer. We do not do much in regards to this cancer because it is slow growing, but the thyroid is suppressed through medication. On this particular visit, Dr. B recommended I get an ultrasound, since it’s been a while and I am still here. I guess the thought was that I wouldn’t live this long. Ha! 

Today I had the ultrasound. More good news. It appears the cancerous nodule on my thyroid is smaller in size than it was 2013. I’m not sure how this happened and I’m not going to question it.

I love happy occasions and good news. The last couple of weeks have been filled with both. I hope they continue.