I was diagnosed with melanoma in 2016. The initial diagnosis/prognosis was very encouraging. Nothing had spread to the lymph nodes. I was free to go live my life. All I needed to do was faithfully continue my skin cancer screening and wear sunscreen! Six months later, I had a recurrence of what is called in transit melanoma. A very simplistic explanation of this recurrence is that microscopic cancer cells which apparently remained after my first resection, had tried to journey towards my body from the original site (wrist) and stopped along the way and grew into a little tumor I could feel under my skin. This was removed, and to make a long story short, this happened, yet again, about ten months later. At that time it was clear I needed to undergo adjuvant therapy. I tried immunotherapies and targeted therapy, but still had recurrences resulting in 6 surgeries in 3 years. Until the most recent recurrence, the cancer never metastasized to distant organs. That all changed in May of 2020. That is when I decided to start a blog, that was Day One.
Melanoma is one of the cruelest forms of cancer because it is so unpredictable. And for this Texas girl who can face just about anything if she can see the way ahead; that is torture. I had to protect my mind from dwelling on the possibility that treatment would be ineffective, or that the side effects would become too toxic to continue. If there is one thing I have learned about cancer (regardless of the variety) it is this: my story is not your story and your story is not my story. Just because it has been relentlessly coming for me does not mean it will for you. Just because you had a complete response does not mean I will, and that is okay. It is well with me because I know my God has put me on this earth with an assignment. He will not take me home until I have finished all the good works he has already prepared for me. He wants me to live BETWEEN THE SCANS.
I have been married to my amazing husband, Patrick, for 34 fantastic years, 22 of which were spent as an Air Force family. We are the parents of three wonderful grown boys, Evan, Cameron, and John Carter (JC). We added a daughter in 2016, Evan’s beautiful wife, Haley. My mother and mother-in-law are still living and are blessings to me, as are my two sisters, a sister-in-law, and friends I consider family. We have two grandsons, Thomas and Samuel, and a spoiled little beagle, Lexi, who makes us laugh every day!
I am an attorney by trade, but after the first diagnosis, the Lord impressed upon me an urgency to get on with my dream of going into vocational ministry. I thought I would do that later in life, but He had other plans. After selling my law practice and having the privilege of passing it into great hands, I had the opportunity to direct human resources at a multi-campus church and school, and quickly discovered, through a church crisis, just why the Lord put me there in that time and place. I am now humbled and honored to serve as CHRO and Internal Counsel. I have been on staff for almost six years and love both the role and the people in a way I never imagined.
I enjoy ordinary days walking, cooking, baking, binge-watching shows with my husband, reading, and even pulling weeds from the flower beds. I love special days kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, traveling, and curling up with a book or movie in front of the fireplace. I relish time with family and friends.
More than anything, I want you to know that I am a child of God. I adore Him and I could not make it through each day without abiding in His presence. I want so desperately for everyone to know His son, Jesus, because He is truly our only hope for conquering death and living life here on earth to the full. Without him, anxiety would consume me, and darkness would overcome my mind. I would be paralyzed with fear in this fight against cancer. I am a worrier by nature, but I am learning to be a warrior by living BETWEEN THE SCANS!
Read about my Day One.
Between the Scans 