My Hero,
My
Mom...
My Hero
My Mom
by
Michelle
Shefveland
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 |
March
2008:
CK
Media's
Digital
Scrapbooking
Magazine
has
published
five
layouts
I made
for Mom,
sharing
a bit
about
her
breast
cancer
journey
last
year.
This
page is
to share
how she
is doing
since I
wrote
the
article
in
October.
Thank
you for
visiting!
Mom
finished
her
four-month
chemo in
October
and
subsequent
36 daily
radiation
treatments
in
mid-December.
The
radiation
gave her
quite a
few
burns,
but they
are
healing
nicely
now that
treatment
is
complete.
|
I am
ecstatic to let everyone know Mom and Dad are
enjoying a 2-week road trip down to Florida to
visit an old Air Force buddy (during his stint
in Alaska, which happens to be my birthplace!).
Such a blessing that they can relax, laugh,
enjoy great food and company after all they have
been through the past year.
|
Mom
returned
to work
full-time
in
January,
but
quickly
learned
that the
seven
month
treatment
regimen
took a
bit out
of her.
She and
Dad made
the
decision
she will
retire
from
nursing
on May
2nd, and
will
begin a
new
chapter
of her
life's
journey.
In May
or June,
she will
have her
first
PET scan
since
treatment
ceased,
so we
are all
hopeful
for
great
results
and an
'all is
clear'
from the
oncologist.
Her hair
is
coming
in
beautifully...this
time a
pepper
gray
instead
of the
brown
she last
saw in
July...I
love
it...I
think
she
would
rather
have had
her
brown
back. :)
|
Click
image to
see more
layouts
and
credit
info... |
For a
Christmas
gift for
Mom and
Dad, I
created
a 15
minute
slideshow
set to
music,
showcasing
the
layouts
I
created,
plus
photos
captured
of our
time
together,
both at
play and
during
treatment
the past
year.
There is
something
about
music
that
makes
images
even
more
emotional
for me.
We have
grown
even
closer
as a
family,
as is
common
during a
health
crisis
such as
cancer.
Life is
precious
and we
continue
on each
day with
hope and
thanksgiving.
As I
share
more
below, I
encourage
anyone
going
through
difficult
times to
capture
what
images
you can
and
journal
your
raw,
honest
feelings.
Some day
you may
be ready
to put
them
together
in a
complete
story,
which is
often a
very
healing
process.
-
Michelle
Shefveland
Here is
a bit
more of
Mom's
story...
October
2007:
In all
other
years,
this
month
meant I
would
remember
those in
my
family
who have
fought
breast
cancer
(with
some
losing
the
battle)...my
great
grandma,
great
aunts,
paternal
grandma,
and paternal
aunt.
But this
year, on
May
24th, my
life
was
touched
even
more
personally
by this
ominous
disease.
Mom, 62
years
young,
who had
annual
mammograms
and took
great
care of
her
health,
was
diagnosed
with
invasive
breast
cancer.
Stage 3
lobular,
estrogen
receptive
breast
cancer...the
type
that can
hide in
your
lobes,
undetected
for a
long
time and
many
mammograms.
Her
doctor
didn't
even
feel the
lump the
week
before
in her
annual
exam.
Therefore,
during
her
lumpectomy
surgery,
the
surgeon
was not
expecting
to find
her
lymph
nodes
cancerous.
However,
he
did...19
of 24
were
malignant.
This
meant a
change
in
expected
treatment
plans.
The
toughest
regimen
of chemo
and
radiation
and a
whole
gamut of
emotions
were
now
going to
be Mom's
battle
for the
year.
Three
weeks
ago she
graduated
from
four
months
of chemo
and we
are
thrilled!
In the
past few
years,
anti-nausea
medication
has made
great
strides
in
decreasing
side
effects
of this
once
dreaded
treatment.
Of
course,
she lost
her
hair,
but is
so
adorable
with her
hats,
scarves,
and bare
head
that a
wig
wasn't
even
necessary.
She has
just
started
radiation
and has
35 more
daily
treatments.
And, all
the
while, is
still
working
3 days a
week as
a nurse.
You go,
Mom!
|
As you
can see,
she is
radiant,
beautiful,
and
prepared
for
battle!
Her
large
family
and
network
of
friends
have
been so
supportive
with
prayers,
food,
cards,
visits,
and
phone
calls.
All of
this
matters!
If you
know
someone
with
cancer
or who is
ill, any
act of
kindness
will be
so
appreciated.
Dad has
been
amazing
in his
love and
care for
Mom, too...thanks,
Dad!
|
 |
As
a
scrapbooker,
you can
help in
another
way.
Photograph
and
journal
about
your
loved
one's
journey,
as they
may not
feel up
to it.
I've
brought
my
little
point-and-shoot to
every
doctor's
visit
and
treatment,
capturing
the
visitors,
the
treatment
facilities,
the
nurses,
the
laughs,
and the
love.
This
battle
is worth
documenting...the
process
is
healing
and
empowering.
And, as you can see...I chose to share her
journey in bright, happy colors...this isn't my
normal style or color palette, but for some
reason I just wanted them the pages to shout
"hope."
 |
As her
oldest
and only
daughter
with two
daughters
of my
own, I
am faced
with the
realization
that our
family
may have
a genetic
tendency
towards
this
disease.
It means
I need
to be
more
proactive
in my
own
health
care and
pass
that on
to my
daughters.
Diet,
exercise,
environment,
and
stress
management
all play
a
factor.
For all
women, it is
imperative
to know
your
body and
act
immediately
if you
notice
any
changes.
Get
knowledgeable,
be
diligent
about
self
breast
exams,
ask
questions,
and
talk to
your
doctor
about
preventative
measures
if you
are high
risk.
If under
40, ask about
how
accurate
a
mammogram
is on
dense
tissue,
common
in young
women.
You only
have one
life...take
care and
be
aware! |
Great
sites
for
valuable
information:
Susan G.
Komen
for the
Cure
Breast
Cancer.org
American
Cancer
Society
Breast
Cancer
Research
Foundation