June 26, 2024 - Blessed Beyond Measure

Well, we survived. The month of June brought us dread, patience, worry, and sleepless nights. For anyone who has been following along my journey, you have read about my son, Mason. Mason has just finished eighth grade, is a rising ninth grader, and will soon achieve his Eagle Scout ranking. His father and I are bursting with pride.

He just recently returned from a 10 day adventure scout camping trip at Philmont Scout Ranch. What is Philmont? According to their website, “Philmont Scout Ranch, the Boy Scouts of America’s premier High Adventure™ base, challenges Scouts and Venturers with more than 214 square miles of rugged northern New Mexico wilderness. Backpacking treks, horseback cavalcades, and training and service programs offer young people many ways to experience this legendary country.”

According to me (his mother), it was going to be hard. And, I was going to miss him terribly. He had to wear a hiking backpack (not a school backpack), that included his sleeping bag, tent, food (as in MRE meals), 2 sets of clothes, first aid, compass, his epi-pen, etc., etc., etc. His pack had to have the supplies to allow him to survive in the wilderness for many days. What was more nerve racking was the fact that he was going without Jamie. He was with a small group of boys from his troop, and 2 fathers joined them, but still…

He hiked for many miles with thousands of feet of elevation changes. He white water rafted, zip lined, fly fished (caught a rainbow trout), completed service projects for the camp, and much much more. I know I am not doing his time at Philmont proper justice.

In the end, he learned a lot and matured in a way that I wasn’t expecting. He lost 6 lbs, but gained so much confidence. He is only 14, a new teen, no longer a little boy, but certainly not quite a man. This experience will help him grow into the man I know he will be. It was an unforgettable experience for him, one that I know he will treasure forever.

While he was gone, Jamie and I took the time to recharge. We took a mini-staycation, which we both didn’t realize how much we needed it. It also kept my mind off Mason!

I also had a brain scan. We were thankful that it was stable without progression. Once again, I am so thankful for the chemo cocktail that I take daily. Tukysa keeps the brain cancer at bay, while the Xeloda and Herceptin fight for the other organs. My next big milestone is a Pet Scan in early August. I am hopeful the trend will continue. My cancer marker numbers are creeping up a little, but not enough to sound the alarm bells. We are just keeping on, doing what we are doing!

In other big news, we are about to take an epic family vacation. I want to make as many memories with Jamie and Mason that I can, while I can. We timed it perfectly between my Mayo visits. Our vacations may require a slower pace, deliberate medication management, and a lot of planning, but at least we are going as a family. Jamie and Mason are well experienced at making sure I am ok. And we always know where the nearest bathroom is located!

It is hard to believe how fast this summer is flying by! The days can be long, but the months are flying by. I remain humbled and thankful for the life God has given me. I may have an asterisk by my name (*cancer patient), but I am blessed beyond measure. Love to you all.