Had my yearly CT scan and an Ultrasound to watch my thyroid on this past Monday. Checked the MSK portal all week for the reports to post and they finally did post last night while my husband and I were enjoying dinner and some wine. After 7 years and 4 months, I remain in remission from my Stage IV diagnosis (liver involvement). We truly had something to toast to.
I feel incredibly blessed to be here after being told in 2008 that I had 22-24 months to live. I am so grateful for so many things---the support of my husband, for my amazing sister who helped every week with housekeeping and childcare during the period of acute illness, for a wonderful mother-in-law that would come stay with us for weeks on end to help us, for my husband being employed by a company that was so amazingly supportive of us during our time of need (the CEO of my husband's Fortune 500 company still asks him all the time how I am doing) and most importantly, for a medical team that gave us hope and options.
I think back about the comments made to me about my doctor, Dr. Nancy Kemeny as we evaluated treatment options. Other doctors told me that she was a dinosaur, not very nice, out-dated, that the HAI pump was an ancient technology, that it was a waste of time and energy to get into NYC to see her, and etc. Well that amazing doctor (and of course my crack surgeons Dr. Philip Paty and Dr. Michael D'Angelica) saved my life. I am tearing up thinking about the debt of gratitude I owe that team. I have only positive things to say about Memorial Sloan-Kettering and all the staff I have interacted with since 2009. If you are in need of a second opinion I highly urge to to consider MSK as an option.
I am still 3 years away from 10 which is my magic number and the point at which I will finally let my children know about my diagnosis. I want to make sure they are extra vigilant in watching out for their own health as they move into their teen years. I still have my HAI pump in although I haven't had it accessed now for at least 2 years. Hoping to get around to making the appointment to have it removed sometime this fall.
That little girl that saved my life will be 8 in November. Best word to describe her is "spitfire" as she has a way with her words and actions that has me giggling just about every day.
Thoughts and wishes for all those here,
Amy