To Be Alive...

Good grief! It's already November 6th and I haven't posted any "Thankful" posts yet - yikes! I can hardly believe how quickly time passes and how days just slip away.

Well, to start us out this month, we have a very good reminder to be thankful for our very lives. Thank you for sharing your story Emily!

~Evie

Hi there! 

My name is Emily and I am from Paducah, KY. 

In January, I found a knot on my neck. I went and had the knot examined and my doctor sent me to a specialist. I went nervously and the specialist said that I needed surgery to remove the knot. 

In March, I went in for surgery. During the surgery, they removed the mass along with the right side of my thyroid. They hoped I would be able to keep the other side so I wouldn’t need medication. Unfortunately, at my one week post-op checkup, I was diagnosed with two types of malignant cancer. I was told I would need another surgery to remove the left side of my thyroid and to see if the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes, throat, or vocal cords. 

I was absolutely terrified. 

In April, only 3 weeks after my first surgery, I went through another surgery. After I awoke, I was told that in fact the cancer had not spread but I had another mass that had formed on the left side of my thyroid. I was then referred to an oncologist who took me through my treatment plan and what medications I would be on for the rest of my life. 

I went through an I-131 radioactive iodine treatment. It made me very sick and weak but the worst part was that I could not be around my children for 4 days. I slept for the most part to try and ease the agony of not being with my kids. 

In August, I went back to my oncologist and was told that I was “in remission” and that I would be fine. 

I thank God every day that I am able to wake up, go to work, and most importantly, be a mother.  Life is a precious gift that so many of us take for granted. 

My eyes have opened so much since I found out that I had cancer. Spilled milk can be cleaned up. Cleaning the house to perfection can wait. I want to enjoy every minute I can, with my children. They are the ones who got me through this terrible ordeal and I am so blessed to have them in my life. 

Today, I am thankful for life.

~Emily