The Kindness of Family and Friends

In the crazy world that we live in, I just want to take a minute and thank everyone who has reached out to me during this time. Sometimes our world can seem dark and scary. Yes, I have been diagnosed with gastric cancer and I have been going through chemotherapy. There have also been some crazy news stories about politics and sad news about shootings in the past couple of weeks, but there have also been some good in the world. There have been many individual acts of kindness.

In the past few weeks I have received a number of cards wishing me well, emails, phone calls, frozen meals, plants, a key chain, and yard ornaments. My parents are doing what they can during the week to help me out around the house and drive up to my house during most afternoons. Last week when the home health nurse arrived to unhook me from chemo she asked me "so who was there to visit you at chemo?" and I had to ask her "what did that person look like?" because on that day I had so many visitors time just flew by. I was so happy to see both Janet and Kelly who I worked with at the Hope Lodge. Kelly spent hours with me and my parents that day.

I just want to say "Thank You"! You didn't have to, but you did. You reached out to me to brighten my day and let me know you were thinking of me. I truly appreciate all of it!

Much Love <3

Amy B

Plant from our caring neighbors the Rothrocks and hummingbird feeder from parents

My fun new Chair from Mom and Dad

Cute key chain from my friend Heather- my dogs are with me where ever I go! I love it!

Cute Wind chime from Aunt Naomi

Lovely lawn ornament from Judy and Terri

My New Life With Cancer

My Life changed forever on May 13th when I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma (stomach cancer). Sometimes I still find it hard to believe that I have been diagnosed with cancer for a third time in my life. I am still rebounding from this diagnosis and trying to find some resemblance of my previous self.

The week before what resulted in a trip to the emergency room, I finished a sprint triathlon at my alma mater, Wartburg College, shipped my hubby off to India for a week, started morning workouts with Outdoor Basic training, and working on projects around the house. Things seemed fine.

The problem with stomach cancer is that it does not present with many symptoms. I can see a few of them in hind site after being diagnosed (decreased appetite, gassy-ness, back pain) but most were in the recent weeks of the diagnosis. I was going to call and make a doctor appointment when the unexpected happened.

Being home alone with Leo on work travel across the world, I had been to outdoor basic training and work earlier that day. I had severe abdominal pain that evening and had been talking with my mom on the phone about it. Later that night, I had some nausea and then vomited blood. Scary to say the least. I was in shock and mom helped to get the ambulance to my house, and that was the beginning of my nightmare.

I was eventually admitted to the ICU because of the loss of blood and given great nursing care at Mercy Hospital. After a stomach scope and CT scan the next day, the results were in. Stomach cancer. I didn't have it in me to tell Leo until he was back Saturday night. But he stayed with me although he hadn't slept and traveled all of the way from India. My parents were also with me, by my side, the whole time, and Matt and Heather also stopped by to check on me.

Although Mercy in Cedar Rapids gave me great care inpatient, since I have all of my medical history at the University of Iowa, so I chose to go there for cancer treatment. I called right away on Monday morning to Patty Swicherath, who I have been seeing at the survivorship clinic got me an appointment for the following day with Dr. Berg. I did everything to get my records and tests from Mercy Hospital released to UIHC to get the ball rolling.

Although I have gone through this experience, I have been so dearly thankful for my family, all of my friends who have expressed concern and kind words and of course my two dear dogs who are with me daily. Without any of you, my sanity would have been gone out the window. Believe me there have been a few days that I have lost it, but now I am moving on with the fight.

Much love,
Amy B.