Back At It!!

I am now on maintenance treatment for the time being.  Instead of having to go weekly I now go every three weeks for about an hour.  Today started this new treatment, with a new drug.  Although all went great it is a little weird tonight sitting wondering if or how the new drug will effect me.  It's all any of us around here can think about.  And the crazy part is I may have no side effects at all which is what of course we are all hoping for.  But what I do know is no matter the side effects it won't be as bad as before because I don't have it for 2 weeks...yes!!  It's so easy to focus on the little things like side effects or treatment day and loose sight of the big picture.... MIRACLES ARE HAPPENING!!.  I'm trying to remind myself to thank God daily for the blessings occuring in my body and my life.   So I continue to ask for prayers for strength and good health.  I know all of our prayers are being heard! 

You find out who your friends are...

An amazing number of people showed up with their big old hearts on Saturday to show their support for me.   Saturday night my amazing family held "Ropin for Tasha".   Because of the weather the roping part of the event was canceled but they still had a bbq dinner and an auction.  The turn out was incredible.  Not only do I have what I consider one hell of a family I have been blessed with some of the most giving friends of our family.  It was an amazing, laid back, fun event.  I was able to see some family friends I haven't seen in years and it felt like I was a kid again!  To be surrounded by family, friends, food, and fun....I can't imagine a better way to spend an evening.  And to think they were all there to support my family makes it all the more remarkable.  Thank you to my Northwest Missouri Family and Friends.  I have an amazing family!  We have always been very, very close.  Well this time I think they out did themselves.

Answered Prayers

Last week when I met with Dr. Davidner he told me about a new drug he thinks we should switch to but before being able to switch he needed to see where we stood.  So he ordered a PET scan which I had this Wednesday.  After a long evening and day of waiting we finally got the call with excellent news.  The PET scan had good results.  My body has responded tremendously to the treatment I've been doing.  My lung is completely clear as is my back.  A tumor is starting to grow back in my lymph nodes but Dr. Davidner assured me we could handle this.  So we are switching courses and I will be starting a new drug in a week.  This week we have to prepare my body and I have to begin B12 shots.  The reason for changing at this time, is new findings that doing this treatment after the course I was previously on increases the time a lung cancer patient stays in remission.  So while this is fabulous news and God has blessed me more than I could ever imagine by no means am I clear and this is over.  What I have had to come to terms with is I will have to learn to live with cancer.  This will be a life long journey for me....but for now it is one more miracle on the road to what I have to believe will be miracle after miracle! 

Not my week!

Not the best week here.  I first called to set up my PET scan and soon got news I was not happy with.  I found out that when Dr. Davidner had said 3 treatments and then scan he had meant 3 rounds of treatments.  9 full weeks not the 3 weeks like I had thought.  I guess that was wishful thinking on my part!  I will do whatever it takes and make the best of it but I do have to admit I was a bit disappointed.  My friend Sarah and I head out to treatment on Thursday, I have my blood drawn, get weighed, blood pressure taken, and go sit in my recliner, get my self wrapped in my blankets, all the fun weekly tasks.  Then we wait and wait and wait.  I'm beginning to think ok people what's going on here.  Finally the nurse comes to let me know Dr. Davidner has decided my white blood count is too low for treatment that day.  She tells me I need to take it easy for a week and stay away from big crowds.  Or places that large amounts of people go.  I think how weird I feel great.  I guess I'm taking it as a blessing a week without chemo equals a week without side effects.  And so today Ava and I kicked off our week of relaxation by staying in our jammies all day and watching movies.  Doesn't sound to bad does it!  We continue to pray for good health here at the Berls house and ask that you do the same.  Thank you for all the support! 

Little People Big Blessings!

Each year late May I begin to get sentimental and sad that my first graders are moving on to second grade.  We really become a family in our classroom.  This year though is so different.  Because of everything I've gone through I have grown so close to my first graders and their families.  These families have become more than my first grade parents they've become my friends.  As I sit here thinking about all I need to do to wrap up the school year I can't help but feel very emotional and quite frankly a bit scared.  Since February these people have been through it all with me, in a way they're my comfort and it's a bit scary to think of them leaving.  They understand and trust that I will give it my all to do best by their children.  It's crazy to think ahead to the fall and a new set of families coming in and my having to gain thier trust and I'm sure soothe their worries that their child has been placed in the classroom of the teacher who spent many days absent because of cancer.  I also have high expectations that the case will be quite different by August and I will NOT be the teacher with cancer rather the teacher who HAD cancer.  All I can hope and wish for is that God blesses me with another classroom filled with compasoniate giving families as I'm sure he will!  

Thank you for all you've done for me and with me Room 3!

Here We Go Again.....

 

 Started back with chemo today....all three drugs.  We were there from 9:30-3:00 long day!  I will do two more weeks after today and then schedule the PET scan and see where everything stands!  I also met with Dr. Davidner and he said everything looks good. I've been having a little pain in my side and have a mild cough.  He thinks the cough is just related to allergies and nothing to worry about.  He didn't feel anything out of the ordinary in my exam so just wants me to watch the pain and if it gets worse we will do some scans.  But he told me how great it is that I am listening to my body and not blowing one little ache or pain off....he needs to know everything.  Uhhh no problem!  Here's what I've discovered, once you have cancer nothing feels like "just allergies".  You listen to your body more than you did before.  You feel every little tiny thing and you wonder what it is.  You try and think to yourself oh it's probably "just allergies" but in the back of your mind you still wonder.  Now really listening to your body and telling your doctor everything is what should have always been happening however if one did this they'd be considered a hypochondriac and crazy!!  So what I've learned and can share with everyone......who cares let your crazies out, listen to your body and call your doctor too often!   

Oh What a Night.....



The Terrace on Grand



The Yummy Cupcakes


 I think one of my best decisions was made at the Outback in Maryville on St. Paddy's Day 1995 when I vowed to be friends forever with Michelle Krambeck Burge.  Who knew then the roller coaster ride God would send our friendship on.  We've been through a lot of good and a lot of bad these past years but I know I can always count on her no matter what!    So Thursday night she out did herself she decided to throw a fundraiser for me.  She enlisted the help of a few friends and family and set out to pull off an incredible event.  And boy was it ever!  Overwhelmed.......completely overwhelmed.  That's the only way to describe how I feel about the support I got at this event. Hundreds of family members, friends, co-workers, friends of friends all there enjoying themselves, eating, drinking, watching a surprise show, listening to music, dancing, buying auction items and all for me.  UNBELIEVABLE!!

The Surprise Visitors



The One Who Put It All Together



Thank you to everyone for all your support......you are all AMAZING!!  You can find all the pictures from the night at www.j2photography.com/tashasfight