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How Time Seems to Fly These Days…

Hey y’all,      It seems like time just keeps speeding up and doesn’t slow down. I am still going through treatment. Immunotherapy & the Clinical Trial drug. I’ve been dealing with a lot of side effects: splits/cuts all over my hands and feet, bad rashes all over my body, constant itching, and debilitating nausea. The nausea has been so bad the past couple of months that it has been making me sick and unable to do anything except pretty much lay in bed. I’ve lost more weight as a result of that and my doctors seem concerned. I had an endoscopy done this past week and I have a severe case of gastritis (inflammation of the stomach). They have prescribed me a new medicine to hopefully help with that. The past few days have been a lot better and I haven’t been as nauseous. I also still have my feeding tube, but I am starting to eat a little more by mouth. It’s been a struggle because my tongue doesn’t really move very much at all. My speech seems to be getting somewhat be...
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Update: June 26th, 2025

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   It’s been a few months since I did an update—for the most part, my side effects remain the same. I do have a PRAISE REPORT to share: My latest CT scan shows that the current cancer mass has shrunk by nearly HALF since I began these treatments in late February. I am thanking my Lord up above for this! I pray that it will continue to shrink until it is no more.     Due to the continuous side effects that are negatively impacting my skin, my oncologist has referred me over to a dermatologist that specializes in dermatology for cancer patients. I am hoping that this helps and that this doctor will have some other remedies for me to try. The splits on my hands/fingers/heels are very painful, and the ones on my heels bust open and bleed whenever I walk. I will say that the breakout all over my body has gotten better recently, so that’s a plus!     In other news I just turned 36… it’s hard to believe. It’s funny how when we’re younger we want time to ...
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Update: April 21st, 2025

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 I know it's been quite a while since my last update. It's been almost a month now since we lost our fur baby Harley. She was by my side and my best friend for almost 13 years. Not a day goes by that I don't miss her. It's been a really tough time emotionally. As far as my treatments go, I'm still receiving treatments weekly in Charleston. The side effects are still rather rough, but not as bad as what I have gone through before with chemotherapy and radiation so far, so I am thankful for that. I have felt like I'm gaining a little energy back the last couple of weeks. Last week I was invited to a bible study where I met some wonderful people who didn't know me, but they surrounded me with love and prayed over me (shout-out to them! Picture below). This blessed my heart so much and I am so grateful for that group (and thankful for Deava and Isaac who invited me). That's what it's all about: people praying for people; people loving one another even if...
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Update: March 7th, 2025

Hey Everyone!  I just completed my 4th week of infusions. I go once a week to Charleston to receive the Study drug infusion and then once every three weeks I also receive the immunotherapy infusion. While we are not told if I received the actual drug or the placebo for the Clinical Trial, all signs are pointing to me actually receiving the drug according to the side effects I have been having. So far those side effects have included: Acne-like rash breakouts all over my face, chest to stomach, head, and back, nose bleeds, gum bleeds, mouth blisters, and skin cuts (like paper cuts) all over my hands and fingers. Not fun side effects that's for sure, but if it cures the cancer, I can put up with all of that. Infusion days are super long. I'm there most days from 7:15am to anywhere from 4-6:30 pm. It's exhausting to say the least. I'm doing good otherwise though. Still on the feeding tube, but I was able to drink a milkshake ..still can't eat anything solid. As always,...
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February 19th, 2025

 Good morning! I said I would do another update once treatment began, so here it is. This past Friday I had to be at MUSC at 7:15am for lab work. Then I had to see my doctor, who went over everything again with me. After that, I went down to the Infusion Center for my first immunotherapy treatment & first clinical trial treatment (I was approved for the clinical trial!). With the clinical trial treatment, it is what's called a "double-blind," which means that the doctors nor I know if I am receiving the actual drug or a placebo. However, I am for sure receiving the immunotherapy drug for sure. They told me that the first time or two would be longer because they have a set time period that they have to monitor me after the treatment to make sure that I don't have any initial adverse reactions to the drug. I didn't finish treatment and observation until a little after 4:30pm. It was an extremely long day to say the least! Then of course our drive home Charleston...
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Update 2/5/25

     I know it's been a few weeks since I posted...things have been a little hectic. Originally I was supposed to have surgery this week to remove the cancer from my lower neck/upper chest area. After much thought and consideration I have decided not to do the surgery yet. Since this cancer keeps coming back even after multiple surgeries, my doctors and I both agree that we need to try to attack it a different way. Also, even if we remove the cancer spot, there is a chance that it has already spread to other places in my body (since this spot got there through the bloodstream) and we just may not see it yet.       I will be starting immunotherapy treatment within the next few weeks. As an addition to the immunotherapy, I am also trying to get approval to participate in a Clinical Trial for a new drug. If I am approved, there is a 2 out of 3 chance that I will get the drug, and a 1 out of 3 chance that I will get a placebo pill. Either way, I will still...
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Update 1/16/25

Hey y’all. First I would like to thank you all again for all of your prayers. I’ve said this many times before, but waiting to hear if your cancer has come back never gets any easier. In fact, I believe it gets harder every time.   They ended up just taking a biopsy of only the nodule in my chest (right above my collar bone). It breaks my heart again to share that it did come back as cancer. They are planning to do surgery in 2-3 weeks. In the meantime, they are going to also do an ultrasound of my thyroid nodule to see if there is concern and if a biopsy is needed there. As for the area in my tongue, they will likely take biopsies while I am under anesthesia for the surgery coming up. I don’t know why this keeps happening… I don’t know why it keeps coming back and spreading… but I have to believe that there is a greater reason for it. Please continue to pray. Love you all💗    Philippians 1:19:  “For I know that through your prayers  and God’s provision of the ...
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