Sept 21 – After the Race!

I had the most amazing time at the Race for the Cure in Portland. There were approximately 27 women there on 'my' team. We had shirts that were lovingly designed by my friend Nancy. On the front is a picture of a hand (mine) donned with my breast cancer bracelet reaching for the hem of Jesus' robe and it says "Steppin' with Stephanie". On the back is Psalm 91:14-16 personalized like this:

"Because she loves me," says the Lord,
"I will rescue her;
I will protect her, for she
acknowledges my name.
She will call upon me, and I will answer her;
I will be with her in chemo,
I will deliver her and honor her.
With long life will I satisfy her
and show her my salvation."

We had so many people reading our shirts and commenting on how cool they were. The goal for me going to the race was to show people that we can have hope even in the middle of a crisis when we are trusting in God. I think that the amazing group of women we had there got that across loud and clear!

I had been doing so bad on Saturday that I couldn't even stand long enough to put on my makeup. I was very weak and nauseous. Then, yesterday was another hard day. So, the fact that I was able to walk the entire 3+ mile walk on Sunday FEELING GREAT was just such a testimony to everyone that God clearly wanted me there! I had brought a wheelchair just in case and I didn't even have it brought to the race because I woke up knowing that I was going to make it.

For me, the experience was very emotional. When we began our walk to the start line, the first lady I saw in a pink hat (survivor) started me on my crying for the day! Each time I would catch the eye of someone else in a pink hat, we would smile a knowing smile to each other and then I cried. It was such a healing, supportive atmosphere and I am so glad that I was there. I will be doing the Race for the Cure every year in Seattle (coming in June) for the rest of my LONG life. 🙂

As I said, I am doing much better today. I had been continuing to have really bad headaches even after stopping the anti-nausea medications. So, I'll be discussing that with my oncologist next Monday. I was up last night much of the night again with the headache, but it has lifted this morning. So, I would appreciate prayer for the following areas at this point:

1. That the side effects from the medications would subside quicker with my next treatment.
2. That I would be able to sleep. This is a big one! If I don't sleep, the rest of the day is pretty defeating. I am typically getting a few hours broken up by many hours of trying to sleep through the headache.

It has occurred to me a few times that some people who see me are surprised that I have breasts after having a double mastectomy. I'm thinking some people may have missed the details of my surgery. So, for those of you not easily embarrassed, here's the deal: I had implants at the same time that I had surgery. They are HUGE right now because they have to 'pump them up' beyond the size that I will eventually be with my permanent implants. Those will be put in after chemo is done. They will be much nicer (the temporary ones are not very soft) and look like very young, nice real ones! So, there you have it. The great thing is that they look EXACTLY the same with or without a bra! For that reason, I'm calling them my 'Consolation Prizes'. Hey, you gotta get what you can out of this kind of thing, ya know?! After a combined total of about 3 1/2 years of nursing my babies, it feels pretty much like a miracle! hee hee!

Thank you for your prayers of support this past week. I feel so honored to have so many people remembering me and lifting me up. You have all been such a blessing to me. One thing that blew me away was that everyone that came to the race thanked ME. I kept laughing at that because I felt so thankful to each one of them for showing me so much love and support and they felt thankful to be part of it. It just demonstrates the awesome benefits of serving and encouraging one another. It's a two-way street and it's very humbling to be on this side of it!

I love you all,
Stephanie

p.s. To find out the significance of Jesus' robe on our shirts, check out Mark 5:25-34. Warning: It will make you cry!