5-weeks post colostomy reversal and hernia repair/abdominal wall reconstruction surgery.

I was diagnosed with advanced stage 3C high-grade serous ovarian cancer in December 2020. The one thing I wish I knew about myself was that I carried the BReast CAncer genetic mutation, also known as BRCA-1. The BRCA mutation has a 50% chance of being passed down by your mother and/or father. Cancer was not prevalent in my family that I was aware of, other than my father having prostate cancer and ultimately passing away from lung cancer in 2009. Who knew that prostate and ovarian cancer were closely related? I sure didn't! I figured as long as I continued to stay healthy, workout and eat right, I would be good. I was wrong. By no means am I telling people to not take care of themselves cause either way you'll get cancer. No! I believe being healthy when I got cancer saved my life. What I am saying is, know what is lurking inside your body. 📷 Nov 2020 Month before my diagnosis

This day last year was hard. 

Surround yourself with people who motivate you. No matter their situation, they still find positivity and love for life. I just met these two ladies for the first time at a Survivors & Sunrise hike at Friedrich Wilderness Park. A beautiful hiking nature park near the Dominion. 

I haven't had a tattoo in 20 years but when I got diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer I knew I wanted a tattoo. This disease has impacted my life so much, it just felt right. I decided on a butterfly to represent new life, a transformation. I will never be who I used to be. OC has made me a different person inside and out. Then of course the teal ribbon represents Ovarian Cancer awareness. I still have another one I would like to do but in do time. Maybe in the spring. So keep posted 😊

On 21 June I had my followup appt with my oncologist following my last chemo treatment, PET scan and labs to find out how 7 months of going through hell has finally panned out for me. I went into the appointment with mixed emotions, not sure what to expect. As he started to go over the scan all I could really hear was, "Blah, blah, blah". Like Charlie Browns mother's voice, until I heard the word "Remission". My CA-125 is at its lowest ever and my scan was good. I was and still am in somewhat disbelief. Is the cancer really gone? Like gone, gone? The answer to that question is "For now". As we all know, those that have been diagnosed with cancer, you're not technically cancer-free until you hit that 5-year milestone of no reoccurrence.

I miss yoga. It's time to get back to it! I'll be registering for classes starting next week. It's also time to get back to good eating habits. 

So happy to be done with this phase of my treatment. Cancer is a lifelong journey. I have to be realistic and know I have a greater risk of reoccurrence being BRCA1 positive. I start a PARP inhibitor in about 4 weeks, which is like low dose chemo in a tablet form that I will take daily. For now I will celebrate being cancer free!!! Every day I will hope and pray it doesn't return in one form or another. Thank you to my doctors, nurses, friends and most importantly, my family. Today wouldn't be possible without you all. 

May 8th is World Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day! Wear your teal for me 😊

BULVERDE, Texas --

Which one should I get? Such a hard decision. After I am cleared by my oncologist I plan to get a tattoo to celebrate my remission and also skydive again. I currently love #1, but my mind can be changed. The pink one #4 will be teal. I really like that one too! And #6 💙😊