On February 14, 2010, I started antibiotics because my lymph nodes surrounding my right collarbone and neck were swollen. The lymph nodes did not respond to antibiotic treatment and after a CT scan, fine needle aspiration biopsy, and excisional lymph node biopsy, I was diagnosed with Nodular Sclerosing Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The goal of this blog is to create an easy way for me to share my experience with my extensive support group of friends and family.
I wanted to say a quick THANKS to Terra of STYLISH WHITE FEMALE for choosing me as one of the winners of a pair of Talbots denim and a $50 gift card!!
The challenge:come up with an outfit incorporating a favorite pair of jeans and tell a little story about where you're going in the outfit...
My entry:
I call my look “Neutropenic-friendly Lunch/Shopping”. In February, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I just recently finished 6 months of chemotherapy. During the 6 months, the chemotherapy brought down my neutrophil blood cell count and caused a weakened immune system… aka “neutropenic”. I am permitted to go out in public, but have to be careful to keep a distance from strangers because I don’t know what I could catch from them. My friends and I often go on “neutropenic-friendly lunch and shopping trips” in the non-busy weekday afternoon for some AMAZING retail therapy…the BEST kind of treatment.
I included a few of my purchases in this look that I’ve acquired over the past 6 months that I LOVE to include in my everyday look and will work well into fall. PS. I found a lot better deals than what is listed through this site!!
From the Marc by Marc Jacobs handbag (love Marc Jacobs!), to the pearls (always a must for me!), 7 For All Mankind jeans (makes even an out-of-shape cancer patient’s butt look good!), above the knee boots (just bought this amazing Michael Kors pair), a Diane Von Furstenberg scarf (worn on my beautiful bald head), and finally… the Burberry watch that I just received as an end-of-chemo gift from my boyfriend’s aunt. The blouse is absolutely adorable, I don’t own it…but with Polyvore, we can dream. :)
Since diagnosis I continually said… “IF I’M GOING TO DO CANCER, I’M DOING IT IN STYLE!!” I feel like I stuck to my word pretty well.
Did I just pull the cancer card?? Yes, I’m pretty sure I did.
So what's next?? I need you to VOTE FOR ME on Red Chair Confessions (Talbots blog) on Sept 23-30th!! My entry will go head to head against the other winners' entries... The top 5 contestants with THE MOST VOTES will win a $250 gift card and a "special prize"!! I need my entire support group to get behind me to help me WIN WIN WIN! You all have been so great through the whole cancer thing, and I know you won't let me down.
(I'm not sure if you can vote multiple times.. if so, vote as much as possible. If not, pleeease tell everyone you know to vote for me!!... actually, tell everyone you know to vote for me, either way!!)
PS. I went to Talbots today to pick out my free pair of denim-- The ladies of Westmorland Mall's Talbots were soooo helpful and fun to play dress-up with... I chose the Signature FIt slim-leg ankle jeans (size 4)!! They'll go great with boots, flats, or heels-- perfect in my eyes. I'll definitely be back to visit them when I receive my $50 gift card, and hopefully the mega-prize gift card too (if I win)!!
Hello friends... I will be participating in both the Uniontown and Pittsburgh Light The Night Walks this year. Please click on the links below to access mine and my team's fundraising pages for each walk, respectively. If you are interested in joining either team, you can do so by clicking on the Team's Homepage and scrolling to the bottom and click "JOIN TEAM" (little red box). Please DONATE DONATE DONATE to my pages and/or walk with me!! WEAR PURPLE TO BOTH EVENTS!!
Oh, happy day!!! It has been quite a journey from the very first day when I found a lump under my collarbone. At times, it never felt like final treatment would come.. but sure enough, I'M DONE!! The night before was seriously like the night before Christmas morning. I was so excited.
I went to the treatment dressed in head-to-toe purple. I had my purple wig, purple shirt, purple nails, purple bag, purple dressed parents, purple friends, purple cookies.. it was my purple dream come true. The treatment itself was like any other... poke "Whitney", blood tests, premeds, ABV, moonwalk down the hall with the chemo pole, D. Wait what was that?? Yes I moonwalked and it was fabulous.
I was placed in a VERY VIP room which worked out well for my many visitors of friends and Hillman staff that came by to celebrate with me. It was roomy, had a nice window to look out, a TV bigger than 4 inches, and its very own princess bed.. it was the right way go out. Since the Hillman moved some things around, it worked out to be the exact bed that I was in for my bone marrow biopsy... and oh, how we laughed about how Dad passed out onto the floor one last time (yeah right, years from now we will still be laughing over his shining moment).
Upon my arrival, the nurses had a princess crown for me to wear and Amanda topped off my look with a purple feather boa.
On my 90 minute "D" bag, Amanda and I stopped by all the nurse stations and patient rooms on the 3rd floor to pass out cookies to spread some cheer and say goodbye. Before we knew it, 6 dozen cookies were gone and everyone was smiling. :)
Then it was the FINAL COUNTDOWN
(cue Europe YouTube video below now--hahaha)
5 minutes to go...
then I was done done done!!
Can you tell I was happy?
Next homework assignment for my support group: PRAY that my one month follow-up PET/CT and bloodwork is clean. The PET/CT and bloodwork is on September 30th and I'll get the results on October 4th. If all goes well, port removal surgery will soon follow.
Thank you to everyone who sent their Purple Day pics!! Here's what I've collected-- enjoy!!
and a few snapshots with my visitors during my last tx..
THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR SENDING PICS AND FOR ALL OF THE AMAZING SUPPORT. I COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH THIS WITHOUT YOU! THANKS FOR CELEBRATING PURPLE DAY WITH ME!!
I'll be posting more about the final treatment in a bit...
If you sent me a pic and it isn't posted above please resend it. My inbox was super full with your smiles and I tried to organize them the best I could.
Hello Everyone! My name is Teresa, I am a pharmacy student at Duquesne University and I was recently diagnosed with Nodular Sclerosing Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Thanks for all of the prayers and great wishes that I've gotten thus far. I couldn't battle this without such an amazing support behind me.
