I am cancer-free! My husband and I wistfully joke that someday we’ll look back and say, “Remember that summer I had breast cancer?” It’ll be just one more little chapter in the story of our lives.
I’m still going through the process of reconstruction, so I have at least one more surgery in my future, and I’ll have to take an ... Read More
Tag: saul phillips
The Cost of Removing a Body Part
What I could spend $1900 on:
542 gluten-free cupcakes
126 self-help books
40,500 Advil tablets
678 gallons of gas
7600 meals at the North Dakota food bank
What I will spend $1900 on:
The removal of 1 breast.
Saul and I actually had a lot of laughs last night talking about how rude it is that I would have to A) Fight cancer and B) Pay for ... Read More
Get-Away to Get a Second Opinion
Two heads are better than one, and two opinions are better than one — as long as those two opinions match.
My husband and I are off on a romantic getaway to get a second opinion on my future breast cancer medication.
Doctor #1 suggested Tamoxifen with no chemo.
Doctor #2 suggested Tamoxifen with no chemo.
Praise the Lord, we have ... Read More
I’m Not That Mom
You know that mom who sits next to her children each night as they do their homework? The one who helps them pick out their clothes and perhaps even irons when necessary? It’s the same mom who makes her children’s breakfast for them and packs their lunches each morning.
Yeah… that’s not me.
I start off the morning around 7:45 ... Read More
My First Day of School, Too
Today’s a big day in the Phillips’ household. It’s the first day of school! Ben won’t start full-day kindergarten until next Tuesday, but this year all three of my kids are in elementary school!
It’s also my anniversary! It’s Saul’s anniversary, too. Happy 15th, Sweetie!
And it’s P-Day. Today is the day we get the final pathology report which will ... Read More
Ready or Not… the First Look
Thursday, August 13, 2015. This is going down in the books as the day my husband first saw the results of my mastectomy. It’s been four weeks and two days since the surgery.
I, myself, went from refusing to look at the wounds to staring in fascination at the flat spot and incision line where my breast used to be.
Every ... Read More
Why You Should Love Your Husband Today
I was sitting on the beach in my little chair looking at my phone. All of a sudden I looked up and saw this…
My husband of 15 years and my 11 year old daughter, both with their hands on their hips, waiting to catch the next wave. My heart swelled and I thought, “I love that man.”
My parents got ... Read More
Parenting with Cancer
There are certain things that seem to have disappeared during this cancer journey, the most alarming of which is my inability to filter my words before I speak. I think it, therefore I say it. Sometimes it’s funny, sometimes it’s not.
Saul must have the same problem, because he is constantly cracking jokes about catching my breast cancer. He’s lucky he ... Read More
What’s Normal Anyway?
When I was first diagnosed back in May, Saul and I did everything we could to keep busy. The busier you are, the less time you have to think. It worked pretty well, but I remember every once in a while it would catch up with me. I would be on a fun family adventure when all of a sudden ... Read More
No Surgery!
It turns out the lip gloss and sparkly earrings worked! The doctor totally forgot about the surgery!
Okay, he didn’t forget… but he agreed with my assessment that my body was doing a fine job of healing on its own and perhaps we could give it just a little more time to finish the job.
I was sent home with strict orders ... Read More
