October 27th 2009, Hope Springs Eternal

Just before my second Gamma Knife Surgery

on Oct 20th 2009, exactly one year after I

completed my Whole Brain Radiation

Rich and me in IRELAND on our dream vacation

to Italy & Ireland (Sept and Oct of 2009) ..I even got my hair cut in Venice

Keeping warm in the winter of 2008/2009

Going to the Cancer Center for my LAST Whole Brain Radiation

Oct. 20, 2oo8

This is how long my hair got AFTER chemo and BEFORE Whole Brain Radiation

Me as my hair begins to grow back the second time after WBR

Me during chemo therapy

Me after Whole Brain Radiation

My grandson Cole on left, me and my grandson Joe

after my mastectomy.

My dog Hannah, me and my oldest daughter Nicole

before my mastectomy

Hello everyone.

Today marks my 2 year survivor of

Breast Cancer. I was diagnosed with

Stage 4 Lobular and since

then I have slowly made progress .

I had a mastectomy on my right breast (and a tram flap reconstrustion) with removal of 39 lymph nodes on Dec. 12, 2007, chemo therapy starting 2/2008, following by radiation on

my right side and clavical. In the midst of this I developed Brain Mets and had Gamma Knife surgery in July of 2008. After the Gamma Knife surgery I developed more brain tumors

and had Whole Brain Radiation, 20 treatments. I've lost my hair twice .

I've been getting better and in October of 2009 I developed more brain tumors

and again had Gamma Knife Surgery to remove them. Each treatment was

successful. My body should be cancer free now..as all they saw was

the brain tumors..and those should be eradicated with the Gamma Knife I had

last week.

With God, there is ALWAYS hope.. My doctor says I'm a miracle. I say

" I am prove of God's miracle"

Thank to ALL of you who have prayed, cared, sent me love cards and gifts

and hope. I cherish each friend I've made. I hope sharing so openly

has helped some of you. I was the first in my family to have

cancer and didn't know any women who I could talk to who had

been through this. I do now and it is a blessing!!

In 2008 I lost my dad and my step mom within three months

and this year in June our sweet Collie Hannah passed away.

Yet in all this turmoil I continue to be blessed. I am stronger

in my faith, closer to my grown childen , my grandsons, my true friends and

my marriage is the best it's ever been. I consider cancer a

blessing. IT has made me a kinder and gentler Deena.

!!CELEBRATING LIFE!!

NEVER STOP FIGHTING

Fondly, Deena