Boyette Party of 5

12 years ago today, I was in Omaha, Nebraska waiting to receive my stem cells.  I had been through 2 years of absolute hell.  9 rounds of intense chemotheraphy, an experimental radio labeled anitbody treatment and over 60 radiation treatments, among shots, transfusions and bouts of extreme nausea.  And this was the culminating event?

I remember so many things as if they were yesterday.  As a cancer survivor, you never forget.  These things are engraved in your mind to make you appreciate every day.  I remember having mouth sores so bad that I was on morphine.  In my absolute blur, I saw a gatorade commercial and the guy was drinking fruit punch flavored gatorade.  I assume that anyway, because it was red.  Till this day, I CRAVE fruit punch gatorade when I am thirsty.  I remember not eating for 22 days (my rear end says otherwise these days) and not being able to taste for months.  The first time I took a sip of diet dr. pepper and tasted it, I thought I'd won the lottery.  The night I told my mom, "You have to let me go" because I was losing control of my body is one I'll never forget, although I wish I could.

Being a survivor is an amazing, but tough.  I wish there were a day that I could wake-up and not think about it.  But that has yet to happen.  Especially now that I have 3 precious lives that depend on me. One of my biggest worries about this dreadful disease ever coming back, is Kael, Karis and Kort.  I want them to have me as their mommy.....forever.  But life is no guarantee, so maybe that's why I choose to live my life with no regret.

My mom, dad and Karekin were my care partners, and I cannot ever thank them enough.  They were and still my absolute heros.  I can remember Karekin racing me in the gurney down the halls with reckless abandonment.  I just wanted to feel free of everything and he had a way of doing that for me.  My time with him during my cancer was priceless.  He was so scared of losing me and I was so scared of leaving him.  My dad was and still is the one person in my life that can make everything better.  He couldn't fix this, but he came close in every way imaginable.  My mom....I don't even know where to start.  The God Lord kept me here, but she was right beside him.  She encouraged me on my darkest of days and reminded me that I had so much to live for.  She was so right.  I love them all with every part of my being.  They loved me unconditionally.

And Heather....she was and still is my best friend.  She was always there for me, even when I pushed her away.  She believed in me.  And she had my shiny bald head in her wedding.  Oh our wig shopping story!!!  I love you H, and thank you for true friendship.

So on this day, I am reminded of how much God loves me.  How he does perform miracles.  I was 4th stage with 10% chance to make it. My mom gave me this and I live by it!!