Race4Hope ~ Hope4You

The ribbons they gave all the survivors.

This is the 2nd year my company participated in this race. Of course last year, at the time, I was not diagnosed with DCIS. This was alot more emotional. Having to hold back tears while they had all the survivors walk together. I heard many stories and found out there was someone even younger than myself in our area. She is 31 and just had her Mastectomy last week. Finding out early is a good thing and that is what Hope4You is all about. Education. I also heard from women who have found a lump but have yet to have a lumpectomy or have anything like a follow up since they discovered it. Fear is obviously is their reason. I just hope that one day they will do something further and I hope they live a long and happy life.

My Perfect Husband

I will try my best to keep posting here. It has been hard to want to put any updates.

Let's see...
Being diagnosed with DCIS (a stage of Breast Cancer) has been overwhelming and traumatizing all at the same time. I do not even know what I would have done without Ben in my life. I think when people are together in a marriage they sometimes wonder if this person will really take care of them. Not just take care of them but really be there for them. I know my husband had a heavy heart when we heard the news. He tried his best to keep his fears away from me. He was being positive and did everything and anything he could to make everything comfortable. Today I am still going through the stages of reconstructive surgery. It has been a long process. Ben has supported my choice to take things at a slow pace. He has been truly a perfect husband to me. Every couple has disagreements, that is a given but I have someone who has dropped everything not only for myself but our kids. He is loving and spends hours with the boys. I find them all in Marq's room having their guy time. He does the laundry, cooks, and still has time for a full time job and FT school. Plus me! I find myself wondering how did I deserve this. I have turned his life upside down and we have been only married a few years. Either way he still tells me that I am perfect and he loves me. We still can talk for hours and have comfortable silence a moment later. I love being home with Ben and the kids. They have been my sanity through all of this. My family has been great too but I know that without Ben I would have been emotionally crushed. I thank God everyday that I have him in my life.

Art Walk

Ben is one of the artist being featured here in Joplin for the month of June. He will have a exhibit at Instant Karma off Main Street and will have one during the Art Walk in 2 weeks. We are very excited for him. This will be a lot of fun for us. Now we just have to figure out what works will go where. Can't wait to see how it turns out!