Another GMA update...

Just got this email from the producer....

"As of this afternoon, it now looks like our MRI story is on HOLD for now. Too much other news filling up the show. As soon as I hear of our new airdate, I will let everyone know. Thanks for your patience."

Looks like we all get to sleep in tomorrow morning! I'll keep everyone posted!

GMA Update

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you all know that as of now, it's scheduled to be on Good Morning America Sunday morning. The producer said there will be a longer write-thru on the GMA website in the morning as well. She said if for some reason it moves to tomorrow morning, she'll let me know.

I'll post again if I hear more tonight!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I have SO much to be thankful this year! Especially now that I'm cancer-free! It's hard to believe that last Thanksgiving I had cancer but had no clue. It's amazing how fast life can change. Having cancer has definitely taught me to appreciate each and every day---don't take anything for granted! It can all change so fast.

I have my next big round of check-up appointments the next couple of weeks. I'll really have a lot to be thankful for if everything comes back normal again! It's hard to believe this is my 6 month check-up already! I feel more anxious for this appointment than any in the past though. I think it's because I haven't been under constant watch. Hhas the tumor come back? Has it spread somewhere else? Every little ache I have in my leg makes me nervous. I guess those feelings will always be with me. Or anyone who has had cancer for that matter.

I found out today that a girl that was in my sorority has Hodgkins Lymphoma type 2a. I feel devastated about it! Maybe it was living in Pullman for 4 years? Or Alpha Chi Omega?! I know that's not it, but I was sick more than I ever have been when I was there. Mono, kidney infection....not the healthiest environment to live in!

Ok, better go finish getting ready. We're going up to my mom and dad's at 12 and then we'll leave for Joe's parents tomorrow morning. I love the holidays! If only it would snow so we could go skiing-----then we'd REALLY have lots to be thankful for!!

A day in the life of Subie...

He has it pretty rough!

GMA Update

Hello! Just wanted to let everyone know that my story wont be on Good Morning America this weekend afterall. I heard from the producer this afternoon and as of now, it's not scheduled to run until the weekend after Thanksgiving. She said she'll send out an email update again on the 28th, so I'll let everyone know more next week.

I really can't believe Thanksgiving is a week from tomorrow. It makes me sad! Why does the time have to be going so fast? I feel like I'm in a time warp or something. I have to keep reminding myself that next week is really Thanksgiving. And the end of yet another month! We'll be at my parents on Thanksgiving and then we'll go up to Joe's parents on Friday. We've done it this way for the past 3 years and it works out great! And luckily Jayne (Joe's mom) is super accommodating and doesn't mind celebrating on Saturday instead of Thursday. We have the best of both worlds!

I found out today after talking to an insurance agent that no insurance company in Washington will give me individual coverage because I have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Here's what she said in her "rejection email"..."Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma" is one of the conditions that will disqualify you as an applicant in the State of Washington (Not just LifeWise, the entire state uses the same health questionnaire for every individual insurance carrier). I am sorry to have to say this!" Awesome. And COBRA is a great option and I'm thankful I can opt to do it, but $400 a month is a big chunk of change when I'm only working 20 hours a week. What are people supposed to do? It's not like I decided to get cancer!

Alright, time to go watch some Jon & Katie Plus 8....hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Good Morning America

Good Morning America ended up interviewing me!! I ended up getting a call from the producer on Saturday telling me their flight would land in Portland at 9:15 am Monday morning. I knew there was no backing out then!

The camera crew showed up a lot earlier than the Good Morning America girls. They totally transformed our house and made it look like a TV studio. Huge lights everywhere, cameras---they even had to put stuff on the outside windows to get the lighting right! I have never seen so much equipment!

Correspondent Lisa Fletcher was the one to interview me. They first interviewed me in our living room. We both sat on our bar stools face-to-face. They kept telling me to "pretend the cameras aren't there." Ya right!! It was so hard! After that we moved into our dining room and I explained one of the pictures I have of my leg during my biopsy and the tumor site.

My mom came out to just watch but after she started talking, they asked her if they could interview her too. I knew that would happen! I even warned her! She tends to get pretty emotional and fired up about the whole situation, so as soon as she started talking I knew they would want her to talk! She did an awesome job though!

After all of the interviews, they wanted Joe and I to cook something. We didn't really have anything to cook, so Joe made an omelet. It was so awkward! They told us to just talk and pretend they weren't there. I started to cut something and the knife I grabbed was duller than a butter knife and the camera man was totally zoomed in on my hands! Joe was like, "Do you need a sharper knife?!" Hahahaha.....hopefully all of that gets cut. It was pretty much an all day ordeal, but they said the clip will only be about 3-4 minutes.

After everyone left, I had to go to Peace Health and get my original MRI, the one that was misread. Since Dr. Nichols (my oncologist) is out of the country, they overnighted all of films to Dr. William Bradley at UCSD. Dr. Bradley is Chairman of the Department of Radiology, and a Professor of Radiology at UCSD School of Medicine. He knows his stuff!

The segment will air either on November 22 or 23. Nicole said she'll let me know next week what day for sure. I'll keep all of you posted!

I'm a little worried about giving Longview Radiology a bad reputation, but then again, they misread my MRI! Had it not been for the extreme pain I was in, I would've just assumed it was something that was going to take time to heal. And if it was totally obvious on the MRI and got overlooked, how many other people are walking around with horrible things wrong with them but are unaware because their initial MRI was read as normal? It's scary!

Alright, that's all. Just had to share the news! It all seems surreal. When they left I looked at Joe and said, "Did that really just happen?!" Definitely a once in a lifetime thing.

Hope everyone is having a good week!

Even though we all know that Obama will be the 44th President, I'm still addicted to all of the election coverage! I think it's all so fascinating! When I was a little girl I remember going to events where my dad would get up and talk and feeling so proud and excited....I can't imagine how Obama's little girls must be feeling now! I still get that excited/proud feeling---even if it's just him thanking everyone coming to the CAS party! I used to dream of my dad running for president (hahaha) and moving to the White House. In fact, I remember having dinner at Judy's one night and telling him he should run. I was convinced that he'd win because all of his employees would vote for him! Oh to be young and naive! I also felt like crying listening to McCain's speech last night. What a let down after all the hard work of campaigning!

Everyone is waking up excited for all of the changes promised to happen, but the thing that scares me is that everyone usually has an extremely hard time with change. It will be an interesting 4 years!

I had an email from one of my friends this morning.....I don't think she's happy.....

HOOORAY FOR SOCIALISM!!!!!!!
and NO MORE CHECKS AND BALANCES
and THE ELIMINATION OUR 2ND AMENDMENT RIGHT TO BARE ARMS
and "SPREADING THE WEALTH" BY HEAVILY TAXING SMART, EDUCATED AMERICANS WHO WORK DAMN HARD AND GIVING IT TO PEOPLE ON WELFARE, NOT EVEN MIDDLE CLASS WORKING AMERICANS
and PROPOSING A 986 MILLION TAX ON THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN ORDER TO END POVERTY IN OTHER COUNTRIES, NOT OUR OWN FIRST

Celebrating the Mommy-to-Be...

She really is pregnant, I promise!

Just a couple pictures from the baby shower. It was so much fun! Everything turned out perfectly! Now we just have to wait for the baby---it's going to be the longest two months ever! Thanks to everyone (especially all of you that drove hours to be there!) for making it such a special day for my sister!