Week 43 - How Fitness Helped Me Through Cancer

I'm super psyched to follow up my remission announcement with a guest blog I was asked to write for GuideWell.com! GuideWell's blog is focused on providing practical health and wellness information and tips.
Check it out:

How Fitness Helped Me Through Cancer | GuideWell

During the Miles for Moffitt race I met the lovely V, who does their marketing. She had recently seen my site and came up with the idea of the post given my fairly active lifestyle prior to all this and efforts to keep myself healthy during. Thanks GuideWell and V!

Week 42 -- In Remission (again) !

I was told by my oncologist today that I am in complete molecular remission. Meaning, they do not detect cancer in my bone marrow or DNA where the chromosomal abnormality that created the cancer started. Whew!

Amanda took a pic right after I got the news

There is a mixture of relief and happiness, but to be honest I am still very stressed and on edge. I still have two more years of medication which I will start in the next two weeks. I will also need to have Port St. Lucie (double lumen port) surgically removed sometime in the next months. I hate to sound a little underwhelming, but I think it's the stress of many months building up to this day has left me totally emotionally drained.

However, Amanda and I had a celebratory lunch and the waiter gave us a glass of champagne on the house since Amanda proudly told him of my victory today. After that we went home and I passed out asleep lol. Tonight my friends got together to congratulate me, so at the place they had me sign a dollar bill to put on the wall. I swear this "slogan" was not my idea for once. Haha but I love it.

I've decided to go off the radar for about a week or two, and just digest and de-stress. Mike and I are going to visit his parents here in FL this weekend, which will be a nice distraction until I start up medication and life again. We have not seen them in almost 2 years, mostly due to all this craziness. Thank you EVERYONE for all the ridiculously amazing support. From the bottom of my heart, the love and encouragement means everything to me!!!!

Week 42 - You down with BMB & WWGWT?

Yesterday I had my BMB (bone marrow biopsy) very early - got there at 6:15 am. Actually the procedure wasn't as early as planned because there was a glitch in the computer system so I was delayed about an hour-ish. No big deal. I experienced pain coming out of the procedure which isn't typical (go figure) so I was given pain meds. I'm not sure why I am just so sluggish still today, wonder if it's just the meds wearing off? Other than that, I'm just laying on the couch somewhat enjoying the rainy weather.

Sadly for Amanda I didn't get that colorful post-anesthesia. But once again I insisted rather immediately after waking up that I was ready to go. Here I am, half awake...serving post bone biopsy realness!!! Woosh!

Hi Dahhling's

For whatever reason I have been having difficulty sleeping normal hours again.

*Transition to random Ashley story* 

When I was a kid learning about history in school I guess I assumed George Washington was the most important person...like EVER. I guess when I had idle time (which seems like a lot) I would wonder what he must think of current day things - cars, computers, phones, etc. Pretty deep for a young kid huh? I probably qualify for Mensa or some philosophical society. One day several years back over happy hour I told a friend about my "What would George Washington think about __" story. She thought I was crazy (or awesome). In an effort to curb my late night boredom I have birthed the following ideas:

Tumblr: whatwouldgeorgewashingtonthink

Twitter: WWGWT

And yes this is what happens when you get older and still have idle time.

Week 42 - Get Your Ash In Gear Team on Miles for Moffitt Day

Hello! Hello! What a success the Miles for Moffitt race/walk was! Minus the fact I spilled coffee all over the left side of my shirt, which was easily covered by my bib number. We had almost 30 Get Your Ash in Gear team members rockin' shirts in a variety of events (1 mile, stroller walk, 5k run, 5k walk). I want to say a HUGE thank you to my work crew for organizing this all. And also to all of you who donated to Moffitt. All of the registration fees and donations went towards their research facility which is growing and progressing every year. Our team raised $865!

Mike, His Beard and Me-GWTS

The Group minus a few and me starting the race

Saying HI to one of the race organizers I met online - I'm SO celeb

Post Walk/Run Cancer Survivor Tribute -
Me Front and Center Towering over the Banner
One Million Raised in 7 Years ( I think )

REG (speaker and local anchor) and ME looking shady
PS - I am rocking my Team In Training Hat - Represent!!

Thank you again for all your support, near and far Girl With The Swirl frennns!

Week 41 - Get Your Ash In Gear Shirt

Lately my days are mostly filled with walking to get coffee, walking, doing mini workouts with light weights and watching tv. I also registered to attend a meet up for young cancer survivors next week (will update on it). Now that I've gotten that out of the way (SNOOZE...at least on the part on my daily activities), I am excited to share what the shirts look like for the Get Your Ash In Gear team for Miles for Moffitt! My order hasn't come in yet - this is just my office's order. Love it, love it! We are going to be the coolest people at the race I am quite sure of it.

Other than that, I am anxiously awaiting this bone marrow test coming up on the 15th. I have to wait a whole week to get the results which sucks. But hopefully it will come back that I am in remission and I can move on with my life rather soon after.