the “booby call”

In hindsight, when I think back to that call I received on August 8^th, I am actually quite surprised as to how calm I was when I heard the words “Kelly, I’m sorry to have to tell you this but it’s not what we were hoping…” In true “Kelly” fashion, I had my notebook and pen with me and wrote down every word the doctor said. In some sense, I almost felt like I was prepared for this news, but at the same time I was hoping it wouldn’t be true.

After the call ended is another story. All of a sudden, everything felt very foggy and shaky. My world was literally shifting before my eyes. Then came the collapse and tears. So many thoughts ran through my mind. One thing I know for certain -- I will never be able to adequately thank the amazing individual who rescued me after that life-changing call. You know who you are.

To be honest, when I received my specific diagnosis, I didn’t realize that there were various types of breast cancer. I just thought it was one disease with various stages. With all the media coverage, you would think that I would have known more. Sadly, I didn’t pay as much attention to it as I should have. Sure, I acknowledged breast cancer awareness before but now I get it. In fact, now, I feel like I could write a book on the subject matter.

One of the things they tell you when you receive your diagnosis is -- don’t do any research on the Internet. I’ll admit it was hard not to look. After all, you do want to learn and understand what’s going on with your body. But I quickly understood why they make this recommendation. While filled with a lot of information and resources, it is also a scary world that can be very negative. Seriously, who needs any more fear or worry? So, I put a stop to that nonsense. Instead, I chose to get the facts from other reliable sources – ones that would fill me with hope, strength and courage.

So, you may be looking for the details of my specific diagnosis but you won’t find them here. While I am open to talking about everything, I’d rather not give the medical terminology on this platform to then be turned around and looked up online – as it won’t be helpful to anyone. If you find yourself wanting to know the facts, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m more than willing to share. I just ask that you keep thinking positive, like I have!

Now I think I need to lighten the mood a bit…what do you say? How about a lil’ musical number to bring out the WARRIOR in all of us? My youngest brother, Ryan, is not only a very talented artist (he designed my blog – love it) but also a great musician. Check out his remix of the song “Warrior” that he recently entered into a contest. Let’s all vote and get him that 1^st place he deserves! Thank you, Ryan, for your beautiful creations and heart of gold. I love you so much.

Fun Fact: My first name means “Warrior Woman” and my middle name, Nicole, means “Victory of the People.” So, I often like to say that I’m successful in my battles…and I know I will win this one.

Ain’t no call like a Booby Call!

Kelly

P.S. Thank you so much for all of the encouraging comments and for joining my Boobster Club – your love and support means the world to me!

the “pits”

Over the course of my life, several friends have always told me that I need to have a blog and write about all the crazy sh*t that happens to me. Trust me, there are some pretty epic stories. To be honest, I’ve thought about it from time to time but didn’t really have something that moved me enough until now.   

The original idea for my blog was to recap a story (or ten) from my day, where literally the most awkward, unusual, hilarious, uncomfortable, insane, out of this world sh*t...you get my drift…would just simply happen to me! While they typically weren’t pleasant in the moment, they certainly made for great laugh-your-ass-off stories and conversation starters after the fact! 

Even though the new direction of my blog has taken a bit of a twist of fate, I hope to still keep it light-hearted but also real. Don’t worry; I’ll still throw in some of my crazy stories.

Now you’re like, “Okay Kelly, enough of the boring background -- spill it! Get to the point. What’s this new direction you speak of?”

So here it goes…

I woke up on Monday, July 23^rd and started my normal get ready for work routine, little did I realize that was a day I would never forget for the rest of my life. I hopped in the shower and went to shave my “pits,” when my wrist grazed against a rather obvious lump on my right breast. 

At that moment, my stomach dropped. I was pretty freaked out. What is this thing that seemed like it popped up over night? I managed to finish shaving but as soon as I got out of the shower, I called my GYN. I wasn’t going to mess around with this, especially because I didn’t have a good gut feeling. I explained that I found a lump and was there any way I could be seen that day. After some fight, I was luckily able to get in the next afternoon.  

Fast forwarding through the next two weeks:

• Saw my GYN who referred me for an ultrasound
• Flew down to Texas to celebrate Grandma’s 75^th birthday; she’s battling lung cancer
• Called to make ultrasound appointment and wasn’t going to be seen until late October…absurd! I fought back and got the next emergency appointment a week later
• Flew back home
• Had the ultrasound that confirmed it was a solid mass and required a biopsy to tell if it’s benign (not cancerous) or cancer
• The first biopsy appointment wasn’t for weeks out, so I fought for an emergency appointment and got in two days later
• Had an ultrasound core needle biopsy - funny story about that, I'll get to that another time
• 5 days later, on August 8th, I was called with my biopsy results 

 

This was the phone call that no one wants to get. You’ve probably guessed it by now…but I was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

That was August 8^th and it’s now September 18^th, needless to say a lot has transpired since then. That’s what I’ll unfold here in posts to come. 

So, as you can see my new direction for this blog is about my breast cancer journey, along with some of my promised crazy sh*t stories. 

The title of the blog was inspired by many of things but primarily because it’s just really uncomfortable to wear a bra right now!  Here I am, literally, “lettin’ it all hang out.”

Busting out of here for now,

Kelly