Thank you!

Thanks to many of you who have reached out on Facebook or through email to wish me a Happy Birthday! I've spent most of the day watching basketball, and seeing my bracket get worse and worse.

I was supposed to have treatment on Wednesday, but I have been experiencing abdominal pain and had some vomiting last week. I had similar symptoms a month ago, as well. I think the symptoms are related to hernias that I have, but they haven't been this severe since I had an intestinal blockage back in 2013. I am slowly starting to feel better. However, the recurrence of it twice in a month along with a bad cold made my doctor decide to postpone my treatment until April. I'm going to have a CT scan before then to check on the state of the cancer and to see whether there is anything new going on with the hernias since the last scan.

My mom has been out here this week. The family had spent a week or so down at Disney World. I managed to get down there for a couple of days, then Mom flew here on Monday. It was great to spend time with my family, and especially my niece and nephews!

I have taken the first steps toward a planned return to teaching this fall. It has been hard being away from work this last year. It has been a significant financial strain, but even more it has been very isolating, as the side effects make it difficult for me to go out much. I am looking forward to returning to the classroom this August, assuming that my body and the cancer make that possible. Thank you to those who have been praying for me as I made that decision and those who sent me words of encouragement.

I also want to thank those of you who have supported me through the GoFundMe page that my sister, Janet, set up. It means a lot to me that so many would make that sacrifice to help me get through this year. Among other things, that money helped me get to Florida earlier this month, something which was very important to me.

I don't know exactly what the next year and beyond will hold, but I am very thankful for all of you who have come alongside me.