Retrieved from: http://www.moderncancerhospital.com/cancer/multiple-myeloma/

Today I had a little bit of a me day. I went and got a pedicure and my nails done (I got a burgundy ribbon on my ring fingernails, which is the ribbon color for multiple myeloma). I also did a little retail therapy, which was so nice. Jason is under the weather today, cough and stomachache. I wish there was something that I could do to make him feel better. I hate seeing him sick. As for me, it is still the usual, exhaustion that a nap or good night of sleep can't fix, weakness, and back pain. It's funny, I always just assumed that the back pain I was experiencing was due to my spinal fusion I had 7 years ago. I thought this pain was normal pain that everyone who had a double fusion to L4-S1 had. Once it started getting worse, again, I just thought, well I am getting older, and it is the normal pain that comes with osteoarthritis and having had a double lumbar spinal fusion. Through the research I am doing about my condition I am learning that may not be the case, the pain could be due to the multiple myeloma.

Retrieved from:
 http://ourinterruptedfairytale.com/2015/03/multiple-myeloma-awareness-month/

Some of you know that I have been trying to get into a clinical trial at KU Med. I believe there is a reason why God chose me to have this specific type of cancer, whether it was to help others in some way through this blog, or to help others by offering to be in a clinical trial, any way that I can turn this into a learning opportunity, or a blessing to someone else, that is what I want to do! I am still really hopeful that God will bless me with being accepted into it. It will also help me tremendously with being able to afford my treatments better.

Today I am grateful for my husband. He is supportive and knows that sometimes a girl just needs a pedicure. Thank you so much babe! I love you so much!!! I am grateful that today I was able to go on my own to get a pedicure. I am grateful that I was able to drive myself to the nail salon and then the mall to do some retail therapy! There are so many people out there that are too sick to do those things, things that people often take for granted. Today I am grateful that I was able to get in and out of my car without assistance.

Retrieved from: Pharmacy Times

Something BIG that I am grateful for, my bestie, Emily Myers is having her 4th son today! Yay for her! I know she is ready to get that baby boy out and greet him to the world. I am praying that everything goes smoothly for her, and that he comes without any complications. I am so excited to meet him once Jason and I get back home.

LOL.....so funny, Jason just said that Emily just posted that David Allen Coleman is here!!! Yay!!! Momma and baby are doing great!

Thank you for visiting the blog today everyone and checking in with me. Please leave a comment, let me know what you think of the blog! Goodnight everyone, thank you for the support, and as always #Advocateforyourhealth


 I found the below image on facebook. I don't know where it is from, but I found it important to put here!

My Maid of Honor, Amber Hepler,
My Bride'smaid, Michelle Stueve
(also my sister-in-law)
And me at my bridal shower in
Aug 2015

My bestie, Amber Helper and I

Hello everyone, happy Tuesday. There is quite a bit to blog about today, and I don't know what pictures to correlate with the post I am about to write, so they may just be random pictures of my nieces and nephews, or other members of my family, or me and my husband, or our dog Ruby. For today there are a few things that I have on my mind. First off, the reason why I didn't post another entry last night is because I felt super defeated! I got a call yesterday from the doctor's office, it was the person who is helping me get one of my medications for treatment, Revlimid, also known as

My brother, Brian and his youngest
child, Annabelle. Isn't she cute!!?!!

Lenalidomide. This medication is an oral cancer drug, but it is highly government regulated due to birth defects that were caused by it in pregnant women back in the 1950's. Anyways, they were calling to let me know that the medication was approved for me by my insurance. She asked me if anyone had talked to me about the cost of the medication, I told her that I had been told during a doctors appointment that it was $1400 a month (which is actually a 21 day supply, you take it 21 days and are off for 7 days, and then repeat). She said that I was given the wrong estimate, that the 21 day cost for Revlimid is actually $14,000. That's right, get back up into your chair, don't worry I will wait a minute........I did the same thing, she said $14,000 and I promise you my heart skipped a beat, all the air in my lungs went out, and I fell out of my chair. She went on to say that I am lucky because I have insurance, so I immediately feel better because I'm thinking, "oh well good, maybe insurance is going to help substantially".....hahahaha. She went on to say, with insurance covering it your cost will only be $3,282 a month for 21 pills. I literally laughed, out loud, directly into the phone, for a minute! I mean, how could anyone EVER afford ANYTHING even remotely close to that? I mean if it is between me being treated by paying that amount or dying, I guess we know who's funeral you will all be at next cause crap, that is impossible. I don't even make that a month and I have a pretty good job for a 33 year old. She then went on to say that I can get financial assistance from the multiple myeloma foundation, which I greatly appreciate, but unless I can get like all but $100 covered, it just isn't something I can afford. Needless to say, all of this information was a little overwhelming, discouraging, and mind blowing quite frankly. The sad thing is, what choice do people have? It's either take this drug or your cancer gets worse.....I don't know what I am going to do. For now, I am going to continue with the plans Jason and I have made, which is to move back to Kansas City into my Mom and Step-Dad's house, continue to work with KU Med to try to get into a clinical trial, and file for social security disability and Medicaid. I hope it all works out, I mean what other option is there other than for it to work out?

2nd best night ever, the night before
our wedding!

 

Our Ruby

Our Ruby again.

Today, I am grateful for our puppy, our fur-baby, Ruby. Every morning when I wake up she is there laying right by me. She loves to cuddle, and she loves Jason and I so much! I am so thankful that we found her and were able to rescue her! I am also grateful for Kerry Hepler, she is helping me with getting all the information together that is needed for the clinical trial at KU Med and she is helping me with getting in the specialist there to get the best care possible. When I talk to her she doesn't treat me like a patient, from the first conversation I had with her I felt like I was her friend. She is working very hard for me and advocating for me and I appreciate that more than I can say. It must be something in the name, it can't be a coincidence that my best friends last name is Hepler (Yes, I am talking about you Amber Hepler, my sista since 7th grade)!

 

This concludes today's post, I am going home now to rest, super tired, super weak in my arms, and lots of back pain today. Much love to you all, thank you for the support, and as always, #ADVOCATEFORYOURHEALTH