Ashley's Story

In late December I noticed a bump on my neck. I went to the doctor. They were "concerned" by the combination of the bump and the fact that I was having night sweats (like when a fever breaks in the middle of the night, and you wake up drenched in sweat). He sent me for a CT scan. They scan showed that I had several areas of "concern" (I put that in "" because they said it a lot!) After seeing the results, he wanted to do a biopsy to determine exactly what we were dealing with. On January 9th, I went under the knife (insert dramatic music here). He took out a lymphnode on the left side of my neck (the scar is still very visable - I honestly hope I have it forever - as a reminder). I got a phone call on January 19th with the results - it was Hodgkins Lymphoma. He referred me to an Oncologist (that I asked for). I met with her the following Tuesday - that's where the real rollercoaster starts!

On Tuesday, mom and I pranced up in to that doctor's office - completely terrified! Or, I was... if she was, she sure didn't show it! The doctor explained my type of cancer. She explained my treatments, what would happen - by the time we left that place I had appointments for every day!

Wednesday - PET Scan - full body scan to see exactly where the cancer is located.

Thursday - Port placement surgery - honestly the hardest part of all of this so far!

Friday - Ultra sound of my heart and lung tests

Monday - bone marrow test

On Monday - they did the bone marrow test, and they hooked me up for my first round of treatments, but there were problems. They started the prep drugs (steriods and anti nausea) and they were stinging! I told the nurse that it was stinging and she quickly figured out that the needle had come out of the port. When they reaccessed the port they were not comfortable becuase there was some resistance - they sent me to the hospital for a port study. The x-rays from that showed what they called a kink. They scheduled me for a surgery to have the port taken out and a new one placed (side note-I was still really sore from the first one).

On Wednesday, February 1st, I went in for the surgery. I was in the OR prep area, in my gown and all, waiting to head back. The surgeon walks in and says that I didn't have to have surgery. He spoke with a Radiologist, and they decided that they could fix this without surgery! (Insert me yelling internally "Thank you, Jesus! Thank you!!!!!) They wheel me over to X-ray, they use X-ray to access to my port. Once the needle was in, everything was fine - they had beautiful blood return and the resistance was gone. They gave me the thumbs up and sent me home.

I called the Oncologist office, and they told me to come in the next day at 8 am start chemo. So I did...

Thursday February 2nd, Mom and I go in for my first chemo treatment. We play the waiting game for all the doctors' approvals. They hook me up, and my day begins! I was blessed with an amazing Care-Pack full of goodies and games and magazines to help pass the time!!! Thank you, friends!

Today I went back for fluids - while there I recieved the best news!! My bone marrow showed "no evidence" of the lymphoma! We caught it before it hit the main organs, and my bone marrow!

I know that it was the prayers of my friends and family that are allowing me to make it through all this! Thank you all! I love you every one of you!!

So far, I have not felt the usual side effects! I feel great! That is where we are today...