Cancer continued
January 1st 2024
Today, even though I woke up sick and eventually pooped myself (glad I chose the older underwear for the day!), we certainly enjoyed our day at NASA in Houston!
Tomorrow we will drive the hour to Houston just like I did for months this past summer to have bloodwork taken, ct scan done and see the doctor for results! I don’t know about everyone else, but I am hoping for stability and will be absolutely ecstatic with shrinkage. It is obviously not gone as I still could pass as a pregnant lady.
When I came home at the end of September, apparently I didn’t realize how bad of a mess I really was. I now know a lot of people were concerned about how long I was going to make it. I’m here to tell you I am not ready to leave this earth yet. Until I, myself, enter hospice, don’t worry. The past few months have been a nightmare with several trips to the ER, my first trip inside an ambulance as a patient (thank you Janelle Marie Tisthammer and Tammy Bode, it made the night/early morning much easier and I feel like we are different friends now), paracentesis, thoracentesis, throwing up a lot, being on the couch for 20+ hours a day, etc. I now am getting up and going out (only in dresses , still cannot wear pants, but that is a step in the right direction in my book.) I hope I am able continue to going forward and not backward. I do still need naps and I listen to my body when it says lay down and sleep!
There have been a circle of people that I want to say Thank You! You know who you are but I don’t think you know how big of a difference you’ve made in my life by just coming and sitting with me. I was in a horrible place a lot, but your visits pulled me right back on my feet!
Nicole Levander - I know I have told you this, but the paintings Emily made me have been hung for quite some time now, but I didn’t know how much I needed them until these past couple of months. If I was by myself and got into a bad spot I just looked up at those paintings and thought about Emily and how much I mean to her and that got my ass in gear again!
So, cheers to 2024 - let’s hope it’s a miraculous year and good things continue coming our way! I feel like I’ve been as low as I can go so far without actually being dead!
January 10th 2024
As long as I can remember I’ve always had issues with pooping. I remember at one point having to go to the doctor to get checked as I hadn’t pooped in quite a while. I was afraid to because of how bad it hurt. (I would bleed when I pooped because it was so hard and big as I had waited and held it in so long and allowed it to compact together) Instead of going to poop, I would hold it in either by crossing my legs or sitting on my feet and pinching my butt shut. I was too young to realize that by doing this, I was letting that poop pile up in my colon when it eventually had to come out. This led me to start taking Metamucil in powder form at a very young age to loosen the poop up to allow it to pass easier and not hurt so bad. Up until very recently, even though I definitely have loose enough poop, I have continued this process even as an adult knowing full well that I should just go poop like a normal person when I get the urge. I had no idea what it felt like to poop naturally. At 36 years old, I finally learned and found it to be a very weird feeling. The pushing urge happened when I was holding the poop in and of course I would really have to pinch my butt shut in order to keep the poop in, but the sensation of actually pooping and the pushing to get the poop out was an out of this world feeling for me the first time it happened. Your body knows what to do when it needs to expel something out as it also knows what to do when something is not right.
If you have made it this far you are probably saying to yourself, Ashley this is disgusting and super embarrassing – why would you post something like this? Well, because the disease I have is all things poop and I think we should talk about poop more. (Expect more poop post from me in 2024!) It was considered an old man’s disease, but did you know, “Of all cancers, colorectal cancer will take the most lives of people under 50 by 2030? – Fight CRC
Do you know the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer without googling it? If you don’t – you should be more aware of them all especially if you are under the age 50 and/or have family history of colorectal cancer! Knowing your history is super important, but don’t think for once that if you don’t have a family history you can’t get it because you will be wrong. This is a deadly cancer, and the sad thing is, it can be prevented!! Here are the symptoms – you can find more detailed information here - https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/.../prevention/symptoms/
1. Rectal bleeding or blood in the stools
2. Ongoing changes in bowel habits
3. Stools that are narrower than usual (this could mean there is blockage in the colon that could be a tumor – this is not good, obviously)
4. Frequent gas pains, bloating, a feeling of fullness, or abdominal cramps.
5. Weight loss for no known reason
6. Feeling very tired (weakness and fatigue) – Anemia is what I had and what was causing me to be tired all the time.
7. No Symptoms
Who here is 45 or older and has had a colonoscopy? Who has not?
#letstalkpoop
#allthingspoop
#stage4coloncancer
#colorectalcancer
#fittest
#colorguard
#colonoscopy
#45orolder
#knowyourfamilyhistory
#talktoyourdoctor
#relentlesschampion
#fightcrc
**Picture is from yesterday when I went swimming with my sister and nephews - over 30 pounds lost since November, still carrying those nasty twin tumors we are trying to kill. I may look pregnant, but I am still going to wear two piece bikini!
January 11th 2024
We finally were able to talk to my doctor last night. We didn't get the news we wanted, but it was news we are used to getting.
So when my lung fills up with fluid, I don't really feel any different until it has quite a bit of fluid. I then start to cough when I lay down and get a nauseous, dizzy feeling when I make a movement other than standing or sitting straight up. By that time I have about a liter or more in my lung. When I was down at MD Anderson and they did their scan, the left lung showed up completely white as that is what happens when there is fluid. They measured 6cm in height of fluid at the time of the scan in the left lung. Because it was white, they couldn't see any of the cancerous masses in there. When they scanned the right lung, it is showing a 2cm mass that is considered stable.
There are 3 masses on my liver. The first one is 4.7cm previously measured 3.9cm. The other two are 0.9 and 1.2. These two are new from the September scan that I had done before I left MD Anderson, but they were both seen on the scans I had done when I went to the ER in Columbus and Albion in November.
There are two masses that are in the right upper quadrant of the peritoneal that are stable. They measure 2.3cm and 1.1cm.
There is a mass on my left ovary that is measuring 4.5x7cm that is stable.
The most concerning mass is the one on my right ovary and it is super confusing to understand the measurements on all the reports and being told that it has actually grown by millimeters. The scan from September showed the mass was 12cm. The scan from where I was in the ER in Columbus and Albion in November shows the mass was 24cm and 23cm. It is now measuring 13x22cm. To me that means it is slowly shrinking and we were excited when we read the report to see that it is going down and something must be working. Unfortunately, my doctor said she measured it and found that it is actually growing by millimeters. Her concern right now is that it will continue to grow and start causing issues with my heart rate and blood pressure along with other things.
She is currently recommending that I complete this months round of Lonsurf and Avastin and then switch to a newly FDA approved drug called fruquintinib. She and my oncologist here in Columbus are going to discuss this together as there are a lot of questions surrounding what the CT Scan is saying and how I am feeling now compared to how I was feeling even a month ago.
Here is to clinically feeling better 
Dr. Renno said on Tuesday that my tumors feel softer and apparently that is a good thing!
#stage4coloncancer
#relentlesschampion
#allthingspoop
#talktoyourdoctor
#colonoscopy
#cologuard
#livertumor
#lungtumor
#OvarianTumors
#peritonealtumors
#fightcrc
January 18th 2024
Today has been a rough day! When I first started flying downhill, I was taking hydrocodone every 6 hours because the pain was so bad. We discussed with doctors awhile ago and decided there was another form of pain control I could do instead of the hydro so often throughout the day. Well I forgot to "renew" that form of pain control last night (I remembered this morning when I got up and Josh had already left). I told Josh this evening - the first couple hours without it is fine, but as the day progresses I start to feel it more and more. I had a LONG HOT bath where I literally just soaked, then went over to the fitness center with Kolby and Josh and sat in the hot tub, and finally came back home and had another LONG HOT bath where I soaked. Getting in and out of the tub sometimes can be quite the fiasco, and I was in a LOT of pain once I finally did get out. It has taken since 8pm ish for the other form of pain control to kick in with an added hydrocodone to help play catch up! On top of that I have acid reflux more and more as well as diarrhea almost every other day, sometimes a little everyday. Cancer is not for the weak....
When I got out of the tub and came out to the living room and sat down, Josh and the kids were watching Bohemian Rhapsody - something we have watched quite a few times. For some reason tonight, it touched my soul! We need more people like Freddie Mercury - I think he is my new favorite human I will not meet here on earth. If I had a genie, I think I would wish to be in the 80's as a adult (not an infant) for awhile! It just seemed so much easy going and I think I would have LOVED it!
I think the hydrocodone has finally kicked in and so to bed I go! Sweet Dreams, Friends!
#stage4coloncancer
#Colorectalcancer
#queen
#fightcrc
#hydrocodone
#hottub
#bath
#cancer
#bohemianphapsody
#freddiemercury
#genie
January 19th 2024
How many people have met their Health Insurance Deductible already this year?
I think this year we have set a record! I met my deductible on January 2nd 2024! We now owe MD Anderson $3200!
This is what cancer is....go get your damn colonoscopy! Colorectal Cancer is preventable! You don't have to go through what I am going through right now!
How many people have gone to get their colonoscopy just because they read a story about a friend or family member that has received news of a Colorectal Cancer diagnosis?
Just to give everyone an idea - this is a breakdown of how much my MD Anderson visit on January 2nd broke down:
Office/Outpatient Established High Mdm 40 min. - $547
CT Abdomen & Pelvis w/Contrast Material - $807
Diagnostic Computed Tomography Thorax w/Contrast - $462
Pharmacy - General Classification - $6.40
Laboratory - General Classification - $1,079
CT Scan - General Classification - $10,151
Pharmacy - Extension of 025x Single Source Drug - $150
Specialty Services - General Classification - $100
Grand Total: $13,302.40
#stage4coloncancer
#colorectalcancer
#getyourdamncolonoscopy
#colorectalcancerispreventable
#cancerisexpensive
#cancerdiagnosis
#colonoscopy
#dontwaituntilitstoolate
#relentlesschampions
#fightcrc
#mdandersoncancercenter
#CTScan
#bloodwork
#drappointments
January 28th 2024
Fight Colorectal Cancer is so important to me and right now, if there is one thing, I know I was meant for on this earth it is to be an Ambassador for them. They know the importance of research when it comes to Colorectal Cancer – it shows every day in the work they do. It especially shows in the month of March when each and every one of them climb the steps to Congress, share their stories and ask for money for research!
This post is going to be a bit long, but please read to the end – it will be worth it! (I was going to record this so you could read but I canoot get through the whole thing without crying) I do not do these posts just because I am bored. This is something that scares the crap out of me every day – literally…. I do not want even my worst enemy to have to go through one day of what I have went through the past 3 years!
When I found out one of my favorite shows on Netflix was from a book series, I decided I had to read the books. Most of the time the books are so much better than what they can fit into a tv series, in my opinion. I started reading the books awhile back when life was a little bit faster paced. It turns out at that time; I didn’t have a whole lot of time to read. A good book, which these are, I get lost in them and could read for hours on end. Then, I would get busy to the point where I couldn’t read as much and would have to go back a little ways to see if I remember – is this really where I left off last. I’ve recently started reading it again since I have nothing but time now. Also, when the house isn’t filled with family and/or friend, I could use something to keep my mind occupied and there are 21 books! Practically everyone in the book is amazing – there are a few characters in there that, let’s just say is less desirable to be around! They each have their own story and have landed in Virgin River because of obviously being raised there or because of one sad thing or another happened. Also, for some good reasons too. It makes me think of the little town I moved to almost 8 years ago, City of Albion, Nebraska
Small towns like Albion tend to be helpful and pull together when there is a tragedy or celebration with one of their own – closely to how Virgin River operates. This got me to thinking as I have been struggling in different ways lately. You see the people in the picture on this post are of me and my family. That trip was a sled riding trip we had planned. At that time, I had been struggling with anemia for YEARS and had already completed two iron infusion per my hematologist/oncologist I was seeing. We knew something was wrong. More than just me having anemia but wasn’t quite sure what that something was. We were told shortly after this trip I would be diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer at the age of 33.
Fast forward to 2023 - Josh and I drove home from Texas back in September as I had been taken out of yet another clinical trial – this time early because of more tumor growth. I wasn’t “sick” like I had been in the last 3 years, but I knew something different was happening in my body and not for the better. You see, there was a lump protruding from my stomach area. After arriving home things quickly went downhill very, very quickly. Ending up in the ER several times, having my very first ride in the ambulance where I was the patient, finding out what a paracentesis and thoracentesis is, having several UTI’s, I feel like back-to-back, being in horrible pain that I was dependent on someone to be with me at all times to feed and medicate me, etc. Everyone seemed to look at me a certain way and was sad – it showed on a lot of faces. And my least favorite, having hospice suggested more than I liked.
I remember one evening very vividly. I sat up from a “doggie” position (the only position that was comfortable because I was in so much pain) getting into yet another coughing spell on the couch. After the coughing spell and before returning to my “doggie” position I looked in front of me at Josh and could see the concern on his face.
At one point I called City of Hope in California, City of Hope in Chicago, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, a doctor, a friend had suggested, in Chicago, and I seriously considered calling Dr. Fong at City of Hope in California to beg him to get this cancer out of my body.
I tried to hide the pain as much as I could from the kids when we had them, but one evening I was in so much pain I couldn’t take it much longer. I thought both of the kids had gone to bed and got on the floor in front of the couch and rested my head on the couch. The pain was unbearable even with medication. I began to cry as I had had enough. It hurt so bad, and nothing was helping. At that point, we didn’t know it then, but my stomach was stretching (and hurting) so much because of the amount of ascites that was collecting. I then heard footsteps come down the stairs and quickly tried to put on a good face. It was Alexis coming down for hugs before calling it a night and I prayed she didn’t notice or hear the pain in my voice when I told her goodnight before she headed back up the stairs. The last thing I wanted was for her to worry about me.
When the ascites stopped in my abdomen (knock on every piece of wood you can find for me) and we found another alternative to pain control, I started feeling better and better. I was able to get off the couch more. I wasn’t in “doggie” position nearly as much. I got up and made my own food. I traveled without being scared to death I would just throw up the entire way there and back. I felt like I was getting back to the Ashley everyone was excited to see without wanting to cry. Soon I realized there were family and friends in our circle that had been there during the toughest months that honestly thought I wouldn’t pull out of the cancer funk I was in – hence why hospice was mentioned more than I liked. When I realized that – that in itself almost killed me.
I am 36 years old – July of this year, I will be the dreaded odd number, 37 – close friends will laugh at this! After a bit of discussion, my doctors are switching me from Lonsurf to a drug that I cannot pronounce so I just call it the f word drug.
The f word drug is an FDA approved drug that was just approved recently. When my doctor at MD Anderson and I spoke in October I asked her point blank – you said you would also be honest with me – am I dying right now? (because honestly at that point, it was bad, and I knew it deep down) She replied, after hesitation, you are not actively dying but this is not good at all, I am vey concerned. At that point there was radiation to try and shrink the masses in my ovaries. Lonsurf and Avastin, which I just finished this past week. Possibly more clinical trials (but speaking to her that day, I wasn’t sure if I would even be a candidate if one became available at a later date. One of the first two questions, they ask you is can you get around yourself, and can you do day to day activities? I was slowly losing all those abilities.) And finally, a drug called Stivarga. I was mental shot at that point. Are you kidding me – isn’t 40 the new 20? If this is all the options, I have left I may not even make it to 40 years old! This is bullshit!
Ok – here comes the good part of all this - The f word drug is a drug that has been researched, gone through clinical trials, and then finally was approved. I am not sure how long it has taken to go through this process, but I know it wasn’t a matter of months…
What would happen if they increased funding for critical medical research at the National institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI)?
What would happen if we were granted the 20 million for the creation of a Colorectal Cancer Research program within the department of defense congressionally directed medical research program. Did you know that Colorectal Cancer is the only top 5 cancer killer not to have it owns research program within the DoD CDMRP? How can that possibly be as colorectal cancer is now a leading killer of young adults.
Colorectal Cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in men and the second-leading cause in women (behind breast cancer), despite ranking fourth in 1998. (American Cancer Society) Do I have you attention now? Without research I myself wouldn’t have another option thrown into the mix, possibly more time with my family, and the chance to surpass the age of 40 or even 50! With more research my hope would be to get the age for colonoscopies dropped a LOT lower, especially with the statistics we are seeing.
This is why I push Fight Colorectal Cancer. This is why I ask if you know the signs for colorectal cancer. This is why I ask if you have had a colonoscopy or not. This why I ask you to join me in Washington, DC in March. Residence of Albion - this is why I will ask you shortly to light up your porch in blue for the entire month of March! We have voices and the more voices that are heard, the better chance we have to get policies changed!
If you don’t want to try and save my life – save the lives of our children, and their children etc.
#stage4coloncancer
#ColorectalCancer
#relentlesschampions
#relentlesschampionsofhope
#eviltwintumor
#getyourdamncolonoscopy
#Cancer
#cancerawareness
#fruquintinib
#Lonsurf
#Avastin
#radiation
#ambassador2024
#mypurpose
#CallOnCongress
#washingtondc
#nike
#moneyforcancerresearch
#policychanges
#Netflix
#netflixseries
#virginriver
#smalltownliving
#hematologist
#oncologist
#mdandersoncancercenter
#mdanderson
#stage4coloncancerat33
#dodcdmrp
#nationalinstituteofhealth
#nationalcancerinstitute
#americancancersociety
#BlueforCRC
#ambulanceride
#boonecountyhealthcenter
#columbuscommunityhospital
#hematologyoncologyconsultants
#signsofcolorectalcancer
#voicestobeheard
#BeHeard
#persistence
#congressionalcolorectalcancercaucus
Governor Jim Pillen
Mike Flood
Congressman Don Bacon
Adrian Smith
State Senator Fred Meyer
Albion Nebraska Chamber of Commerce
Albion Economic Development Corporation
February 4th 2024
2020 while the world was in chaos with #covid, I thought I was perfectly fine - I was actually trying to enlist into the #nebraskaairnationalguard!
February 24th 2021, I was sat down and told I have #stage4coloncancer. It was a gut punch, but we didn't have a whole lot of time to digest what we were just told as I was going into #surgery in 6 days! By the end of 2021 I had two surgeries and 12 aggressive #chemotherapy treatments. 2021 went by very quickly, in fact I don't remember a whole lot of it unless I go back to the different #blogs I wrote during my adventure with cancer and read them. By November 2021 the scans I had showed no evidence of disease #ned. We went to #cancun to celebrate! By March 2022 it was #confirmed the #Cancer was back and I have been fighting my ass off since then! October - December 2023 was a nightmare and literally scared the 💩 out of me! It was a very scary time for everyone that is close to me, I believe. Thankfully, today, I am able to get out and about more and more, but the fight isn't easy.
#Cancer is hard! There isn't a person out there that I would wish cancer on. It takes a lot from you - most things you just won't ever get back!
Happy #worldcancerday2024 to those that are going through it, those that are just finding out, and those that have passed. Sending out a gigantic hug to you all! #TOGETHERWEFIGHT #TogetherWeWillWin
#fightcrc
Fight Colorectal Cancer
February 4th 2024
Today is February 4th, 2024 - my goal this year is to get the entire town on Albion, approximately 830 homes, light up in blue for the entire month of March for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. For obvious reasons, it is pretty near and dear to my heart! How cool would it be to be one of the 93 counties in Nebraska to do this! We could potentially start a trend for years to come!
Here is a link to a single pack - blue light bulb for purchase. If you have a neighbor that you know doesn't have Facebook or is elderly and unable to do this themselves and you have the means - maybe you could purchase one or two more and ask to "install" the blue light from March 1st - March 31st for them!
Also - the picture attached to this message is my Venmo - if you would like to make a donation for purchase of light bulbs for different people around town - it would be greatly appreciated. Josh and I will be leaving for vacation on the 18th. I would like to get as many bulbs purchased and spread to the community as soon as possible!
If anyone would like to help get these out or donate to this, I would be forever grateful - send me a message or text me (402-372-8164)! You will probably find me in tears coming home from vacation to see every house light up in blue!
**This also could be something that could catch the attention of news channels around the area!
#BlueforCRC
#DressInBlueNE
#stage4coloncancer
#colorectalcancerawareness
#fightcrc
#TogetherWeCan
#albionne
#relentlesschampions
#relentlesschampionsofhope
Albion Nebraska Chamber of Commerce
Albion Economic Development Corporation
Albion News
February 5th 2024
***Couple of important things:
#1 - It is never too early to put your blue lights up! I just put ours up so I don't forget before we leave 
Also, the sooner you put them up and I see them, I can start checking houses off and see what houses still need the blue lights!
#2 - Very generous people, including friends from back east have donated money for bulbs - we are currently up to $150 right now! Please message or text me if you know residence around the city that would be in need of bulbs/helping putting them up!
#3 - If WE, the city of Albion, can pull this off, there is already interest in folks coming and taking pictures/video!! This for me is super exciting! The more awareness we can put out there the better!
#4 - Once you have your blue lights up - take a picture, post it on Facebook, use hashtag #DressInBlueNE and tag Ashley Pedro as well 
#5 - If you are reading this and are out in the country rather than in the city - please consider participating as well! Also, if you are in another town - start a trend (you can use my post and put your town's name in there - change it up to fit your city or town) and then follow all the steps listed here!
#6 - Albion Nebraska Chamber of Commerce - I would love for downtown to be light up in blue as well - is this a possibility?
Any questions, please let me know - 402-372-8164. Colorectal Cancer has become my new full time job - other than my favorite job, watching toddlers!
If you would like to make a donation, but don't want to use Venmo let me know! I talked to the city this morning and it appears it is closer to 690 residential houses. If every bulb would need to be purchased and handed out, it would be approximately $4000!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to those that have donated and/or shared my post! I appreciate each and every one of you
#stage4coloncancer
#ColorectalCancer
#colorectalcancerawareness
#DressInBlueNE
#BlueforCRC
#relentlesschampionsofhope
#albionne
#relentlesschampions
#fightcrc
#TOGETHERWEFIGHT
#TogetherWeCanWin
City of Albion, Nebraska
Albion Economic Development Corporation
Albion News
Fight Colorectal Cancer
February 7th 2024
Yesterday was a full day at Columbus Community Hospital Nebraska. I had 🩸 work, chest 🩻 and then saw the 👨⚕️.
Chest 🩻 first. After the pictures on the 🩻 were taken, Dr. Krueger who was close at the time went ahead and took a look at it while I was still in the 🩻 room. He said it looked the same as it looked when I had my chest 🩻 two weeks ago, maybe a smidge more. He and the tech, Brandy who I absolutely love (if you're her boss and are reading this by chance, she needs a 💲 raise not only for her job performance but how she is with her patients!) stated if I had the drain done with that little amount in there it would be more dangerous than good for me. It could cause infection as well as puncture or collapse (I cannot remember exactly) the lung. (Not something I want on top of the 💩 show that cancer is to begin with.) The plan right now is to go back for another chest 🩻 on the 14th to see if there is more or the same. If it is the same we will leave it alone. If it shows quite a bit more, they will drain. My biggest concern right now is our impending trip. I do not want to have to go to a hospital in Cancun or Aruba to be drained, and and don't want to be miserable because it has filled up. His guess is that if I go back next week and it shows the same amount, odds are that it won't fill up more while we are gone. Lots and lots of 🤞🤞🤞
Now 🩸 work. My #WBC, #RBC, ABS NEUT, ABS LYMPHS, and ABS MONO are all low which means I am immunocompromised and more likely to get sick if I am out and about. Dr. Shah wanted me to get a #Neulasta shot, but Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield denied it saying my numbers aren't low enough to warrant the Neulasta shot. He was able to prescribe me #Levaquin which is an antibiotic. This will not bring my #WBC up, but it will help prevent me from picking up something. My bilirubin is high, but I have #gilbertsyndrome so that is in the norm for me.
Meeting with 👨⚕️ went well and I picked up my new F word drug (#fruquintinib). I started Fruquintinib at 8pm last evening. He said to keep it consistent - take the pill everyday at the same time. This pill will be something I take once a day for 21 days and then a week off. The side effects for this drug is as follows:
#fatigue
decreased platelets and increased risk of bleeding
decreased white blood cells and increased risk of infection
#Handfootsyndrome (not the same has Hand, Foot and Mouth)
Mouth Sores and pain
#diarrhea
#anorexia or #AppetiteLoss
Joint and Muscle pain
Abdominal pain
voice changes or hoarseness
#thyroidproblems
#highbloodsugar
#highcholesterol
The only one I am super concerned about is hand-foot syndrome. It is where you get redness, swelling and blistering on your hands and feet. I have ordered #UdderlySmooth lotion if it ever gets delivered by Amazon.com. By keeping my hands and feet moisturized, I could possible get ahead of it and prevent it from even happening. 🤞🤞🤞
I asked my doctor to run a lab on my FSH and LH numbers to see if I am in fact going through menopause. Lately I have been burning up. At night and throughout the day you will almost always find a fan running and pointed directly at me 95% of the time. I cannot sleep without one on me as I think I would either end up a big puddle of water or throw up because of being so hot. The results came back and it appears as though I am in fact going through menopause right now. I do not want to take estrogen pills and my 👨⚕️ agrees. From what I have read and what I have been told - it can be bad for the tumors and my stomach cannot take more stretching out right now. My mom and I grew up together in a sense, but I never thought we would be going through menopause at the same time too!
Last but not least - thank you so much to everyone that has donated money for bulbs to date! To date $225 has been donated! Josh and I went to Menards yesterday after my appointment and bought them out of blue outdoor regular bulbs. If you know someone that needs one or two, please let me know so I can get it to them one way or another! Again, I would LOVE for the City of Albion, Nebraska to be lit up in blue (including the downtown and businesses)
If anyone has any questions, concerns, suggested - please don't hesitate to let me know 💙 As always, I appreciate everyone supporting me and those that are and have gone through Colorectal Cancer - it really makes a difference! I plan on driving around town before we leave to see the blue lights, and hope by the time I get back from vacation - the entire town will be blue!!
Albion Nebraska Chamber of Commerce
Albion Economic Development Corporation
Fight Colorectal Cancer
March 20th 2024
Meet Lisa Patterson Roth. She is my #mom. She is a #caretaker. She’s a #badass. She is my #superhero!
Back in 2021, when mom found out that I had #stage4coloncancer and would be going into a #colectomy surgery 6 days later she dropped everything and came to #Nebraska to be with Josh and I. She was there with us though the surgery and there for me for the recovery process and the start of #Chemotherapy.
Second surgery – same thing. Drove the 16+ hours and was there for the surgery, recovery process and start of chemo.
She’s been back and forth to #texas with me – pretty much anytime I have needed her (even if I thought I could do it myself) she’s been there.
As you all know, for the past two years I have driven back to #WestVirginia then mom and I drive together to DC for the United in Blue and Call on Congress with Fight CRC. This year I was lucky enough to stop in #chicago on the way to WV and pick up my friend and fellow Ambassador, Alecia. We then traveled to #washingtondc in my #jeep showing off the https://duckingourwaytoacure.com/ .
When we go to DC it goes by so quickly. You are planting 27,000 flags (if you want to) You are learning about the different things we are asking for when we go to the hill. Trying to hang out with friends from all over the United States as much as we can because who knows when we will see each other again. Rallying and then of course going to the hill to talk to #Congress! You are doing all this while trying to get enough rest as well. It can be a lot (especially when you drive from Nebraska too).
After United in Blue and Call on Congress is done, I always go back home to visit family for at least a couple of days before heading back to Nebraska. I figure after driving all that way, I might as well soak up some family time and snuggles while I can! I also think it is helpful to have a couple of days before deciding to do the 19+ hour drive back!
Last year I was sick – like really sick with a cold of some sort. I remember having to stop and get medication before we even left #prestoncounty. This year I was so exhausted by the time I got to Chicago I knew in my heart I needed to just stay the night and start fresh the next morning. (I might have texted Josh reassuring me to just stay).
When we got to DC instead of staying up and hang out, I knew I just needed to go to bed as anyone that has been there once, knows you rest when you can because it is a very busy weekend. Every opportunity I got to sleep, I slept. When I went back home to Tucker County, I snuggled with my nephews, and I slept.
The morning, I was supposed to get up and drive back home, I wasn’t feeling very good so I went back to sleep for awhile thinking that would help things. Woke up and was still sick. When Lex and the boys left, I went back to sleep again, thinking, when I leave, I leave, but I needed to get my belly feeling better before I did anything. Woke up around 4pm feeling better but not 100% still. I knew I needed to get on the road and get home. So, I threw everything in my bags and mom packed the Jeep up. I know my mom pretty well and knew something was going on.
When she went to give me a hug, she told me to meet her at daddy’s house. It was then that she told me that she was driving me from daddy’s back home to Nebraska. I cried and cried because of a couple of different reasons. #1 – she is the best mom and knew I couldn’t make the trip on my own (before I was even able to admit it myself) #2 – I knew deep down I wasn’t going to make it on my own even if I stopped overnight. I was going to have to stop at least 4 different times to sleep, if not more. #3 – I was angry because this was just something else cancer was taking from me. One of my favorite things to do was drive to Tucker County and then back to Nebraska when the visit was over. I knew at that point I wouldn’t be able to drive to and from ever again unless I get a LOT better and that hurt my heart, deeply! Finally, here my mom was again dropping everything to drive me around 1200 miles so I could get home and then hopping on a plane all in 19 hours.
I think during the hours of 5:30pm to 11:00am I drove maybe 2 hours (then another 2 hours from Omaha to Albion). The rest of the time mom drove. I am fairly certain I slept through #Ohio, #Indiana, and some of #Illinois. From there I doze in and out of sleep.
I have never given birth to my own children, so I cannot tell you what my mom has gone through the last three years, but I know that she loves each of her children more and more every day and she would literally do anything for any of us! I think I can speak for all 4 of her children and say she is literally the best in every way! I wish I could show her off to the world, but since I cannot do that, I will show her to all of you!
Say a little prayer for my #momma as I know this whole cancer process with her “baby girl” (I am her #firstborn) has been anything but easy, but she has handled it with #Grace. The picture of her walking away is just after crying while hugging me tightly. I took her face into my hands and said, Mom this isn’t the last time you’re going to see me. Not really knowing myself if it would be or not, just hoping. #cancerisreallytheworst
For those of you that are late to the game - Fight Colorectal Cancer community of advocates have adopted the “strong arm” as a way to show we fight relentlessly against colorectal cancer and will not back down until there’s a cure.
You can do this too! Either send me your photo with your #strongarmselfie or you can post it on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter)! Show your support in the fight against colorectal cancer by snapping a #strongarmselfie . It is an easy, fun way to raise awareness for colorectal cancer. It’s also a fun way to get your co-workers, team, neighbors, friends and family involved.
Over the years, we’ve seen thousands of strong arms — and for each post, $1 is donated to the fight against #Colorectalcancer.
#prioritizecrc
#prioritizecrcresearch
#relentlesschampionsofhope
#relentlesschampions
#ColorectalCancerAwarenessMonth
#colorectalcancerawareness
#colorectalcancersurvivor
#getyourdamncolonoscopy
#welcometotheshitshow
#colonoscopiesarebetterthancoloncancer
#dontbelikeashley
#ScreeningsSaveLives