2018: The Year of Discovery

What a busy year 2018 has been. Work is busy, as usual, and my Daughter is a Senior in High School. Time goes by so fast these days and the end of the year is almost upon us.

In October we visited Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA to experience Howl-O-Scream. William, Kaylon and I had a great time and enjoyed all the antics revolving around Octoberfest and the Halloween season. I was on my feet for many hours and noticed I could not keep up with my family. Pain bothered me to the extent that I had to slow my roll. Back pain, hip pain and leg/foot pain gripped my body; I related this as a lack of exercise and sitting the majority of my days at work. I invested in a pair of insoles from Walgreens, hoping this would help the pain in my feet. The help was minimal but was better than nothing.

November arrived and I took a part-time job at a local retailer. I enjoyed this immensely, but I had to stand on my feet from the beginning to the end of my shift. The same old pain returned, and I was so thankful for any type of break I could get during the day. By the time the store closed I was in misery. I remember having such difficulty walking to my car and prayed I would make it home. I continued my part-time employment and each time I worked I experienced that same situation.

Toward the end of November, it was time for my annual Mammogram. This test was routine and normally the results are shared with the patient within a few days. The breast center contacted me to discuss a concern on my report. I don't remember asking many questions, but I was told a biopsy would be scheduled in the near future. This was the beginning of December, the earliest appointment available was January 7, 2019. My initial thought - if this is serious, they would go ahead and get me in. I marked the appointment on my calendar and tried to put my mind to rest.