Happy New Year!

My 2009 in review...

Various jobs this year:

• The usual inspirational speaking
• Working at a cute maternity clothing boutique that unfortunately closed
• Giving out Bolthouse Farms samples of smoothies and salad dressings at various grocery stores
• Babysitting here and there
• Since February, enjoying my job at an upscale children's clothing boutique

Medically:

• Passed the 5 year No Evidence of Cancer Anniversary on May 19th!
  
• Went through extensive testing on my arms and back (nerve conduction, etc.) as there has been pain and various numbness since November of 2009...all the tests came back normal-The symptoms are probably from radiation and scar tissue-and it's just something additional to learn to live with.
• Chest pains this summer that came and went after a few weeks and testing that showed nothing...
• Officially diagnosed with "chemo brain"
  

Classes Passed (1 semester until graduation from undergrad!):

• Asian Art
• Painting I
• Figure Drawing
• Art Therapy: History and Theory
• History, Philosophy and Systems of Psychology
• Phenomena: Shame, Guilt and Forgiveness
• Art Therapy Apprenticeship-working on a medical psychiatric unit & a kids camp
  
• Introduction to Measurement and Statistics (Psychology based)
• Introduction to Research Methods
• Ceramics I
• Painting II
• Intermediate Drawing
• Art for Elementary Grades
• Art Therapy Introduction
• Personality Theory

Speaking, Teaching, and Volunteer Opportunities:

• Belleville Catholic Conference for High Schoolers
  
• Pike Press Scholars Banquet
• Aaron Hubbell Memorial Golf Tournament
• American Society of Interior Designers & Bone Marrow Drive Event
• American Cancer Society's Relay for Life
• Encounter
• St. Mary's Hospital Celebration for Life Luncheon
• Cameron Siemers for Hope- Santa Ana, CA
• Taught an art class to children at hospital I was treated at
• Various work with the American Pain Foundation as a PCAC member
• Accepted position recently on a board of young professionals that assist local cancer charities
  

My husband and I were in 5 wonderful weddings and Godparents in our nephew's baptism.

Rest in Peace: Gabe's Grandpa, Gabe's cousin David, my Grandma, our friends- Jenny and Don

Trips: Minneapolis, MN; bed and breakfast for our 1 year wedding anniversary!; Santa Ana, California; Des Moines, IA

Thankful for: the return to health of various friends and family, the love and support of friends, family and God and endless blessings.

Much was learned, many tears were cried but there was so much fun and love to go around too!

Looking forward to everything on the horizon for 2010...

Love,
Rachel

Article in the Newspaper...

Last week, in honor of my 5 year anniversary, I was on the front page of the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

Click here for the article.

Today, I am grateful for a fabulous few weeks off school, lots of great people in my life that I can truly trust, a great internship, friends, family and God!

Love,
Rachel

The day every cancer survivor hopes to see...

From my journal one month before the surgery in 2004

Is TODAY for me. The day that is especially sacred to people who have had cancer more than once.

Hard to believe, I know, because I cannot believe it, but there has been no significant sign of cancer in my body for 5 YEARS as of today! In other words, I have been in remission for 5 years! It doesn't necessarily mean that the cancer won't come back or that I won't get other cancers, but the chances are less and 5 years is a very long time-way longer than any other period of reprieve that I've had in the past.

5 years ago today I had an extensive surgery that removed a small Nerf football sized Askins Tumor that had grown between my heart, lung, pulmonary artery and spine. The surgical team separated and removed small pieces of rib, sliced and put back together 3 major muscles in my back, moved organs out of the way and successfully took out the cancerous tumor...the tumor that had somehow died inside of me with very minimal treatment. Still crazy, still hard to believe to this day.

YAY FOR LIFE! I feel so blessed and thankful for so much :).

Lots of love,
Rachel