Reality hits hard

I apologize for being absent for so long, but I haven't felt like blogging. I'm not a big fan of the holidays for one and this holiday season is especially difficult.

SM went in for her annual mammogram last month (before Thanksgiving) and they found a shadow on her left breast. A second mammogram a few days later confirmed her worst fear.

Breast cancer. Or to be more precise, ductal carcinoma with microinvasion. It hit SM like a ton of bricks, and me also. Her mom had benign cysts in her breasts and SM figured, if she was lucky, that that would be the worst thing to happen to her. But as we all know, cancer is cruel and has no regard for whom it strikes.

Her doctor has been wonderful throughout this ordeal, which has made it a little easier to bear. She had a procedure earlier this week where a portion of the tissue from the breast is removed. She's recovering well, but she looks like she's wearing duct tape over her left breast. We're hoping that the pathologist will have the results ready tomorrow or Friday. So we wait.

I've been doing my best to put on a brave face for SM, because I'm basically her support system. Her parents are both dead so it's just her kids and me to keep her spirits up.

I'll tell you one thing. If God forbid, there is more than just one tumor and SM loses a breast, it won't ever change how I feel about her.

SM and I are accepting prayers in all faiths and languages.

UPDATE 12/23:
SM heard from her doctor late yesterday...it appears that whatever they removed the other day is all there is! She will meet with an oncologist after the first of the year to determine if the next course will be either radiation or one of the cancer drugs. Thank you those of you who commented and thanks to all of you for your prayers and good wishes.