Last year's ovarian cancer has returned and I'm starting my second round of chemo this Thursday.  I'm fundraising to raise money for the expenses our health insurance doesn't cover and to take a trip to an exotic destination with my girls…a dream we've had for a long time.  

One of my friends messaged me today after seeing me post a fundraiser on Facebook for medical expenses and a dream vacation in light of medical challenges, saying at first it looked like a scam. Oh, how I wish it were a scam, an error, a hacker even! Things got awkwardly real back in May 2022 for me when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, stage IIIC. Stage III meant it was big, one ovary was the size of an orange, the other the size of a plum. The C means it was touching on something else, in my case my intestines and colon. A biopsy surgery, three rounds of chemo, a total hysterectomy and 'debulking' surgery (nowhere near as sexy as it sounds), three more rounds of chemo, and a CT scan later, I was declared in 'remission' in December 2022. (BTW, don't look that word up if you have cancer, it will only piss you off.) My tumor markers held steady for two solid months and began to climb in February 2023, but they were still in the normal range. Fast forward to July 2023 and they had doubled.

I've been incredibly blessed with a loving family, friends, and a job that is beyond supportive right now (TY State of VT) . I've had a fantastic career and made so many meaningful connections on a personal level. What I've not done is travel, lol. If you're reading this, we've 'shared' something together. I figured I should provide a little backstory out of respect for those I've lost touch with, having put my soul out there this morning. And...I wanted to assure anyone wondering, that my latest posts are not scams. Love you all, Ang