Last Friday we got the news we have been waiting for since Anna’s first diagnosis back in September. THE CANCER IS GONE!
I can tell you that I have been outwardly positive and the biggest cheerleader I know how to be but, to say we approached our visit with Dr. Kaplan without trepidation would be a bold faced lie. When Anna and I would talk about our nerves approaching the results of our final scan I would just say “Its going to be fine, of course its gone” but both of us knew that if it was a sure thing, we wouldn’t have a final scan. The PET-CT was scheduled for last Thursday and unfortunately I was in Port Townsend for work when Anna had to go in for the scan. Not being there for the scan was tough but Anna is tougher and we have a great support network here to take care of us. When I got back home Thursday night Anna was pretty tired but doing well. Her nerves were a little fried, but as I keep saying, she is a tough cookie.
We drove down to the appointment in relative silence, trying to break up the drive with small talk. We had discussed that no matter the results, our lives would again shift and we were ready. We moved through the now familiar process of parking garage, elevator, waiting room, nurse until finally Dr. Kaplan came into the room. He gave us a big double thumbs up and stayed quiet. At the same time, both Anna and I asked “Does that mean its gone?” and he nodded. The nurse told us she had wanted to tell us the entire time as well. We hugged Dr. K like a man that had saved Anna’s life and I may have cried a little.
When we first got to meet Dr. Kaplan it was late in the evening and we had a tiny newborn Shiloh with us. We were both pretty scared and trying to figure out what life in cancer treatment would look like. Dr. Kaplan was sweet then and explained patiently the process and prognosis. Anna and I were a mess (mostly me) and I remember telling him that I was just so happy we were meeting the man that would fix Anna. Now I realize it was Anna that did the fighting and fixing and I am thankful for her strength. Dr. K and the team at Swedish were and are amazingbut it is Anna that beat this thing.
We are now moving on to a life after cancer. Anna has said that she doesn’t want to define herself as a “cancer survivor”. I get that and wouldn’t want to be defined by an illness either, but in my mind Anna is defined by her fight and her Kung-Fu is strong.