Thank God for Hope-Miracles and Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

Hi everyone, I am Julie, 18 years out from Stage 4 tonsil and tongue “HPV” cancer. I can legitimately say I have experienced just about everything that is discussed in this group. It is Thanksgiving, the only day of the year that you truly have a reason to cook a turkey, just to get the gravy. I cook them all year long, just for the gravy. People always stare at me when I grab a big Butterball in July. I had surgery, chemo and radiation just like most of you. I had some extra rounds of radiation due to the fact that it wasn’t possible to get it all. I am living proof that chemo and radiation work. I had targeted radiation. In all seriousness now I am happy to tell all of you that I am thankful to be here, despite everything. I also had a gastric bypass a few years before the cancer so I went through it all without a stomach or a feeding tube. Some days better than others, but I was here for both of my daughter’s beautiful weddings and 3 grandchildren so far. I have a lot of radiation damage to the nerves and muscles in my throat and haven’t been able to swallow for about 3 years. I am done having swallow tests, we will just all agree I can’t swallow.
So tomorrow I want you all to have hope that things WILL get better, or you will come up with a way to get through what you have to, for everyone else. Even on your worst days someone is praying for you to stay with them, they need you. And most of all tomorrow enjoy the mashed potatoes and gravy!