Greetings from the incredible Blue Ridge Mountains where we are enjoying every precious minute of being together, smiling, laughing, and playing in the woods and rivers!

Ignorance may be bliss, but information is power and we happily report that the questions have finally been answered to our satisfaction and we are confident that the course we have chosen is aggressive but safe, correct, and, after a bad-ass kind of year, will put breast cancer in our past permanently.  We adored the doctor we spoke to today, although “geographically undesirable,” he will go into the books as one of our angels.  He kindly and patiently worked through every detail, question, and concern.  He said this a “great” (funny if you think about it) and curative situation.  He said that the particulars of my situation are “arguably the most favorable possible.”  He helped us find our confidence to finally decide on the course.  We know this is the best team of doctors we could ask for.  We are blessed to have such a team of experts to champion my well being.

We have another week and a half to play and prepare and starting August 1 we will begin a year long course of chemo and hormone therapy (well the hormone part a lot longer).  The first six months will be, by far, the worst – but as I have said before, it is a small price to pay to grow old with my husband and see my magnificent and special little boys grow to be men.

Speaking of my little buggers, we finally found the courage to explain more of the details of the situation to them.  There are discussions no person should live to have.  One is you and your spouse being told, “you have cancer,” another is telling your 4 wonderful parents, “mommy, I have cancer,” it goes down like I imagine cyanide might.  And worse still, is telling the same to your 3 and 8 year old sons.  But we did it (and without tears I might add)!  When I told Danny that I would have no hair, he responded, “don’t worry mommy, you will still look like a princess.”  Robbie, very matter of fact-ly said, mommy I love you “most”, you will be ok, and I am going to help.  He then reminded me that it was my turn in scrabble.  We told them that while the special medicine would make me look and sometimes act funny – that it was our friend and that we were lucky to have it so stay healthy and strong.

Speaking of being lucky, it hasn’t escaped us – how lucky we are, even while stuck in the midst of such misfortune.  Each of these doctor conferences and appointments has been attended by no fewer than six of us.  We have friends doing better research than we could ever accomplish, people cooking, driving, and helping to ensure we have spoken to the foremost experts in the world – literally.  Each parent, sibling, colleague, and friend has formed a impermeable “protect Jodi” barrier.  It is incredibly humbling and appreciated.  There are moments when I even feel safe…  It has always been my top priority to be a good person, above all.  Through all your actions, I know I have more work to do!

So that’s it for now.  Time to return to the river and get ready for our picnic, “dinner with the ducks.”

Much love,
jodi alison