Update time (again) 7/16/22: So as a lot of your know, I completed my first 4 rounds of chemo, doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide aka AC, without too much trouble. I had the standard nausea and fatigue, but overall was pretty functional. On 7/4 I had my first cycle of paclitaxel and by 7/9 I was in the hospital at Roswell with febrile neutropenia. Febrile neutropenia is basically when your white blood cells get super low and your body spikes a fever. My white blood cells were almost nonexistent, along with having anemia, and some super low blood pressure while inpatient. The doctors never found a source of infection, but l finally stabilized after 7 days and am back at home. I’m due for my next chemo 7/18, but I don’t know if I’ll be well enough to receive it or what exactly the plan will be for the remaining cycles of paclitaxel. I’m definitely not anywhere near 100% right now though and nervous as to how the next chemo will go. Lots of people asked how they can help while I was at the hospital, so I am opening up the meal train, a few days at a time, because I don’t know what the future will hold right now. I am hoping and praying that I heal enough to have the energy to cook for myself, but I do think there’s a good chance I’m going to struggle through the remainder of chemo. 🫤 I also added a few things to the Amazon wish list as people were asking about that too. It’s hard for me to ask for help because I love being being to do everything myself, but I’m really trying to take it easy right now. Thank you so much to everyone who has helped us already. We truly appreciate it. Update time: 4/24/22. I am healing pretty well from my surgery, just some small issues with fluid retention under my expanders, so unfortunately I am still under lifting restrictions and cannot lift the kids, but other than that I’m doing well physically! The big news is that I found out this week that I will definitely be needing chemo to help prevent reoccurrence of my cancer in the coming years. My oncotype came back at 29, which means that I have a 31% chance of developing metastatic cancer in the next 9 years without chemo and endocrine therapy. I’ve opted for the strongest chemo available, a sixteen week course of 3 drugs (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel) to give me the best chance available. I don’t have a start date for chemo yet, but my port (for IV chemo access) is scheduled for placement 5/3 so I’ll likely be starting very soon after that. I meet with the radiation oncologist this week and will hopefully find out if radiation will be needed after chemo. When chemo and possibly radiation are finished, I’ll be put in to medical menopause and given an aromatase inhibitor for at least 10 years and a bisphosphonate injection to further prevent chances of reoccurrence. I’m hoping and praying to tolerate chemo well so that I can continue to be there as much as possible for my two beautiful children during treatment. I’m also slowly working through sending out thank you notes to everyone who has helped already. I realized I was procrastinating on this because it’s emotionally overwhelming to realize how much friends, family, and some complete strangers have done to help me and my family during this time. I will be updating the Amazon wish list with things for the kids and some items to help treat/prevent chemo side effects. If you send me something please click the gift option so I know it’s from you! Otherwise your gift is anonymous and I can’t thank you. First I want to thank everyone who has reached out and offered to help us in anyway during this time. ❤️ I’ll know more about my treatment course after the surgery, but right now I know that I am scheduled for a double mastectomy on 3/30. The recovery is long (6 plus weeks) and there are a ton of activity restrictions, which is going to be extra challenging with Noelle and Isaac at home. I will almost definitely be needing chemo after the surgery, but details will follow on that. I added a link to my Amazon wish list too for anyone who wants to send something. You will notice at this time that it basically only features stuff for my kids. I think any mother can relate that my primary concern through this is making sure that my kids are taken care of during my illness. If I think of anything that I need I promise to add it, but right now stocking up on stuff for the kids is putting my mind at ease. Our address should be showing up as an option now, under "Julia Houseknecht's gift registry).