Like most people, I am taking some time to reflect on the year past. And boyyyyy do I have a lot to reflect on. Despite what you may think, I am not (THAT) mad or angry for what has happened/ is happening to me instead I am thankful.  I am thankful to be alive, kicking Dave’s ass and experiencing the love that I have received from friends, family, acquaintances and strangers.

As the title of this post says I would like to say “Thank you” to everyone and write a little about it.

Thank you, Kyle

This guy makes me feel so loved every day. He has welcomed our new roommate, my Mom, to our one bedroom apartment,  although it is not exactly ideal. He made me feel beautiful through every stage of this shit situation: weight loss, weight gain, weight loss again, hair loss, hair shave, wig wearing, eye brow loss, pale bruised skin and every other nicety that has come along. He ALWAYS makes me smile. He has held my hand for hours during some excruciating middle of the night chemo joint pain and literally carried me when I was too weak to walk. I am crying writing this and I hope everyone is so lucky to find a partner like him.

  

Thank you, Mom

For those of you who don’t know, my Mom has not left my side since Day One of this ordeal. She sleeps on my couch (often with Winnie so that I can get a good night’s sleep), stays with me in the hospital, sits next to me through every single chemo session, talks me out of my scary thoughts, grocery shops and cooks our meals and makes me laugh. I will tell ya what, it is a very humbling experience to have your Mom help you go to the bathroom at nearly 30 years old. Super Mom did not even bat an eye. I literally would not be alive right now without her and if I am even a quarter of the mother that she is one day I will be ecstatic. Crying again, love you.

 

Thank you, family

Dad, Jake, Andy, Rachel, Maureen, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and soon- to- be in-laws, you are with me every day in one way or another. If everyone else was gone and I only had my family, that would be MORE than enough. You are the most amazing and supportive people in the world. I could not do this without you. You are my forever and my motivation to keep working hard and beat this so that I can spend many, many more happy years celebrating life with you!

      

   

Thank you to the BEST friends

You know who you are. You have lifted my spirits in the darkest of times, been my biggest supporters, made the infamous Team Kate t-shirts,  kept me occupied with visits/calls/texts/emails/cards/playlists, harassed Spike TV celebrities to get me on the show, run races, and CUT YOUR HAIR OFF to donate it.  Yes, you heard that correctly. 15 of my friends grew their hair out since the summer to donate a minimum of 8 inches to Locks for Love for me… cue the tears. I am looking forward to many more years of friendship and making memories with all of you.

  

       

  

Thank you, 12 West (including the McBs!)

I could not have asked for a better group of work FRIENDS than you! Being a nurse can be a scary job and I always felt that I could turn to any one of you when I needed to. I did not think it was possible for people to be more supportive until I saw that sea of purple Team Kate” t-shirts at the party that you threw for me. That was truly one of my happiest moments.  Thanks for making me still feel included in the day to day. One last thing, who the HELL donates their vacation time to give me extra paychecks? Oh, just the most amazing group of co-workers on the planet. I am honored to work alongside each and every one of you and can’t wait to come back!

     

  

Thank you, everyone

To all that have reached out to me in one way or another from old classmates, family friends, my Sloan nurses and new acquaintances: you have all made me feel so loved and your support has been absolutely incredible. I am blown away every single day. I KNOW that all of your prayers and love are part of the reason for my improving health. I tap into it whenever I need and it has helped beyond belief.

Oh wait, one more…

Thank you, Dave

Thank you for teaching me all that you have, for making me truly appreciate my life and the people in it, and for showing me that I am pretty damn strong. You WILL be physically destroyed soon but the memory of you will keep me forever grateful.

(Dave doesn’t get any pics)

My dear friend from grade school, Dave (good Dave), was the author of this weeks “Team Kate” email.  By way of explanation, I receive weekly emails from a different friend every week with words of inspiration and encouragement. It is literally my FAVORITE thing and every one has made me cry. In Dave’s email, he wrote that he believes that God chose me to be the one to beat this for a reason in part so that I can share my journey. I hope my sharing (and occasional over sharing) has opened everyone’s eyes to how amazing and compassionate people are and how love can get you through most anything.

I will not remember 2014 as the year of Dave, although he was a part of it, I will instead remember it as the year the love of my life, Kyle, and I got engaged, one of my besties Sarah and her fiancé Vineet got engaged and of the weddings of the McGraths, Judges, Keibs and other good friends. I met a girl named Clarice, the adorable baby Davey (good Dave) Hogan was born, my little girl Winnie took over my heart, and I fell more in love with my family and most especially my Mom more than ever.

I have some big plans for 2015! I plan on beating cancer, marrying my guy and returning to work with my Neuro Surgery family… just to name a few.

Let me just say it again: THANK YOU!!