The Handstand

Yesterday I had a moment where I completely forgot about cancer. I can’t tell you much about this moment because it was just that, a single moment. I was distracted from my reality by something, I don’t know what it was. I do a lot of things that lack sense, but what I did in…

Blue Hair, Don’t Care

Yes, I now have purple/blue hair. With T-minus 3 days until chemo, it’s balls to the mother f-ing wall people. Anyhoo, I have always been told that I am allergic to penicillin. Neither of my parents remember what happened to indicate this allergy, but they know I was an infant when they were told. I’ve…

Bone Scans ‘n Harmony

Today’s cancer party game was a bone scan (‘n harmony). My oncologist was reluctant to even order the scan, but I have been having persistent upper back pain and, since none of this cancer stuff makes sense, anything out of the ordinary is worth checking. Bone Scan Plan: Show up to get a shot of…

Dear Mr. Hemsley

June 28, 2016 Dear Mr. Hemsley (CEO of United Health Care), My name is Grace Lombardo and I am a 36 year old mother, daughter, sister, wife & friend. In April of 2016, I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and widespread DCIS- breast cancer. You should know that outside of this recent diagnosis, I…

Illuminati

Today I decided it was time to rip off the bandage both literally and figuratively and take a good look at my new plug-in accessory. As you can see in the headline photo of this post, it mostly just looks like gross bruises, swelling and redness. In paging through the pamphlet for my new Power…

Do You Think I Have Enough Ice Packs? 

The arms race has begun. My arms are in an extremely close race as to who is the sadder appendage. Right arm definitely has seniority. She has been used and abused for over a month now. The surgeries, the cording, the multiple drains. Lefty has been my trusty confidant this whole time, practically full range…

Port in, Drain Out

Grace’s chemo port insertion surgery went well with the exception of a pesky eyelash extension complication. And Dr. Winchester took her drain out!!!!  

One Day

I have always been a forward thinker. My brain processes a plan then immediately calibrates how it will affect our life in 6 days, 6 months, 6 years. I would not classify this as one of my better traits. That ‘living in the moment’ honky was never something I could get on board with. But…

It’s (D)Raining Men

Um yeah, no it’s not, but I just really wanted to use that title so… Let’s all say a collective prayer that I am nearing the end of my indentured drainitude. My output has been pretty low so far today and if I can squeak in under 30mls today and tomorrow, I can have my…

Making The Cut

The votes were in and we were locked on a platinum blonde mohawk. Everything that seemed thrilling and exciting about choosing looks and watching all of my family and friends vote for my pre-chemo ‘do,’ suddenly made me feel nauseated. Why wasn’t this fun anymore? What had worn off? Oh right. I have cancer. I…