Two weeks ago, I woke up from a doze on the couch with a bump on my arm. I didn’t remember anything that might have happened to cause it, so I blew it off UNTIL… on Monday it had grown dramatically in size and the entire area around it was bright pink. I was diagnosed with cellullitis after visiting a local urgent care facility. I was prescribed two heavy-duty antibiotics, and told to elevate and use hot compresses as often as possible. Having been told that if it worsened that I may need IV antibiotics, I visited the ER two days later when it had become much worse - two golfball-sized bumps, bright red skin, and intense heat; fortunately for me, no IV was needed! I finally saw my family doctor two days after that, and he determined that I was healing nicely. As of today, there are very small bumps remaining, detected only by touch. Side note: my family doctor checked my A1C blood sugar level while I was there, and it’s gone done from a 6.9 in March, to a 6.3 – woo hoo!

The same Friday that I saw my family doctor, I had a mammogram scheduled in the morning. This past Monday, I received a call from the radiology facility, stating that they would like me to come back for a follow-up compression view and possible ultrasound since the radiologist detected something new in my left breast from my past two years' mammograms. I scheduled those tests for this past Friday, and spent the days in between in terror. Last year’s mammogram led me to the same follow-up and ultrasound, followed by a biopsy on my right breast. I alternated between praying my heart out and beating myself up for not losing all of my weight since my last mammogram. When Friday came, the radiologist read the compression and ordered the ultrasound. After that was done, the radiologist came in and did a “live scan” ultrasound herself. When she was finished, she said, “You have lumpy, bumpy breasts, and they are hard to read in just a mammogram. I see nothing to worry about, so we’ll see you in a year!” I was so grateful and happy – I dodged a bullet AGAIN!

As you may imagine, my exercise routine was set aside during recovery and home treatment, and the eating has not been ideal. The first week I had a gain, but I lost half of that as of yesterday. To honor my second chance, or really what is probably my bazillionth chance, I am getting my routines and habits back in place; this includes monitoring of my blood sugar levels as I’ve been directed to do. As I see it, the best way to show appreciation is to take care of what I’ve been given. One day at a time…