4.20.26

2 days after my 3rd liver surgery I did a ctDNA test from Tempus and another from Signatera. About a week later I got the results back from the signatera and it said "Not Detected"- a couple days after that I got the Tempus results back and they also said, "Not Detected."

I had heard a lot of things about the tests not being very accurate right after surgery so I was cautiously optimistic and knew future tests would give us even more accuracy and clarity. 

2 Weeks after surgery we repeated both tests and about a week later we got those results back and they also said, "Not Detected"!!!!

I was up in LA when I got the email from signatera that my results were ready. My friend AnnMarie was still at work and I was SO nervous to open the report. We were planning to go out to dinner to celebrate my birthday with a few other friends so I thought it would be best to wait until after dinner- while surrounded by my friends- to open it.

AND IT SAID, "Not Detected" AGAIN!!!!

I was so relieved.

I'm not sure how many tests it is going to take before I dont feel nervous opening these. 

I don't take this win lightly and will never take the words "Not Detected" for granted. I want to celebrate this win but also stay cautiously optimistic as I have seen zeros and Not detected before.

I am choosing faith over fear and focusing on what i can control- one day, one step, and one result at a time. 

I feel like a weight is beginning to lift and I will continue to do everything in my power to stay as healthy as possible. 

The unknown of this diagnosis made me feel like I couldn't make summer plans but now, I am finally allowing myself to get some fun things booked. Lets make this the BEST summer yet!

While I am so grateful for this moment, my heart is still with those in the middle of the fight. This journey is not always linear- Please know that I am always rooting for you and never loose hope. 

4.4.26

Spring has been busy but in the most fun way! The week after my 3rd liver surgery was Bella's 7th birthday. She had been asking to go to Palm Springs to celebrate and we booked a trip early January before I knew I would have surgery early March. So, I knew she would be heart broken if we canceled the trip- so we went! We left Luca back home with my MIL Cheryl and that was a huge help. 

We stayed at my parents time share that I grew up going to and the weather was perfect. I couldn't get in the water (since I just had surgery) so we adjusted our plans a little. We went to the zoo, spent a little time in the pool and then took the sky tram up to a restaurant for her birthday dinner. 

Mike and I decorated the hotel living room and when she woke up she was so excited and happy to see everything all set up. It was really special. 

A few days later was my 28th birthday! I had a mellow day- I went to yoga at the park in Dana Point- it overlooks the ocean, and then I got a sourdough treat from my favorite organic sourdough bakery. The Saturday after my birthday, Mike and I went out to lunch in Newport at RH kitchen. The restaurant was beautiful and it was so nice to get out. 

The Sunday after was Easter so we went to Church in the morning and then came back home to do an easter egg hunt with the kiddos. 

The following weekend I headed up to LA to stay with my friend AnnMarie for a couple days and we met up with my other friends Alexis and Ashley for birthday celebration dinner at a restaurant I have been wanting to try called Catch.