"I'm only 41."

Hello. My name is Kristin. I'm a 41 year old mother of two and wife to my college sweetheart. I'm a patriotic, dorky "tennis" mom that loves music, traveling, scrapbooking, reading, writing, soda pop, and spending time with family and friends. And ... I've got cancer.

My back story goes a little something like this; I'm a relatively healthy female. I've always struggled with a little extra junk in my trunk, but nothing over-the-top. I've given birth to two great kids. Five years ago, I had my gallbladder removed. I don't drink, smoke, nor abuse any substances of any kind. I never have. I practice safe living; i.e. I wear my seat belt, I don't put things inside me that I know could harm me, etc. I sleep without pain and spend my waking hours without pain. And aside from a little viral Pericarditis, this is the extent of my medical history. Snooze fest, yes?

Here's where my story really starts. In August of 2013, this weird, tenderness appeared in the bottom of my torso. Front and back, the pain was constant, prompting me to breakdown and call my primary care physician, "Dr. L". He did a physical and a pap, the results from both exams normal. He then ordered a CT scan of my abdomen, and wouldn't you know it? The CT showed an abdominal mass. I had it surgically removed at the end of October and was told that the tumor would be sent to pathology for testing.
Then I waited. And I waited. For over a week I waited until ... Dr. L called me.
"I hate to give bad news over the phone, but the pathology on your mass came back abnormal," he said.
"Abnormal?"
"Yes, abnormal as in malignant."
All I could think was that, "I'm only 41."
I don't remember the rest of the conversation. I broke down. I struggled to dial my husband's work number. After asking him to come home, I called my mom and asked her to come over. I then spent the next 30 minutes figuring out how to tell them that the recently removed mass we had mockingly called, "Lucifee" was malignant.
It went well, telling my husband and my mom that the mass was malignant. They are both supportive, strong individuals. A quick bit about my husband, John. This man is the most patient, logical, realistic, supportive man on the planet. We've been married for over 20 years and he's provided me with stability, security, and simplicity. So when he tells me everything is going to be alright, I can't help but to believe him. He said that to me. He says those exact words to me a lot. It's because of him I was able to enjoy that evening with my kids, knowing that the next day, I was to meet with Dr. L to discuss the pathology report at hand.

Carry on,
~K