<p><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="2">My name is Nicole. I am 28 years old. I am a wife, a mother of two small boys, and I am proud to say that I am also cancer survivor. I found out 5 weeks after my second son was born that I had stage 2b Hodgkins. Talk about hard. I took the news very hard. My prognosis was very good, but I couldn't wrap my brain around that. All I could think about was my babies not having a mother. The start of my journey was the hardest thing I have ever delt with. Mentally I was so tired from all of the information I had been given. Physically I thought I was going to pass out everyother second. Here I was recovering from giving birth to jumping into bone marrow and lymphnode biopseys and scan after scan. I got my port put in on November 17th, then Chemo started on the 27th. At my first appointment the doctor and his staff went over all of my medications and the side effects. All I remember from that day is hearing that I would lose my hair. That even overshadowed the throwing up. After my first treatment it seemed to get easier. I still was violently ill, but the countdown for it all to be over was on. That was untill my last treatment was 1 week away. I was so scared to be done. It was the moment of truth. Was I really done? Did I beat cancer? Was I CANCER FREE? Then it was time, not just any time but result time. I held my husband and just staired at the called id. I was actually scared to hear my results. Finally he made me awnser the phone. I picked up and just sat on the other end silent. Finally the nurse said "Nicole, You did it! Your scans came back showing no signs of cancer in your body." I just kept asking her if she was sure. It has now been 2 months. I am back to work, and mot importantly back to my life, my kids, and my family. Being a survivor is more then just getting a second chance. It is the most unexplainable feeling of pride that I think I could ever feel. I now live my life for those who never received that all clear call. I don't take things for granted. I tell people what I think as I am thinking it, I try not to let more that a few days go by without talking to all of the wonderful people in my life.</font></p>
<p><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="2">I love to talk to other people that have experienced what I have been thru, And I would love to be here for anyone that might need a sholder or a glance into their cancer free future. STAY STRONG!</font></p>
<p><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="2">Nicole</font></p>
<p><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="2">Dearborn MI></font></p>