A lot has happened in the past sixteen months. Just after completing online studies at Brigham Young University- Idaho and earning an Associate's degree in Family History Research, on Christmas Eve 2024, a CT scan determined that I had an enormous cancerous tumor on my liver. There were no symptoms whatsoever. Routine bloodwork discovered that my liver numbers were extremely high. Further testing, including a PET scan, showed four cancerous spots in my lungs. The cancer was determined to be melanoma after two biopsies. Seven and a half years earlier, melanoma was removed from my face and I was given a clean bill of health. However, it reappeared years later in my lungs and on my liver.
There have been plenty of ups and downs on this journey as I seek treatment. My oncologist told me that I will never be in remission; the cancer will always be there. I am learning to live my new "normal" life with stage four cancer. It is challenging. I never know what the day or the week has in store for me. Physical changes, such as reduced strength and endurance, have prevented me from doing client-based gravestone conservation. My daughter may learn the process of gravestone restoration to continue this trade.
With my long-term longevity very much uncertain, my days are usually filled with genealogical research on my family and with organizing many years of collecting documents, papers, and photos. A new goal is to resume blogging about genealogy topics.
