In the last few weeks our family has been through a huge scare. Our 15 year old daughter has thyroid cancer. She has been a healthy, active kid since we got her when she was three years old. Last year she started having an unexplained hair loss, but she has so much hair you really couldn't tell it. One day one of my older daughters said I needed to really look at how much hair Crystal was losing. I made her an appointment and the doctor did blood work and found out she had hypothyroidism. She started on thyroid meds. and then we went back after a few months for more blood work to check to see if her dose was correct. The day after the blood work I got a call about her birth mom. She has terminal cancer. I asked where it started and they said in her thyroid. I hung up and  called out family doctor and after several tests and being sent to a specialist for a needle biopsy, we were told Crystal had thyroid cancer. She had her thyroid and seven lymph nodes removed and the waiting started. It took several days but yesterday we got the report back from her biopsy. The growth in her thyroid was indeed cancer but the lymph nodes were fine! Her doctor took out her thyroid so the cancer is gone. He says she does not need radioactive iodine threatments and he does not think she will have any more problems because she is young and it was found early and was a small place. I am so relieved and feel so blessed. 
My weight loss continues. I am down over 90 pounds now. This morning I was down 94! I feel great and love looking at clothes now. I bought one pair of capris that were size 14! In my whole life I don't remember ever buying a 14 before. I love feeling better and being able to do things like work in my flowers again. I go to all my doctor's support group meetings and love it. It helps me stay focused and I love seeing how everyone is doing from month to month. I would like to lose at least 19 more pounds so my BMI will be in the normal range. That would be a first for me too!

I had my six month check up this week and I am doing fine. I have lost 92 pounds and lots of inches. I am struggling a bit right now because we got the news yesterday that our 15 year old daughter, Crystal, has thyroid cancer. I am glad that I am facing this with her in a much healthier body than I had last year. We will be okay. We just have a battle ahead of us. Prayers are appreciated.

Thanks to my daughter I finally have some pictures of myself before and after surgery. Go to the bottom of the photo section (below my profile) and click on view other photos to see how I am doing. I knew I was doing well, but seeing these pictures really helped me see the difference. I love being able to wear jeans again!

It has been almost four months since my RNY and I feel so great! I am down 72 pounds now and have gone from a 24 or larger to a 16 in some things and an 18 in others. I am so happy with the changes in the way I look and feel. I still can't eat chicken, tuna, or eggs. I am so happy to be this far along already.

I am a little over two months out now and feeling really good. I am down 55 pounds since I began this process. I lost 25 pounds on the liquid diet and gained 10 while in the hospital. I have lost 40 since I left the hospital. I am down in sizes too. I was wearing 3X before and now I am in 22s. I am very happy to say my blood pressure is down to normal and I am not having head aches like I was before. I only regret that I didn't have this done years ago. I have had some days when I could not eat much and a few days at first were a bit painful but not horrible. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I am so blessed to have had this new chance for a healthy life.