Hey Everyone!  I hope that all of you reading this are having an awesome weekend!  I have a few updates for all of you today.

First, Sal and I received some great news on Friday.  My genetic testing for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene came back negative!  This means that there is no genetic component to my breast cancer.  It’s just a crazy, fluke thing.  Thankfully, this means that my Mom, sister, and children are not at an increased risk for developing breast or ovarian cancer.  It also means that I might be able to hang on to my ovaries.  Maybe – we’ll see.  Just to be safe, they’ll be running what’s called the BART test to be doubly sure that nothing is going on, genetically.  Things are looking up!  I constantly remind myself that it can always be so much worse.

Quick wig update:  The creepy wig is sitting on a creepy mannequin head in my upstairs hall closet……just in case anyone reading this plans on breaking into our house and stealing it!  I’m convinced that the head and the wig come alive at night and float around my house!!  After picking it up on Thursday, I called my friend, Nacole, who has been styling my hair since I was 20 years old.  She is an absolute doll and had me come right in to the salon to see her.  I know that she stayed after her shift to help me out even though she has a family – a wonderful husband and an adorable 1 year little girl waiting for her at home.  She made me 110% comfortable, put me in a private room, trimmed the wig, and got it looking pretty damn good.  I appreciate the kindness and compassion of other more than anyone knows.  And, truth be told, the wig is nicer than my real hair!  Whether or not I’ll actually wear it is another topic for another day!

I, along with my family and friends, participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Walk/Run this morning.  It was just awesome to be a part of this event.  I am blessed to have such a strong support system.  Many of my very close friends and family traveled distances to be here today.  It was so good to be with my sister who traveled in from California, my college friends, high school friends, Holy Rosary School family, immediate family, extended family, neighbors, friends, friends of friends.  Many people that I haven’t spoken to in years made very generous monetary contributions to help fight this ugly disease.  Thank you all for thinking of me!  I am blessed and truly humbled and can not even begin to express how fortunate I feel to have each one of you in my life.  And, as always, we don’t mess around!  Team Barb, in just 2 short weeks, raised more money than any other team participating today.  “Barb’s Army – We’ve Got Barb’s Back” – raised $4725 and is still going strong.  All of this money goes directly to breast cancer research and awareness.  I am so proud to have such amazing people sharing this journey with me.

This is because of YOU.  Check it out:  I have an awesome plaque to hang on my survivor’s wall!

I’m looking forward to a low-key day with my husband, children, sister, and family tomorrow.  Sal and I will be traveling to the University of Pennsylvania on Monday afternoon to pick their brains a bit.  I have my second treatment on Wednesday which I’m psyched for!  Let’s rock and roll!  Enjoy the rest of this wonderful weekend!

“Don’t divide your life into weeks, months, or years.  Rather divide your day into moments.  Then live each moment as if it were one full life.”                              -Author Unknown

LIVESTRONG and God Bless!