Tops off for Breast Cancer

20/12/2023

Ok update.
Ow.
Dr has removed the microwave mesh... (will help it not burn so much)
Counting now.
11 more days.
Maybe i can help light Santas way?

25/11/2023

So. This is what ive been up to lately. Lol i no longer have time to think about cancer 🙃 Bllllleeesssings!!!

18/11/2023

Well, today was the 3rd day of radiation and so far so good!
My body aches have eased up so im extremely thankful for that.thank you for the cards, prayers and well wishes!
Lol i found a filter that shows what i see when I look up from the radiation machine.. ah palm trees.

01/11/2023

Happy belated halloween 🎃 😆

26/10/2023

Come celebrate my first week of NO CHEMO!!! Join us for the Halloween Thursday Throwdown ft. J Jeffrey Messerole Tonight!!!!
It will be a spooktacular time!

26/10/2023

Its just meeee.... 8 oclock and im NOT IN CHEMO!!!!
WHOOT!

16/10/2023

You wouldn't want to disappoint someone with cancer would you? Lol come to our last Thursday Throwdown of the year!

Halloween Thursday Throwdown ft. J Jeffrey Messerole
🎸Come join us for our Halloween special Thursday Throwdown!!! come dressed up and ready to win prizes! Musical guest J Jeffrey Messerole🎸

✨️We will also be welcoming 🙏 Scents of Harmony, hand crafted candles 🕯by Ginger Schueller, just in time for Fall!

⏰️5pm-9pm (music starts at 6pm)
🍸Slinging Drinks: Hops and Hot Rods
🍕Food Truck: Pizza Til Sundown
🦚Our friendly farm animals
🧒Kid friendly (supervised at all times)
🐾Pet friendly (must be leashed at all times)

14/10/2023

Thank you Liberty Wrestling for the beautiful flowers! Looking forward to being present at the 2023 meets!

13/10/2023

Well.. last time I posted, i was telling everyone that the swelling in my arm was lymphedema. With the persistence of Compass Memorial Healthcare my drs and nurses felt something was not right so they sent me in for another scan and found a bloot clot in my neck. Today I was scheduled for surgery to have my port removed to help the clotting issue. Surgery went well and I am back at home resting. Thank you for all of your prayers!
Known as the postit patient, i did leave another surprise note for my surgeon lol. It was deemed fraudulent though... however, I was offered a free colonoscopy 😬

06/10/2023

Ok its been a while. I have been meaning to sit down and write an update but the continuous add on of side effects has damaged my spirit a bit lately. My latest issue has been a swollen arm. Very uncomfortable. Apparently, since one of the lymphnodes in my armpit was removed, my arm has been struggling to filter the waste that is usually flushed out in a normal lymphnode body. I was diagnosed with lymphedema yesterday which is not a curable thing. It can be managed with compression sleeves and therapy but it is going to stay with me. That was extremely hard to hear when i felt i was getting so close to getting back to "normal" (2 more sessions). My big thing on here is to count my blessings. But my pity party has kept me from doing that. I have been reading Job so i would feel better lol. Job 1:21 'Naked i came from my mothers womb, and naked i will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Praise the name of the Lord." Much more was taken from him and he still praised God.
I keep reminding myself, it could be worse. And it could. Im still fighting and will continue to do so. I was able to work out enough yesterday to create a sweat and that sure is a blessing!
Thank you to everyone who has been praying and supporting me in this very long and painful process.
💗
Tshirt credit to Neil A. Happel who can always make me laugh!

13/09/2023

Its been a little while since I have posted. Nevertheless, I have tried to count my blessings every day.
With any fight, the mind and body becomes weak and tired, and I dream of the day I can be a reflection of myself again. Today, i reread a devotion from a few days ago.
Devotion and Warfare
Presume not to labor to build with the right hand without holding the sword in the left. (Nehemiah 4:18). It is vigilance COMBINED with prayer that spells victory. Devotion must be coupled with warfare to be fruitful. Holy ecstacy must be mixed with holy boldness, and love must be blended with courage. Only to pray is not enough. Prayer must rise from the battlefield of spiritual conquest.
(On the highroad of surrender, Frances J Roberts)
Still praying, still fighting.
Todays blessing?
Knowing that I can conquer anything through prayer and courage.

30/08/2023

Well this week has been good n weird lol i havent been sick at all and ive been able to workout almost every day! Bailey got his stiches out and cone of shame lifted. The weird part is my fingernails HURT! Never would have known that would be a side effect of chemo.. ps do not google chemo nails. I should not have.
The blessings have been overall wonderful with no sickness!

26/08/2023

Well! I havent done much today.. but i dont feel bad! Im usually slathered all over the couch by now. I even got to go to Ethans Football game last night!
Todays blessing was an unexpected handmade gift! Thank you Lisa Benton!!!!
Snug as a bug, I will be!!!

21/08/2023

Well. I can say Bailey probably feels worse than me today! He had a mass taken off of his ear, cysts taken off and teeth cleaned and some removed... hot mess.
Thankful surgery went well and we are back to taking care of each other 😊

14/08/2023

Well shoot. Guess my bod is a little funky with Taxol. Friday and a good portion of Saturday wasnt too bad. Saturday evening came the chills n body aches. Sunday was about the same and Today, im just weak n tired but ready for my upswing. So im guessing the next weeks will be about 3 to 4 down days then up again. We will see. Thursday will be my 3rd infusion so 9 more to go?
Todays blessing is light at the end of the tunnel.

10/08/2023

Lovin my hat hair!!!!
My second round of Taxol is today! 10 more to go!
My awesome Dr said that my hemoglobin was low (maybe why i was so tired) and I should eat some red meat. Welp! Good thing our food vendor at our Thursday Throwdown is Beast & Bird Ima gonna treat myself to some kick b***y brisket!!!

07/08/2023

I think i may have celebrated my good health just a scoatch soon. Lol Friday was fantastic. Saturday was sucky.. dizzy, and just exhausted. Maybe i did too much on Friday?? I dunno but Sunday was a little better but close to the same. Today is better but still weak. I have 11 more weeks of Taxol so hoping that because it was new to my body, that it may process it and adapt. Im just thankful today is better.
So whats up with the duck? A cool little blessing story. My mom n bonus dad live in Tennessee. Roger has the gift to litterally talk to any stranger. He was at the hospital doing insurance things and saw this Jeep pull up. Him knowing I love jeeps, starting talking to this guy about the jeep. Meanwhile, a lady was being pushed in a wheelchair to the jeep which in turn the guy said "thats my wife and shes fighting cancer". So cool how God works through people to encourage one another even states away. Roger then shared my story of cancer as well. They then pulled out this sweet little duck to give me which will proudly be displayed in Bruce my Juck! I can say a little prayer for her everytime i look at it 🥰🦆
Such a small gesture with a big impact.

04/08/2023

So far so fabulous!!!! This round of chemo (had my first one yesterday) is without side effects!!! I have felt great all day! Hoping that lasts! 🙏
My head is starting to get some stubble so its a great day 😄
Blessings abound!

30/07/2023

We made it on tv!!!

An Eastern Iowa women battling breast cancer is using her love of cars to help other patients.

27/07/2023

Hmmm. Well this week didn't go as planned. I figured since i was done with steroids, i would be back at it like normal.. well, seems that chemo is a bit like a Rollercoaster.. never know what your gonna get. All week, I have had stomach issues, extreme fatigue and just a "sunken feeling'. Im guessing from the last time i felt like this, my red/white/blue or whatever cells are down. Could use some prayers that my body starts shapin up STAT. Its going to be a busy weekend of Thursday throwdown, ragbrai, and Tops Off For Breast Cancer - Jeep Show & Shine . Neil A. Happel is gonna be runnin.. so pray for peace and REST for him too.
The Blessing is!!!
We have alot of people helping! Thank you!!!!

24/07/2023

I Made it!!!! Yesterday was the last dose of steroids and today looks brighter! Im excited to say, that this week couldn't have been a better time to start feeling better because SATURDAY IS Tops Off For Breast Cancer - Jeep Show & Shine !!!!
I plan to be fully engaged and present in this FUNdraiser!
*This is a FREE event to the public. There will be live music, throughout the day, food trucks, adult beverages as well as non alcoholic. There will be vendors inside as well with sweets and ice cream, and candles. And a flower arrangement class as well! This is kid friendly (must be supervised) dog friendly (must be leashed) event.
*competition entry fees of 20 dollars goes towards Compass Memorial Healthcare Hope for all Foundation. for jeeps, bags (co****le) and golf. You can sign up when you get here! Jeeps should be here by 9am or 10am to get all situated. Big prizes are awarded to the winners!

Cancer has changed my life.. and I consider myself in good shape, somewhat financially stable, good support system the whole nine yards of blessings. But not everyone does. Those are the people i want to help through this fundraiser and Compass Memorials Hope for all Foundation will do just that. I pray that you will come out and enjoy this day.. but also help support this cause.
This event is a big deal to us.
Please, come and help us!
Thank you for following my story and I will continue to post even after the event if people want to keep following.
I love you ALL 😍
Deda Happel

22/07/2023

Full disclosure... yesterday was a rough one physically and emotionally. The steroids that are given with chemo are horrendous on my body. Id say its one of the worse parts of chemo. It was a wedding day. I got up enough energy to water the animals but just collapsed afterwards. I saw my Husband RUN all day. He works so hard even with my help and to see him yesterday was heartbreaking for me. I wanted to help so bad. Yall. If you ever thought running a wedding venue would be easy, it is NOT. Rewarding? Yes. But it is hard to even take a quick enough break to shove something down for lunch and get back to work. He started at 7am and didnt stop till 1am. I would love some prayers for him today as he is yet again doing another wedding. Prayers for strength for me that I can help in any shape or form.
The blessing today?
Yesterday's devotional

21/07/2023

A little catch up here. Yesterday was my LAST red devil infusion! So far, its not the best start this morning but hoping the nausea goes away today. The day before chemo, i realized my baldness was gonna last a while so I decided to get a couple of wigs just to toss it up a bit. Whatdyall think? Lol

18/07/2023

Im addicted to this band 🥰
Come on out and see them perform live on July 29th!
Tops Off For Breast Cancer - Jeep Show & Shine

17/07/2023

This last week has been great! I feel pretty normal. One more session of the red devil on thursday and then its Paxil weekly. Felt so good, my husband even took me out on a date!