What are we missing? Had you been sick?

I keep hearing, What are we missing? Had you been sick? How did we not know?

The short answer... NO! This totally blindsided us and was completely unexpected. Not a single symptom.

On August 1st, I took the ceremonial first day of school pictures, hugged and kissed my sweet kids and sent them off to their first days of 2nd & 5th grade. Then I headed downtown to Major Tool & Machine,  Hunter's employer. They have a full clinic, NP, etc on site and to receive our annual insurance incentives we must get an annual physical there. Totally normal, routine visit, every summer.

Wait, let me back up. So a few years ago, I had an abnormal pap. I followed up with one the next year, totally fine. Then three years ago a pap showed HPV. The doctor explained that 80% of adults will be positive for HPV at some time in their lives. I am from the pre- HPV vaccine age, so it is much more common in "older" adults like me. Because of the HPV, I have had ANNUAL paps for the last several years... all NORMAL.

But as I said yesterday, my cancer is not the common cervical cancer... it hides until it has spread far enough to be found. Thankfully it has been found. Now we fight it.

So after my routine exam on August 1st, I carried on with my life... because NOTHING WAS WRONG! Then on August 8th, I received a phone call that said that my pap results had come back, and I was showing "Atypical Glandular Cells." This is not an abnormal pap. This is something more. It means a specialist was the next step.

A colposcopy with biopsy was ordered and scheduled for August 14th. This exam method is a much more invasive approach to examine the cervix and remove biospies of any concerning areas as well as the inner cervix/uterine canal which cannot be done in a regular pap. During this exam, the doctor found what he hoped was a uterine polyp on my cervix. He performed a biopsy of it for exam and the biopsy of the inner canal. No lies, it hurt. I came home and went to bed for the rest of the day. What I know now is, they were looking right at the cancer.

My cancer is glandular not cellular. It grows in the glands of the cervix, so to the eye, it looked just like uterine cells- because they are glandular as well. However, microscopically, they were not uterine cells- they were cancer cells.

I kept my phone with me EVERYWHERE I went for the remainder of the week. I wanted those biopsy results... badly, I wanted to know I was ok. I called the office Thursday and Friday afternoons just in case they had forgotten to call me. They hadn't. My results were being reviewed again.

On Saturday August 18th, Hunter, Marilyn, Spencer and I were all packed up and ready to go camping at Lake Monroe. We love camping, it is our peace, our family relaxation and just what I was hoping would help distract me from the waiting.

Well. boom. On the way to hook up our camper at our office, the doctor had left a voicemail then a phone call on his personal cell phone.

It started, was I sitting down? Not what I was hoping to hear... ever. Sarah, I am so sorry to inform you that you have cervical cancer. We need to get you scheduled with the oncologist immediately and start the process to fight the cancer.

Bombshell. I had my ten year old daughter sitting behind me. Listening. Processing. Watching as her mom could barely hold it together. Taking frantic notes about surgeries, radiation, chemo. What! We were going camping.

From that moment on, our life has changed. We will never be the same, but we will will overcome this.

The oncologist said there is nothing I could have done to find this any earlier; it is not found routinely; it is found when it is causing trouble. But little does this cancer know who it picked a fight with. I am ready for the fight of my life and plan to kick cancer's ass.

Because of how I found out, my kids are both fully aware of what is going on.

Spencer has a 2nd grade classmate that is a cancer survivor and thankfully he sees his healthy friend as the goal of what I will become... a SURVIVOR.

Marilyn is deep, very deep. She gets it from her mama. She loves big and completely and is terrified. She shared my diagnosis yesterday with her class. She is incredible.

Today we arrived at school early for a prayer vigil with our incredible Acton teachers and staff. My kids do not just go to school here, they are going to their 2nd home. They are surrounded by so much love and support, every single day. But today, it was me they were supporting, praying for, loving. It was amazing. I felt God as the teachers and staff blessed me with hugs, prayers and well wishes. It is just where God needed us to be for us to fight this battle.

Our tribe is amazing, and I am overwhelmed.