14 August 2008

Closing Down for Awhile....



Wow.... I had really hoped I would never have to sit down and write a post like this, but sometimes life just comes at you fast and you have to sink or swim. I'm sharing this info in the hopes of both explaining our business closing for a little while and maybe helping someone else to never have to go through what we're going through today.

Three and a half years ago I was diagnosed with melanoma. I was 27 years old. The melanoma had developed on a mole I'd had all my life. I'd gone to a dermatologist to have it looked at when I first noticed a brown spot appear, but he said not to worry about it. He said if I wanted to have it removed because of the way it looked, I should go to a plastic surgeon. I let it go for a few months and then noticed it growing and shifting around a bit. I asked my husband to find a plastic surgeon in our area who could remove it quickly because it just didn't seem right to me. Of course by then the melanoma had formed. When I was diagnosed I was not given a good prognosis due to the depth of the cancer, and the entire experience was kind of like being hit by a truck in slow motion. It permanently altered my life and the lives of the people around me.

After coming out of a fog of "how the hell did this happen?" we all (my family, friends and I) decided we had to find options to treat this and start fighting back. I ended up in a clinical trial for a cancer vaccine which I received every 3 weeks for a year. My last treatment was in August of 2006. Since then I've just been going for follow up scans every 6 months and everything has been great. That was... until yesterday.

Unfortunately my doctor's found a new growth which they believe is melanoma wedged between my liver and my back ribs. The good news is that the location is accessible and it's not actually in an organ. We also think we've found it early on. The not so good news is that I'm going to have to go back in for surgery and possibly a high dose treatment program which requires me to stay at their facility while I'm on it due to side effects. This news has been really shocking as I think in my mind I'd finally put this behind me. It's kind of like I'm back in front of that truck again. I'm hopeful, and a little scared, but I have a great support system around me to prop me up when things start getting tough.

So... how will this effect the company? Well, for now we've shut down our print shop for a few weeks. We don't have a firm re-opening date, but we are hopeful that I'll be back at work making proofs and printing orders the first week of September. My family and friends have graciously offered to take over shipping out jewelry orders and silk items so that we can continue to have something moving normally. Dade and I really appreciate your support during this time, and of course we hope to be back on track just a couple of weeks from now. I will also be blogging as much as I can to keep in touch with everyone.

We'll make it through this one day at a time.

All the Best,
Rebecca

27 comments:

Abbie said...

I wanted to send you well wishes after reading your post. I'm scheduled to have my moles checked next month. Your story makes me realize how life can be turned upside down so quickly. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Rebecca,

I hope all goes as planned. I will be looking forward to getting some updates

You and your family are in my prayers!

Hang in there! You will be back full speed before you know it!

Anonymous said...

Take care and keep up the hope! You're blessed to have such a great support system.

K Sherrie+Co Planning Atelier said...

You are definitely in my prayers.

Anonymous said...

thanks for sharing your story which will hopefully help everyone out there to get regular check-ups and stop procrastinating! Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Ms. 122 said...

thank you for sharing your story, that's definitely a good reminder to all of us to be diligent about checking for abnormalities and being more insistent with our doctors. prayers and well wishes abound for you and your family!

Victoria Lynn said...

Rebecca,

I'm so sorry about what happened. I hope you are better soon, and know that all of your loyal readers will be praying for you.

Anonymous said...

I logged on to ask some ?'s about an order we want to place later this fall and was shocked. I've had skin cancer 3 times and know what you are going through!! You will be in my thoughts and prayers!! Hope all goes well!

Janie said...

Hi Rebecca...I want you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I wish all the best for you and please let me know how things are going and if you ever need to talk...you know how to reach me..xoxo

Anonymous said...

hope all goes as planned and that your world soon is upside right...you and yours are in my thoughts...kim watt

April said...

You are in my thoughts and prayers. I wish you and your family all the best.

Jenna said...

Best wishes for a healthy future.

jessica lynn said...

aww honey I read your blog often and never really comment, but today I had to. you are in my thoughts and prayers and I wish nothing but the best for you and your family. be strong and we will be here ready and waiting for your return. xoxo

Maria @ {ritzy bee} said...

Rebecca, I am so sorry to hear this...you will be in my prayers.

sasha souza said...

Rebecca...I do not know you personally and read about your health problems. I want to point you to http://www.searchfoundation.org -- should you be in need of help you can apply for assistance.

Best wishes for your speedy recovery.

cHill Weddings, LLC said...

Rebecca,

Thank you for sharing your story with us and I will keep you in my thoughts until you return.

Keep your chin up, we'll all be rooting for you!

the bridal wishlist said...

Rebecca,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. You are very brave. Thanks for sharing.

rebekah said...

Keeping you and your family in my prayers!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your story. I'm a 'stalker' of your site and love to see the beautiful things you create.

My thoughts and prayers go out to you as you go through your surgery and treatment.

Have a speedy recovery.

~A white aisle fan...

Anonymous said...

I am sorry to hear about your health problems and wish you a speedy recovery. I can't imagine what you're going through right now. Just know that there are a lot of people cheering you on.

Anonymous said...

hi Rebecca
keep strong!
thanks for sharing your story, i hope i can meet you someday -all the travels and charity work you and Dade do in Asia is inspiring.
Norah

Anonymous said...

Rebecca,
You, Dade, Wonka, Winter, and your entire family are in my thoughts and prayers. I don't understand how this can happen to someone as beautiful as you are inside and out. I can only imagine this is your "big thing" to deal with early in life so you can get through this and live many, many, happy and healthy years together with your friends and family.
You are dearly loved and cherished and know that we will be with you every step of the way.
Your courage is unmatched and I love you! Keep your chin up and fight like hell.
Love, Judy and Brian

Anonymous said...

Rebecca,
Wow, I am so shocked. I emailed you about an order and got your out-of-office reply and checked out your blog and...wham. My fiance, Peter, and I are thinking of you and sending you our very best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery. We are both going to make appointments to get our moles checked as soon as possible. Take care and be well, Maggie Vaughn and Peter Jansson

Unknown said...

Rebecca,

I am so sorry to hear about your struggles. I am fair skinned and red-haired like you and I had also melanoma removed a few years ago myself (age 26). How unnerving it must be to have to go through the process again :( I know this will sound strange, but I feel as though we must be kindred spirits, as I noticed that your picture on your blog was of you guys in Istanbul (if I'm not mistaken). My fiance, Ahmad, and I returned from a trip there recently and it is one of our most cherished places. Stories like yours help bring my silly wedding hassles into perspective. Take good care and keep hope. Ahmad and I will keep you in our prayers.

Peace,
Anna

Unknown said...

I was totally mistaken... that's not Istanbul... it's the Taj Mahal, right? whoops :)

Anonymous said...

Rebecca, I'm so very sorry to hear what you're going through! I remember when you were first diagnosed, and I'm so sorry to hear that they believe it's back. You will be in my thoughts and I wish you a very speedy recovery!

Anonymous said...

Rebecca...You are in my thoughts and I wish you a quick recovery!
-MeghanE
(a huge White Aisle fan)