Dear Family and Friends:

As today is the 11th day of Christmas, it is not too late to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year -2015!

As you may know the 12 days of Christmas are the twelve days from Christmas day (December 25) to Epiphany (January 6).  1st day of is the day that Jesus was born, and the 12th day is the day the Maji found him and the Epiphany that He is the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings.  We keep our decorations up until Jan. 7 and try to do little things to celebrate these days too.  Of course, the Jan. 6 mass is the final time of honor and worship for the Christmas season. Anyway,  hope your Christmas season and New Year celebrations have been grand!

This is my final post on the blog as I have basically completed my intensive cancer treatments, a mammograpm in December showed no cancer and am now a cancer survivor!  Without your support and help, I really don't know if I would have gotten through this as easily.  Yes there was pain, suffering, fear, frustration; but it was the loving letters, cards, emails, calls, and lovely care package that I received from many of you that lifted my spirits.  I know that your prayers joined with mine, and our Lord blessed it all.

The most difficult part of the treatment was the extensive chemotherapy (ended October 16).  Two weeks later I began radiation therapy, daily at 8:30 am (ended December 22).  Interestingly, the chemo poison has mostly left my body, but there are still bits around and a few side effects that are slowly waning.  Last month (Dec) my hair started to grow back. It is all white and gray, and is straight.  Right now it is a full head of hair sticking straight out of my head.  Chris calls me his "little Q-tip".  The Radiation Therapy was not all that bad, but it did make me very tired.

For 2015, I will be having a very mild chemo every 3 weeks (herceptin), as well as taking an oral chemo therapy for 5 years -- Tomoxifen.  Don't know if there are side effects to this one or not.  Doubt it because I've learned from several people who are on it that it's okay.

I learned so much so far from this experience.  It's strange to say, but I am grateful to have gone through it.  My faith and compassion is stronger.  So many people have cancer.  It is truly amazing how many people I met who have all different kinds of cancer, and of all ages.  The surprising one was the large amount of men over 60 who were in for testicular or prostate cancer.  I was told that breast cancer is second only to these cancers in men.  I will forever keep people suffering with cancer in my daily prayers.

Other news, is that the girl's father, Steve is doing quite well.  After 5 months in the hospital recovering from bladder cancer; he has been home since November.  He has gained lots of strength back and is back to work and enjoying daily life.  One good thing that came from our having cancer at the same time is that it brought his family back into my life.  That is a blessing because we were related for 25 years, and have so much to share.

Here's a family picture we took in November.  Aren't the girls lovely.  I'm extremely puffy here because of all the steroids and medications,but now it has all gone away.  Still we are glad we took this picture because it marks something important that we came throught together.

So all ends well.  Thank you again for your faithfulness to me and your loving support.  Please keep in touch with email (rita.colleran@comcast.net) or facebook.  For many of you, if you're in the area come see me.  Know that you are in my prayers daily.

Much love -- Rita