10/28/2026 First, praise report from Monday….it was an awesome day!! I felt totally “normal”. Thank you, Lord for that! Today…marks the halfway point in my first round of chemo. So thankful for the side effects I’ve had being tolerable and not what a lot of people experience with this regiment. Thankful for my care team that helps ensure I live as normal as possible. I’m still working full time. I take off in treatment days since it’s such a long day with the drive, but working mostly normal hours the rest of the week, taking naps as I need to. Still trying to increase my exercise more, but balancing energy expenditure between that and getting anything done at home has been a chore. Either way it’s movement, which is the important part. Just thought I’d give you a quick update! 2 Cor 12:9 - “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” #Rally4Hallie
Updates from Hallie
10/14/2026 This post is from 10/14, but we were having issues uploading videos to the website and the post wouldn’t make as much sense without the video… I spiced this post up a bit and attached a video. I was so wired from these steroids this morning, I laughed more than I’ve laughed in weeks! Charla, my sweet friend, neighbor and nurse was well entertained…until I crashed about 11:30. 😂 Now, starts the roller coaster, came home and took a nap and probably won’t even get off the couch again until bed. So thankful for our new freezer and it is stocked full of batch cooked meals we can throw in the crockpot or oven for those days Robert works late and I just don’t feel like cooking! BBQ meatballs are going in the oven tonight and some instant potatoes in a pot with some kind of vegetable TBD. Ok, I might get off the couch to make the brownies I’ve been craving…Daniella, I need that recipe for the no flour cake you made us,oh, my!!! So when you watch this video, outside of being entertained by my more than normal ramped up self, my hope is that anyone going through a tough time, particularly preparing for your chemo appointment…I want you to know it’s not as scary as it seems. I want you to know that your attitude is sooooo important in this journey. The emotions and the highs and lows are real and you need to embrace them, but overall, choose joy! It’s so much more rewarding than sulking!! You can do this…whatever journey God has you on, He knows what He is doing, trust him and embrace your journey!! Dr appt went well today. She is super happy with my response to the chemo! Of course, I had a million questions, but she knows I will! She is amazing and never rushes me and I love her. Dr Theriault at TX Oncology in Ft Worth! Labs looked good and she gave me permission to take more of the “non-medicine” support I want to take. That’s a whole different post! She did reduce my steroids in hopes that it will help me sleep. 5-6 hours a night with an hour nap a day is not enough, so working on increasing that. Shout out to Lindi Skin Care…Love, love, love their face wash, body lotion, face serum, face moisturizer and soothing balm!!! No I don’t get paid by them, but maybe this will tag them and they can send me some free stuff 😉😜 https://www.facebook.com/share/18YzgH1zwD/?mibextid=wwXIfr 2 Cor 12:9 #Rally4Hallie
10/25/2026 Long post…breast cancer education and then personal update. I’ve learned so much about breast cancer and I just wanted to share because the diagnosis is very complex as is treatment and prognosis. Initially, when radiology called with my biopsy results, I was told the cancer is Invasive Ductal Carcinima, the most common form of breast cancer, highly treatable (80% of breast cancer is IDC) and survivable. Not sure how many kinds there are but at least two, the other one I’m familiar with is DCIS which is contained to the duct, not busted out if it (invasive). What I later learned….20% of breast cancer is triple negative (TNBC). That means it is not responsive to hormones, the first line of defense in fighting breast cancer. It also means it’s extremely aggressive with high chances of recurrence (usually in other parts of the body) and much lower survivor rates. What that also means is there’s no targeted therapy, no “direct hits” per se, thus long, heavy treatment with chemo so any hidden cancer cells anywhere in the body are treated. Only 20% of breast cancers are triple negative. These are the first two identifiers of a breast cancer diagnosis. Then there’s staging… Stage 1 - small tumor and confined to the breast. Stage 2 - 2 to 5 cm tumor and has spread to a few nearby lymph nodes. Could be a larger tumor without a lot of lymph node involvement. Stage 3 - multiple tumors and/or significant lymph node involvement. Stage 4 - has spread beyond the breast and lymph nodes to other parts of the body (metastatic). Then there’s the aggressiveness. This is measured by a Ki-67 score. This measures how many cells in the sample tissue biopsied are actively multiplying. Anything over 20-30% (not sure on this as I’ve read both) is considered aggressive and impacts how quickly treatment needs to begin. Then the genetic component comes into play. If there are certain genetic mutations, once the breast cancer is addressed, the organs/systems impacted by those mutations have to be addressed, usually requiring partial or full hysterectomy. I haven’t spent much time here because I don’t have any mutations. Suffice it to say it makes the whole thing more complicated if mutations are involved. Most people know several people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, but the likelihood of their diagnosis being the same is very slim and their journey will look completely different from each other. That’s why one person may have a lumpectomy to remove the tumor, then a few rounds of chemo and some radiation then 10-15 years of hormone blockers and someone else has 6 months of chemo, then a double mastectomy, then radiation daily for 6 weeks and then maybe some ongoing immunotherapy for a short while. And then there’s everything in between. I say this to say that hearing someone has breast cancer is very vague and knowing what all of this means, might help you understand each person’s situation differently. Now, for my personal update…this week has been much better than last week!! I’ve been sleeping better but my energy levels continue to decline. I haven’t been able to workout and ride my bike as much as I would like to but I have been able to fix dinner a few nights this week (ok, a warmed up leftovers 😂). I have been able to make my bread still - thanks to my bread machine, though I miss fresh pasta. I just don’t have the stamina to hand knead it and it’s too much for the mixer. We try to get out of the house as much as I can handle. Friday night we went to an amphitheater to listen to a local artist, Saturday I rode my bike a few miles, went to breakfast and the grocery store! We tried to do an outdoor event at Cappernaum studios but it was more walking and standing in lines than we realized so we ended up leaving. Sitting outside this morning watching another beautiful sunrise, eating by yummy breakfast my amazing husband made and brought to me then heading off to church, then Lexie and Jake are coming over for a bit. Overall, it’s been a good week! Trying to manage, crazy heartburn, some nausea, constipation, being tired and fatigued. Most of my hair is gone now. I no longer have to shave my legs or arm pits….this shower thing just keeps getting easier and easier 🤣 This coming week marks half way through my first round of treatment!!! So thankful my numbers have stayed up and we haven’t had to delay treatments and that my side effects are so much less than they could be! God is good! Ok, long enough post. Love you guys!! 2 Cor 12:9 #Rally4Hallie
Praise report!! Got my genetic testing results back…zero mutations! That news is a huge answer to prayer, it means my kiddos don’t have to go through all the testing and have to make hard preventive decisions for their own health! Thank you, Lord!! I meet with the genetics counselor next Wednesday and will have more info, but I was super encouraged by the report. Today was treatment #5. Almost half way through the first round! Woohoo. I actually slept last night, I think because she reduced my steroids. Hoping that doesn’t increase the side effects since I’ve been doing so well the first three weeks. Treatment went well, we’ve almost figured out the cold therapy. 😂 cooler on wheels today helped a ton! Wiped out tonight so hoping for a good nights sleep and productive day at work Thursday and Friday since we are hard into peak season already. I know I brag on my employer and my co workers all the time, but they truly are amazing and I’m so thankful for their support and allowing me to take care of myself and pick up the slack when I need to take breaks!! Love you all, CanopyNation!!! Thank you to all of you praying for me, sending me words of encouragement and things to make me laugh!! You are amazing and I’m so thankful for you!! Headed to bed but wanted to say hey and share this God wink with everyone. 2 Cor 12:9 #Rally4Hallie
10/20/2026 Loved the cutting horse competition Saturday! Brisk morning air, beautiful sunrise and horses…what could not be beautiful about that? I was tired and weepy, but did ok….until my granola bar didn’t taste good. Yep, that’s all it took, I cried as I sat in the arena watching God’s beauty in the horses and the way the handlers rode them and the way they all interacted with each other…the horse, the riders and the cattle…simply amazing. Robert ate a bite of my granola bar and assured me it wasn’t bad, just my jacked up taste buds. He hugged me while I cried. Then my dad loved on me. I think it was hard for him to see my breakdown so easily over something that really wasn’t a big deal, but in that moment it was just another realization that my body was different and I couldn’t do anything about it. Heartburn had set in starting last Wednesday and it’s been a battle. Nausea set in Saturday. Thank God for a tea recipe I found and Zofran….am I ever going to stop having to take meds just to get through my day??? I’m tired of taking pills just to offset another pill or some side effect of treatment. Yesterday started rough but ended up being a great day. Rode 3 miles on my bike! First exercise I had gotten in since before my last treatment. Felt so good to ride and have the wind blowing in my face!! My little pieces of hair are everywhere. Looks like Robert borrows my sink every morning to shave his face…and every afternoon…and again in the evening. Even on my side of the bed….Babe, stop shaving your face over my pillow, please! Ready for that to be over! I’ve always had a head full of hair so I guess it will just take time for it all to finally work its way out. Tossed and turned all night in spite of a prescription, magnesium and a cortisol regulator blend I take at night to help me sleep. So I finally came out to the couch. Steroids start all over tonight. Hopefully the adjustment the doctor made last week will keep me from being so ramped up. However, several of you have let me know how entertained you were by my video last week, so….LOL Dad got here last Friday and will take me to treatment tomorrow and head back to his lovely wife, Margie on Thursday. Thank you, Margie, for holding down the fort with the littles and sharing Dad with me! Love you! 2 Cor 12:9 #Rally4Hallie
10/17/2026 Not going to lie…yesterday sucked! I can’t even describe the feeling of my body being completely exhausted, but having energy at the same time. The brain fog is no joke. Can’t find my words a lot. My temper is a short fuse lately, which is just not me and I don’t like getting frustrated at people over little things. I feel like I’ve been so blessed to have felt so good for the last month of treatments and now the battle has begun. My days of feeling crappy are starting to outnumber the days I feel good and that scares me. I know God will give me the strength to get through this but I’m starting to feel the toll of the chemo on my body. I don’t know how to know when to give into the chronic fatigue and just be still. Stillness is not something I’m accustomed to…maybe it’s a God-lesson. I just know I can’t stop just because of the fatigue or I would do nothing but lay on the couch. I don’t give up that easily!! But I also know I need more rest than normal. Trying to find that balance. I slept well last night 9:30-6:00!! Best night I’ve had in weeks. My body needed it badly. My sweet mama is paying for someone to come clean every couple of weeks which was a huge blessing yesterday! I LOVE a sparkly clean house and HATE cleaning. Right now I don’t have the energy to do much more than keep the kitchen and toilets clean and most of the laundry. Thank God for the robot that keeps my floors clean, my biggest pet peeve! Getting out of the house today to go watch a cutting horse show/competition this morning and maybe catch some fire pit action tonight now that it finally cooled off! Love you all!! 2 Cor 12:9 #Rally4Hallie
10/12/2026 Yesterday started a little rough….I had a meltdown the first time I put on a head covering. It was lots of things….scarves aren’t me, my shoulder is still frozen so it was a small chore putting it up, the reality that I have no hair and instead have cancer. Just still seems surreal. It overwhelmed me and I cried…again. Won’t be the last time, I’m sure! Church was awesome! I got to serve my fellow teammates on the serve team. We have a room where the serve team can go for snacks, drinks, a couch to chill on for a second. If you know me at all, you know I love to serve people! Met a sweet lady at lunch who is a couple years out from her cancer and we had a nice chat. There’s a “sisterhood” of survivors that I think probably compares to military men and women that serve together. There’s something bonding about fighting a battle together. She has a beautiful head of grey hair and I hope mine grows back just like it!! I decided I needed an attitude adjustment after my head cover breakdown and we went to Goodwill where I found a few scarves I like and I ordered some stuff on Amazon. I might as well embrace it or it’s going to be a really cold winter of me pouting about scarves and hats and no hair! My family outside of Chicago did a breast cancer walk yesterday. Maureen, Seth, Shayann, Caleigh, Sarah…I love you guys! Thank you! I never thought people would be walking in a breast cancer walk in my honor…again, still so surreal! I’ve been reading and learning a lot about my specific cancer and lots of stories of other women and it spawned some conversation between Robert and I yesterday. We came to the realization that, yes, there will be challenges in our relationship as we learn to navigate this and enhance our communication, but we figured out that we have adjusted well because our relationship has always been give and take…fluid…we’ve always shared responsibilities. We’ve always just done what needs to be done. It’s just elevated to a new level now. It actually has caused me to learn to be a better communicator because things I like to do and just do, sometimes I can’t do and I have to ask him to do them. He absolutely graciously accepts, but I have to learn to ask! That’s hard! Today was a good day! Fatigue gave me a couple breaks today but I think I’ll sleep really well tonight! 2 Cor 12:9 #Rally4Hallie
10/10/2026 It’s been a couple of days….a rough couple of days! Cancer sucks! I’ve felt relatively normal most days since treatment started, just more tired than normal. This week, not so much. The fatigue isn’t even describable and sleeping doesn’t help. The brain fog is something else too. Finding words is tough sometimes and my frustration is triggered super easily. I have to work on that. Getting frustrated does nothing to help the situation. The emotional toll is more than I expected. Emotions just show up out of no where. This morning Robert wanted to take me to breakfast. Great, let’s get out of the house for a bit. As I was getting ready, it hit me…no hair…everyone will know I have cancer…they will see me differently than they would have before…they might feel bad for me…it might bring them sadness because they think of someone they love. I boohoo cried…a couple of times. Robert held me and loved on me and cried with me. I’m so thankful to have him by my side. I know I’ve said that before, but I truly am and I’ll say it again and again! We went to breakfast and of course, everything was fine and no one probably thought anything of it. Fatigue appears to be my new normal for the time being…I have to learn to manage it and still live. I have to stay active as best I can because it’s good for me, physically and mentally. How do I stay active when switching the laundry wiped me out…this load…next load might not bother me at all. I can clean one toilet but have to take a break before doing the other one…what?? So glad I bought the robot to vacuum and mop!!! My balance is off so I haven’t ridden my bike this week but that’s on the agenda for tomorrow morning. My energy level is better in the mornings. I hate the feeling of wanting to do something and can’t because the life is sucked out of me at that moment. I know my journey is my own and everyone’s is different, but my hope is that sharing a small piece of my day helps someone reading this relate and have that, “I’m not alone” moment. Makes these posts worth every one of them! Our church Neon Life Church is a church of life groups and our pastor says all the time, “There’s freedom that takes place in life groups when someone hears someone else’s story and says, ‘You too?!’” There’s freedom for someone reading this post and realizing they are not alone…..read it again….you are not alone! I love you and more importantly, God loves you!! I’m so blessed to have the support I have from friends and family and people I don’t even know! If you are navigating your cancer journey feeling alone, please message me…I’ll walk along side you and others will join me. 2 Cor 12:9 #Rally4Hallie
10/7/2026 Headed to third chemo. Rough morning emotionally. I’m super weepy and just feeling blah. The fatigue and brain fog is insane. The brain fog is causing me a lot of frustration as I can’t focus and get my words. I struggle with that anyway and was just starting to feel normal again after starting my hormone replacement therapy that I had to stop 😢 The steroids are a roller coaster. Wired one minute and crashing the next….and soooo hungry!!! Like 3:30am need food hungry. Then the nausea kicks in and I don’t feel like eating. Dang!! These side effects have been minimal, but increasing. Oh, and how about the quick to anger/frustration? I’ve never once felt anger toward this diagnosis, but I have a really short fuse over little things now. Kayleigh, my right hand at work, bless you! You probably see it more than anyone else as we are working together all day every day (Teams is a blessing and a curse!). Thank you for being patient and just encouraging me that it’s ok. You are amazing to spend my work days with and I’m so thankful for you! At home, Robert, you are amazing! I can just sit and not say a word and you hold me and just love on me. You pick up all the slack when I just run out of juice. It’s always been that way but now it means even more than it always has. Knowing I can tap out when I need to and whatever still needs done, gets done means the world to me and I am blessed to have you! You show me grace when I snap at you and love me through it! I Love you!!😘 So many people in my life to be thankful for, I can’t say thank you enough!! Thanks for letting me vent! Still, I choose joy! If there’s breath in my lungs, I have a reason to praise! 2 Cor 12:9 #Rally4Hallie
10/5/2026 Praise report today!! I realized yesterday afternoon that I can’t feel my tumor anymore!! That means the chemo is working! That’s great news, thank you, Lord!! 2 Cor 12:9 #Rally4Hallie
10/4/2026 Long post…not sorry! 4 of the kiddos, our DIL and SIL are here this weekend and my heart is so happy!! We did the breast cancer walk yesterday morning…in the rain 😃. Our SIL’s parents (and dear friends who also moved here last year from our neighborhood in MS) joined us on the walk 🩷 Then we came back to the house and took naps! We watched some football, had lunch and then had the head shaving experience! I was pretty unemotional about doing it until Friday night. It was actually harder than I thought it was going to be, but my mom was on FaceTime and the kids and Robert all gathered around and we laughed and reminisced about all the years I had buzzed Blake’s head when he was a kid. Shayann shaved mine then leaned down in front of me and ran the clippers through her hair, so I shaved hers, then Robert’s then Blake’s. My buzzer was burning hot. Actually got Blake and Robert both with the hot blade…sorry boys!! Lexie worked on the vinyl for the wreathes I’m trying to finish making while Shayann, Renee and I prepped the frames with the tulle. We didn’t get them finished, but we made good headway! It was a long day, but my heart is so full. The family time meant the world to me!! I will be sad to see everyone leave today 😢 Family time…so important and it just does something to my spirit! Always has!! Friday and Saturday were my best two days since I started treatment. Thank you, Lord for giving me the strength to enjoy the time with them 🩷 2 Cor 12:9 - “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness so that Christ’s power may rest on me”. I choose joy every day, it was super easy this weekend though! 😂 I was talking with a friend on Friday and realized that I have been through the emotions for sure, but not one time have I been angry about this diagnosis. And anger would be a very natural emotion to feel, no doubt! But it occurred to me that I’ve not felt angry for a moment. That is not by my own human strength! #Rally4Hallie
Before the walk… 
After the walk… 
Before…. 
After… 
That’s a lot of hair!!! 
Snuggle time!!! 10/1/2026 Second treatment went well yesterday! Tired today but not completely exhausted like last week. Taste is off so that’s disappointing…I love food! Today is one month from my diagnosis. That’s crazy! I feel so blessed that I’m a month in and I’ve already had all the testing, a diagnosis, a treatment plan AND two chemo treatments. I’ve been reading stories of women with my same aggressive diagnosis and they haven’t even seen their oncologist to discuss results or options yet at a month in…another answered prayer I hadn’t even prayed yet. 2 Cor 12:9 #Rally4Hallie
9/26/2026 3rd day after my first treatment…tired but no other significant side effects…thank you, Lord! Yesterday I did a short bout of stretching/exercise, about 15 minutes maybe and I was done. This morning we went for a walk and I vacuumed the floors and steamed most of them before I gave out. 🤷♀️ I’ll steam the rest tomorrow and clean the bathrooms. So glad our house is only 1475 sq ft with two bathrooms!! 😂 It’s been an emotional day. I’ve cried a few times. I decided today to shave my head next weekend. I can’t control a lot of things in my life right now, but I can control when I lose my hair and I’m not going to allow cancer to control something I can. I’ve been pretty nonchalant about losing my hair but it was quite the emotional thought process today. I’ve always cut all my family’s hair (until they got old enough to want something complicated). Shayann asked if she could be the one to shave my head in honor of all the years I spent doing their hair. I actually shaved her head when she was in high school for a fundraiser for St Baldricks, ironically enough. Next Saturday is the Race for the Cure walk in Ft Worth. Four of the kiddos will be here and I’m super excited about that!! Shayann is coming in from Chicago, Blake and Jessica will be here from Memphis and Renee will be home from Tulsa. Lexie and Jake will be here (they are only 45 minutes away). So my head shaving will be a family affair after the walk Saturday morning! Otherwise, it’s been a crazy quiet day. Robert’s birthday is today and I feel bad he’s doing all the cooking and helping me clean and not getting spoiled at all. He’s a saint and it’s so comforting to know I have him right here with me going through this! Time for another nap…love you all! 2 Cor 2:9 #Rally4Hallie
9/27/2026 I rode my bike this morning!! I nice gentle 1.75 mile ride. There was a cool breeze and the sun coming up. So much beauty to celebrate! I’ve been asked by a couple people about my diagnosis and as I’ve educated myself, I’ve learned more and want to share what I’ve learned. I know a lot of my peeps on here are readers and lifelong learners, so here’s some material for you… My oncologist described saying you have breast cancer as similar to saying you have a dog….not very descriptive. There are so many different kinds and “subcategories” within each kind, so here goes…. I have Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) which means it started in my milk ducts but busted through the wall of the duct, making it invasive. Mine is stage 3A, grade 3. Very different assessments. Grade is how aggressive the cancer is on a scale of 1-3. Stage is how much it has spread on a scale of 1-4. Mine is confined to my left breast and several nodes in my left arm pit. Thank God! IDC makes up 80% of breast cancer diagnosis. My specific cancer is referred to as “triple negative” (TNBC). That means that my cancer is not hormone responsive. The first line of defense in breast cancer is cutting off the food supply, which is normally hormones. Only 3% of my tissue biopsied was estrogen responsive, and negative for progesterone and HER-2. When the receptors are less than 10% it is treated as negative. TNBC is therefore slightly harder to treat because the first line of defense is not an option. That’s why I’m having chemo before mastectomy. They want to be sure the chemo is effectively reducing the tumor. If we remove the tumor and the tissue, they can’t be certain the cancer is responding appropriately. TNBC makes up 20% of cancer diagnosis. For those who want the specs… ER+…3% PR- HER2- Ki-67…90% (90% of the cells in my biopsies tissue were actively multiplying) The good news is God is bigger than TNBC and the treatment has come so far, my medical oncologist is “very confident” we can beat this and be cured I say healed because I know my God is in the business of healing, science is in the business of curing. Maybe I answered some questions, maybe I created more…that’s part of what this group is for! 2 Cor 12:9 #Rally4Hallie
9/26/2026 3rd day after my first treatment…tired but no other significant side effects…thank you, Lord! Yesterday I did a short bout of stretching/exercise, about 15 minutes maybe and I was done. This morning we went for a walk and I vacuumed the floors and steamed most of them before I gave out. 🤷♀️ I’ll steam the rest tomorrow and clean the bathrooms. So glad our house is only 1475 sq ft with two bathrooms!! 😂 It’s been an emotional day. I’ve cried a few times. I decided today to shave my head next weekend. I can’t control a lot of things in my life right now, but I can control when I lose my hair and I’m not going to allow cancer to control something I can. I’ve been pretty nonchalant about losing my hair but it was quite the emotional thought process today. I’ve always cut all my family’s hair (until they got old enough to want something complicated). Shayann asked if she could be the one to shave my head in honor of all the years I spent doing their hair. I actually shaved her head when she was in high school for a fundraiser for St Baldricks, ironically enough. Next Saturday is the Race for the Cure walk in Ft Worth. Four of the kiddos will be here and I’m super excited about that!! Shayann is coming in from Chicago, Blake and Jessica will be here from Memphis and Renee will be home from Tulsa. Lexie and Jake will be here (they are only 45 minutes away). So my head shaving will be a family affair after the walk Saturday morning! Otherwise, it’s been a crazy quiet day. Robert’s birthday is today and I feel bad he’s doing all the cooking and helping me clean and not getting spoiled at all. He’s a saint and it’s so comforting to know I have him right here with me going through this! Time for another nap…love you all! 2 Cor 2:9 #Rally4Hallie
9/25/2026 Praise reports this morning!! 1) I slept last night!! Finally feel rested for the first time in 3 weeks! 2) yesterday was a good day! Super tired and a little flushing in my face, neck and chest but no other side effects! 3) my shoulder is doing so much better!! I’m at about 120 degrees to the front and side and a little behind my back. Not hurting at all! Still need improved mobility before surgery in the spring but I was really afraid I had torn something again when I fell last week. I don’t think that’s the case. Thankful for another day to sit on the patio and watch the sun come up and thank God for his beauty and breath in my lungs. Praising him all day long! I choose joy today, regardless of my circumstances and how my day goes. 2 Cor 12:9 #Rally4Hallie 🩷🩷🩷
9/23/2026 Made it through the day!! Tired because it’s a long day, but good otherwise. Radiation Oncologist said 4-6 week after the mastectomy, I will have 20 radiation treatments, M-F every day for 4 weeks. I inquired about Proton Radiation and she is referring me out for a consult with that team. Proton is more targeted so it has less collateral damage and long term effects. Insurance doesn’t like to pay for it and that will be a challenge with my insurance. I already have several claims we’ll need to appeal for my cancer. Good thing I do insurance for a living! More to come on Proton vs Traditional. I did cold therapy on my hands and feet today just during the administration of the Paclitaxel. I’ll be buying some different ice packs for that. What I bought was pretty cumbersome to change out every 20-30 minutes for 1.5 hours 🤷♀️ Now I just need to stay hydrated, stay committed to exercising (as tolerated), sure is awesome to have a SIL that’s a personal trainer….check out Coach Mo’s Gym on FB. She’s amazing and truly loves what she does! She does in-person in Illinois but also does a lot of remote sessions too!! She can explain all that. Took way too much stuff today so we will reorganize and pair it down some for next week. Assuming I don’t react too badly and have to be in the bed over the weekend, we’ll stay on Wednesdays. CanopyNation is an amazing employer and loves their staff so much, they don’t want my bad days to fall on the weekend so I can’t enjoy family and church activities! I love my work family and I’m so blessed to have them!!! On the way to the store for stuff we realized we need…who knew Claritin is helpful for the body aches I’m likely to get from the Paclitaxal?? Anyway… Love you all and appreciate all the support and prayers!! 2 Cor 12:9 - “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” #Rally4Hallie
9/23/2026 Busy day today! Radiation Oncologist, labs, Medical Oncologist then infusion. I did get meds to help me sleep and took them last night. First full nights sleep since I stopped HRT a couple weeks ago! I’m still exhausted. Should start infusions about 11:00 and my treatments will be 3.5 hours. I choose joy today! This is the start of physically beating this monster!! I’m scared but confident at the same time. Didn’t know that was possible…but God! If anyone has friends or family that want to follow our journey, but aren’t on FB, all of my posts will also be updated on the website so they can follow along easier… Rally4Hallie.com Love you all and I’ll post an update later today/tonight. #Rally4Hallie
It’s been a minute, so here’s the update… I’ve officially withdrawn from the trial. Waiting another 10 days for them to do their own studying on the biopsy from last week is not what the doctor recommends but she left it up to me. Robert and I agreed. Chemo starts Wednesday with 12 weekly treatments of Paclitaxel and Carboplatin followed by 4 treatments (1 every 3 weeks) of Doxorubicin (Red Devil) and Cyclophosphamide (AC). I’ll also have Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) every 3 weeks during treatment. Dr Theriault is confident her team can help me manage the majority of the side affects so I can live a mostly normal life during treatment. The one thing there’s not a lot they can do for is the fatigue. Lots of fluids and rest. I have my go bag ready for chemo days as well as my overnight bag in case we have to make a last minute trip to the ER. Most of the time I feel ready to tackle this thing, but sometimes I just want to curl up in a ball and make it go away. Love you guys and appreciate all the prayers and encouragement. 🎗️🩷 2 Cor 12:9-10… #Rally4Hallie
Had my echo today and it was fine. Had my chemo orientation today, it was information overload, but I got to see where I’ll get my treatments and all the info about all my meds. The biopsy on the second tumor from Wednesday came back positive for the same cancer. That’s good and bad. Good, we are only dealing with one cancer. Bad, the trial is probably going to want the tissue sent to them to do their own testing which will delay treatment another 7-10 days. The coordinator at my Oncologist’s office is waiting for confirmation from the trial team. If they want the tissue sent to them, we will probably withdraw from the trial so we can start treatment. My Oncologist doesn’t like the idea of waiting any longer. Hoping to get a call over the weekend letting me know I’ll start Monday…under the trial would be really nice. Taking it easy resting this weekend so I’m ready whenever they get me on the schedule! #Rally4Hallie
Sitting outside on my back patio in awe of God's beautiful creation....again. It never gets old! Yesterday did not go as planned, but I'm starting to realize that is the new norm... I went in yesterday to get the trackers put in the tumor and impacted lymph nodes and biopsy the tumor Dr Heyne found last week. We got all of that done (the important stuff) then my body decided it had had enough and I had a Vasovagal episode and passed out in the mammography room. Dr Galvis, the Interventional Radiologist performed CPR on me because she couldn't find a pulse or respirations. So after spending the day in the ER, it was determined there was no cardiac event, just the Vasovagal episode and minor concussion from when I fell. My pulse and respirations were so slow and soft, Dr Galvis couldn't detect them. They said it happens a lot with first responders and Vasovagal events, they go into rescue mode and do what they have to do. So thankful for Dr Galvis and all of the staff at TX Health Ft Worth Breast Center for their rapid response in getting me out from between two pieces of machinery and from under another one and onto a bed where they could get me to the ER, which happened to be across the street. Yep, got to go for a ride on the hospital bed across the street and down the block with about 10 people escorting me and stopping traffic so we could cross. I would have loved to see that, but I was puking the whole ride LOL. Wasn't funny then but it's comical now to think about it. Dr Roper and the entire staff at TX Health Harris Methodist ER were amazing as well!! Now, I know why I'm here and not in Memphis, God has orchestrated my care team since day 1. On the way home from the ER, Dr Galvis called to check on me, she was going to see me in the ER, but I had been discharged already. Shortly after that, Dr Heyne called to check on me. He also was going to come see me, but saw that I had been discharged. Dr Galvis called him immediately when it happened and he, in turn, called Dr Theriault (Medical Oncologist), so within minutes of the episode, all 3 of my providers were in the know and monitored MyChart to see what was happening with me all day. That is a level of care, I really don't think I would have gotten if I were in Memphis....God knew that. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". A friend sent me a verse this morning that I think will be my "cling to" scripture during this journey...2 Cor 12:9 - "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me". I choose joy, even in these difficult moments, days, weeks.....#rally4hallie
Another answered prayer…go for the echo at 9:00 tomorrow morning!!!
I’ve been struggling with posting this, but feel I need to. It sounds crazy to people, I’m sure, but God doesn’t always do things that are logical in our flesh. I know I have to walk this cancer road all the way through. I know that a miraculous healing is possible, through Christ, but I know that isn’t God’s plan for me. Since day one, even before the biopsy came back, I knew I had to share my journey…thus this group. God will use my journey to help someone else and the will God has for someone else’s life can’t be fulfilled if I don’t walk every step, through all the treatment. That’s why I have peace in my spirit. That’s why I’m not afraid of this diagnosis. Healing doesn’t just come through miracles. Sometimes God uses medicine to heal. Dr T said she is confident, not only can we eliminate this cancer, but it can be cured. I am convinced that was confirmation of what God had already told me…I will survive this and be HEALED! Several of you have commented on the positivity and good attitude I have about the cancer. My God-story why. God used Lexi Kate’s cancer journey to prepare me for mine and he will use mine to help someone else prepare or be encourage, or something, through theirs. I’ve spent the last 21 months encouraging Lexie Kate and reminding her that God has a plan for her and her cancer experience will be part of her testimony. It’s like I’ve been telling myself that all along. Lexie Kate and her family are such an inspiration and an example of how to be joyful and celebrate every little win. Not through their own strength…it’s been a terrible, scary journey for her, but through the strength they found in the perfect healer, God alone. Praying this helps someone today, maybe not on a cancer journey, maybe on some other overwhelming circumstance in your life right now. Just remember, Gods is bigger than any circumstance you are facing and if you trust him, he will carry you through it! Love you all!! #rally4hallie https://youtu.be/RYps57NWaaI?si=97W3X5kl3l82-zG1
Port is in and everything went well. Pain is a bit much but the recliner and a bunch of pillows is helpful. Just waiting for the echocardiogram so they can start my chemo. The clinical trial requires one before treatment. Scheduled for 9/29, but the doctor doesn’t want me to wait that long so they are working on finding somewhere else to do it sooner. Tomorrow they will put the “trackers” into the tumor and the lymph nodes. They will also do another biopsy to test the second lesion. They want to be sure the second lesion is the same cancer. Glad to get something doubled up and save a trip downtown! 😆 Please pray for the echo to be moved up and continue to pray for this left shoulder being frozen. I will be reaching out tomorrow to the Regenerative Medicine doctor to see about some manual manipulation or shockwave therapy to break up some stuff in there. Love all of you bunches!
Yesterday was a great day! PET scan shows cancer is contained to the left breast and several of the lymph nodes in that arm pit. It also showed the tumor had NOT doubled in size. It has grown, but not as much as we thought. God is good!!!! On the way to get my port in this morning! The number of appointments and phone calls to coordinate this testing and treatment is quite overwhelming! We have been very happy with all of the providers and the staff thus far. They want to biopsy the satellite lesion the doctor found to confirm it is the same cancer. They are trying to get that done while I’m already at the breast center tomorrow for them to place the markers. Study requires an echocardiogram which is scheduled for the 29th but the doctor wants me to start chemo before that. They are trying to get the hospital to do that while I’m there today getting my port. Thank you for all the prayers, we can feel them and see them working!! ❤️ #rally4hallie
Saw the Medical Oncologist this morning. Went over all the things. Love the doctor!! So far we are 2:2 for providers! Entered into a clinical trial. I could be in the part that uses standard treatment or I could be in the part that switches the order of the chemo and replaces one of the 6 meds I will have during chemo treatments. The one it replaces is “Red Devil”, not sure of the real name. This chemo is terrible side effects when administered, but it also can cause heart issues. We opted to try the trial and whichever part I get into, is where I’m supposed to be. Part of this decision was also based on the fact that a couple people have talked to me about second opinions and the trial will be just that. They will rebiopsy the tissue (same tissue, I don’t have to have another biopsy), review labs/tests, etc. God answered a prayer here as we weren’t sure how to even go about getting a second opinion without delaying treatment. I will have 24 weeks of weekly chemo, then surgery, then radiation. This will easily be a year-long process. However, the Oncologist was very confident she could not just eliminate this cancer, but it will be cured!!! There’s the second answer to prayer today! Doing the trial does delay treatment some because they have to receive the tissue and start their process plus all the paperwork, but the doctor said a week delay will be fine, she’s confident in the treatment plan. Monday is the PET scan to ensure the cancer has not spread anywhere else. Tuesday my port goes in. Wednesday the tracker things go in the tumor and the affected lymph nodes. I will have to have an echo and maybe a couple other tests for the trial, but after next Wednesday, it should be fairly quiet for a week or so. Please continue praying for my shoulder to loosen up and now that I get into the arm of the trial that eliminates the “Red Devil”. The trial will help with insurance authorizations as some of the treatment will be covered by the trial. Third prayer answered today is that my employer is amazing and so supportive (which I already knew), but I’m reminded every day how much they love Robert and I and pray for us every day! Today was definitely more positive than we expected given how ugly this is. We are thankful for all the prayers and encouragement from everyone! #Rally4Hallie
the surgical oncologist was able to get me in for my consult yesterday afternoon, unexpectedly. What a whirlwind of information!! One of the first sentences he said to me was, “this is a nasty cancer and it is pedal to the metal”…. During the breast exam, he felt some unexpected oddities so he did an ultrasound to see what’s going on in there…. - tumor has doubled since 8/26 mammogram. It’s now measuring 4cm - there are at least 3 lymph nodes impacted in my arm pit - there is a satellite lesion in my breast (his words were, “we are dealing with a monster with two heads”) We will start with chemo to stop the spread and shrink the tumor and lymph nodes. Port will be put in next Tuesday. The goal of chemo before surgery, aside from stopping the spread, is to confirm the cancer is responding to the chemo and save as many lymph nodes as possible. This cancer is a little more challenging to treat because it is treated as “triple negative” which basically means it won’t respond to hormone withdrawal which is typically the first “food source” they cut off. This week we will do scans to determine if there are other lymph nodes and confirm it is isolated to the left breast. I will also go in to have little devices about the size of a grain of rice put into the lymph nodes and the tumor. The goal is to shrink the lymph nodes back to their normal size and he will need this device to identify which ones were cancer positive so he can be sure to get them during surgery, as they will all look alike. The device will transmit an audible sound to him through a receiver he will use during surgery. The tumor will be marked because the clip they put in after the biopsy was difficult to capture on the mammogram since my frozen shoulder prevented me from being in the position they needed to get a good pictures. He wants to be 100% certain he gets all the tissue when he does the surgery. I’ll also meet with the Medical Oncologist this week to determine which chemo will be used, how often and when we will start. Chemo will likely start next week as soon as the port is ready. We will do “several months” of chemo and then a double mastectomy, then radiation. Please pray for God’s will to be done. I know I have to walk this journey as it will impact someone else’s life that can’t be changed if I don’t. I know I will survive this but I know it’s going to suck! God is already humbling me and I know my personal growth will extend far beyond being humbled! I pray for anyone following this journey who is navigating their own scary circumstances (cancer or otherwise) and is feeling alone…you are not alone!! God is with you through every step. He loves us and even when we are angry or doubtful that we can get through our situation, He is present….trust Him. Please also pray for this frozen shoulder to thaw. They will need it mobile for the surgery…and it would make my life a lot easier to have full mobility during all this treatment. Please also pray for favor with insurance…speedy processing of prior authorizations and no delays in approving treatment. Several of you know the hell I’ve been through with my shoulder and Renee’s migraine treatment. I don’t need to have to fight insurance and file appeals on every claim to get them paid during this process. Please also pray for non-hormonal solutions to treat my menopause symptoms. I had just started to feel normal again when all of this hit. HRT has been stopped and they will likely remove the IUD that has been helping prevent my migraines. Insurance won’t pay for the medication that is most effective in treating my migraines. Anyone know how I can get some Nurtec samples?? Love each of you and will update as I have more info.
I found a lump in my left breast mid-July and a swollen lymph node next to it a couple weeks later. My annual well-women exam was at the end of July so I talked to my provider about it. She said we needed to check it out since I had just started hormone replacement therapy a few months prior. Here’s where the journey begins…. August 26, 2026….ultrasound and diagnostic mammogram showed a “suspicious mass” in my left breast and a swollen lymph node. They referred me out for a biopsy. August 31, 2026…The doctor doing the biopsy didn’t want me to find out through MyChart and kindly told me it was cancer. WHAT??? September 3, 2026…biopsy results came in…Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in both the breast and the lymph node…what does that mean??? - most common form of breast cancer, making up 80% of breast cancer diagnosis - highly treatable and survivable What about my results personally? - low positive Estrogen Receptors, is being fed by estrogen but only a small amount (3%) -negative Progesterone Receptors, not being fed by progesterone -negative HER2 Receptors, no HER2 protein on the cell surface. This just helps them know it won’t be responsive to specific treatments. Now what? Lots of tears, lots of praying and lots of phone calls. I see the Surgical Breast Oncologist Thursday morning and will likely have more to tell you. I think the biggest thing I want everyone to know right now is that my faith in a loving, faithful God is incredibly strong and I know in the deepest crevice of my heart, I will be fine. I also feel very strongly that this journey is part of my testimony and my hope is to help someone else going through this, find the same hope and indescribable peace through me sharing my journey. Don’t misunderstand my statement about having peace. I am not in a peaceful state right now, but I still have peace about the situation. This week has been a whirlwind of emotions, from complete devastation, to pity, anger and everything in between. Yesterday was a day full of “I’m going to kick your ass and nothing will stop me”. I’m scared and those who know me well, know I don’t scare easily!! I am so blessed to have amazing friends and family who love me and a church family in MS and one in TX who all love me dearly and will be lifting me up in prayer and keeping me encouraged. I know this journey will suck, but God is bigger and we will win this together!! Please know I will not be able to respond to every comment and every post. Please know I will read them all but don’t take it personally if I don’t respond or like your comments. This journey is not just mine, it will impact lots of people. I want this to be your journal also. Your story/experience may be a blessing to someone else!
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