As most of you know, I received wonderful news after my fourth surgery this past August. My abnormal thyroid levels were “virtually undetectable.” This was the first time I received this news since the start of my journey two and a half years a go. My endocrinologist was equally as surprised as me.

For the last couple months, I have been enjoying living a relatively normal life. I have had only a couple of doctors appointments and no biopsies or surgeries. This has been the most uninterrupted semester of law school so far. Law school is much better without having to regularly miss class and also taking classes I’m interested in! (who would have thought?! 😉 )

I’ve finally had the chance to deal with the on-going complications of having no thyroid, as well as the repercussions of having so many surgeries. In the last two years, just when I learn how to adapt and listen to my body and how it has changed, I’ve gone in for more surgeries or testing which inevitably changed the playing field again.

Because my thyroid medication has to be so high to suppress abnormal cell growth, my heart rate accelerates quickly, and I have frequent heart palpitations. To keep this under control, I’ve had to cut back on caffeine significantly. This was a difficult adjustment, because having no thyroid also significantly lowers my energy level. I always felt like I had to overcompensate with high levels of caffeine, just to feel normal.

However, I’ve had time to adjust without further complications, and I’ve been substituting morning coffee with superfood smoothies, and it’s been a game changer! Any other my thyroid cancer sisters reading this, I highly recommend it! This is just one ways I’ve been blessed the last few months of appointment-free living. I’ve been able to understand my new body and make steady life-style changes.

On February 12, 2015, I go in for further testing and on February 19, 2015, I learn whether or not I am for sure “cancer free.” What a week that will be–I cannot wait.

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On another note, I will be turning 25 in a few short weeks. This birthday has kind of taken me by surprise. If you would have asked me ten years ago where I would be in my mid-twenties, this is not what I pictured. However, this is not a sour realization.

Most notably, if you told me ten years ago, I would be in law school right now, I would have laughed at you. I would have told you I would be a musician, running a photography studio, and/or writing a book. But, God works in funny ways sometimes and instills in you a passion to go outside of your comfort zone, to try something that terrifies you, and to trust him along the way.

Francis Chan wrote in his book Crazy Love, “‎Do you know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people he has made?” It’s so simple, but I’ve been holding onto these words lately. Law school has been so outside my comfort zone and frankly, it is still terrifying at times. However, I’m convinced that pursuing justice through the law is the way God has called me to love the people he has made, and I’m choosing to trust him along the way.

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