Y'know that saying, "You can't keep a good woman down"?

Well I am woman, hear me roar!

Only my roar goes sorta like "Grrrr...hic...rrrrrr"

I started the process of getting approved for RNY 2.5 years ago and everything was going really well. No sleep apnea? Check!! Crazy as a loon? Check, but well medicated. *smug smile*. Meet all of the requirements? Check!! I'm morbidly obese, but generally pretty healthy.

Then I was waiting for the final appointment when all heck broke loose. Last October, I started peeing blood. Tiny amount, but blood nevertheless. I didn't eat asparagus, and it couldn't be a UTI, because I was just finishing antibiotics for a chest cough. Hmmmmmm.....

I work in a hospital, so got my lil' butt down to emerg, peed in a cup, and went back to work. The next day, WHAM! ultrasound...then WHAM...cystoscopy (camera to look up into my bladder).

Then two weeks later...THUD!!!!! I have aggressive papillary non invasive bladder cancer. Like, what the heck??? I'm only 39 and I don't smoke, and other than being obese, I'm the picture of perfect health!!

We had the tumor removed, and I'm on a three year regimen of treatments called BCG and I examine the toilet bowl every single damn time I pee now. I'm like a toddler who looks at her accomplishments in the bathroom with pride. Look ma!! Yellow pee!!!

I had to have a follow up appointment with the WLS surgeon. He told me that I need to be cancer free for two years before weight loss surgery. I was devastated...this kind of cancer has 80 percent chance of coming back...the oncologist wants me to lose weight so that he can take out the bladder and make me a new one from my lower intestine called a 'neo-bladder'. So I went running to my oncologist, he had an intense discussion with the WLS doc and the new game plan is not to have an RNY, but to go ahead with a sleeve. That way there will be enough guts for the neo bladder.

So now, I'm back on track. Final hurdles have been jumped. Waiting for the call to book me for surgery. It should be sometime soon...before August. I can't wait! It's already been a long road, and it's going to be an even longer road ahead of me But I take it one day at a time, and am grateful for my daily gifts. And for pee. Yellow pee.

You are such an inspiration and have such a great spirit. Good luck with everything.