With Every End...Comes A New Beginning.

To move forward without Cassie Mae hurts my heart, and she took a big chunk of my heart with her. It hurts all of us...Travis, Zelina, and my parents. She showered me with unconditional love through some of the most challenging moments of my life. Only God knew that Cassie Mae would have to endure the same journey I did. She was my constant companion. I shed tears only Cassie Mae knows about. She was my warrior....I was hers. She never left my side....and I never left her side...

I spent my last week of summer break as Cassie Mae's caretaker. I've asked countless times why I had cancer, but when my precious Cassie Mae received the same diagnosis, I was shattered...completely and utterly shattered. She had liver cancer which had spread throughout her abdomen. It happened so quickly. One moment she's sprinting around the place with Kona, and in less than two weeks later, I am being told to prepare myself for end of life decisions. My parents who I can always count on came to be with us. And of course, Z was here in an instant and juggled work to be with Cassie. I cannot tell you the abundance of love we felt when my family rushed to Austin just as they did when I was awaiting my own pathology results to find out what next. I understand many people are not "dog people" or care for pets in general and that's okay. But...if you read this, I hope you have a small change of heart. There is no question about the special history we share. Quite honestly, I cannot imagine life without a dog. They are special special gifts from God. With that being said, I had to do everything I could for sweet Cassie. After all, she was my dog-daughter..she was my family. I explored and educated myself on all options because Cassie Mae deserved the best care from the best vets. Cassie Mae was a fighter and a warrior, and for that reason, I will always honor her by keeping her spirit alive. There will never be another Cassie Mae. As I was told, she served her purpose, and while we still grieve and miss her dearly, we are blessed to know that she will forever be with us in the years ahead.

I am getting ready for a new school year, raising a puppy, and back to training for a marathon. Travis bought house, so Coach and Kona are super stoked about a big yard! Kona has been a good companion for Coach. Overall, I am in good health, and I recently graduated to 6 month visits with my oncologist. I am still under the care of a GI specialist. After a year of dealing with all kinds of GI issues, I'm finally on medication which has helped keep all of it under control. After procedures and imaging, my doctors concluded chemotherapy did quite the number on my stomach lining. My oncologist told me it will take another year or longer to fully heal from all of what chemo did to my body...especially my tummy. All I can do is learn from trial and error. 


I don't know what lies ahead, but I do know that to live with intention, is just that-LIVE with INTENTION. God's plan...we never know what it is or what it will be. The journey is the experience. The experience is the journey. Some are foreseen. Some are unforeseen. 

The closure of this journey will give me the opportunity to truly move forward and grow...grow into the new normal I transitioned into two years ago. To share the journey about me and my family was very personal and raw, but my hope is that my blog will help you, a loved one, or someone out there who is faced with a life changer like cancer. February 5th, 2013 at the age of 34 I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. My only treatment options were surgery and chemotherapy. Our lives were changed forever. I've been in remission for two years, and continue to live so it stays that way. By the grace of God, I am in good health and time will continue bring healing not just to me, but to Travis and my family. We didn't choose this journey, but we are stronger for it. 

There are not enough words to say how thankful I am for all those who supported me, Travis, and my family. Honestly, there are not enough thank you's in this lifetime, but I say again with an abundance of love....thank you. My Unforeseen Journey has come to an end, but with every end brings a new beginning.  

Much love to YOU,
Clarissa and Kona June

My Unforeseen Journey

Dedicated to and in memory of 

Cassie Mae Alvarado

May 5, 2005-July 10, 2015. 

"All women can do wonders if they're put to the test."~Wonder Woman