June 7, 2026 - Another Trip Around The Sun

Scans, Milestones, & Moments that Matter

As the days grow longer and summer whispers its arrival, I find myself reflecting on the beautiful milestones that have filled our spring. Life moves so quickly, but these are the moments that truly matter, the ones we hold close and celebrate with grateful hearts.

Mason turned 16 in April, and what a joy it has been to watch him step into this new chapter. It is so hard to believe my baby is 16! He certainly hates it when I refer to him as my baby, but my baby he always will be. He is also dipping his toe in the workforce. He was hired for his first job! He is a proud cashier at our local Ace Hardware store. It is such a great environment! He loves it.

We had a wonderful Easter filled with friends, family, faith, and laughter. Mother’s Day was extra special, surrounded by love from my boys. And I celebrated my own birthday with another blessed trip around the sun, another year of life, growth, and so much to be thankful for! My girlfriends spoiled me with a relaxing day by the pool. Sometimes, all you need is the love and laughter of good friends. It’s always a warm hug.

And the sweetest milestone of all, Jamie and I just celebrated 30 years of marriage on April 27th. Thirty years. That is more than half my life. I am so grateful for the man beside me through every season of this life, and there is truly no one I would rather share this journey with. Here’s to many more. I love you so.

We were such babies!!!!

Health Update

On May 27th, I had my recent PET Scan and Brain Scan. There’s always that familiar scanxiety leading up to them, but I’m overjoyed to share that both came back clean! What an incredible relief. I’m so thankful that my current chemo cocktail continues to do exactly what it needs to do. Every clear scan feels like a deep breath and a reminder to keep living fully in these precious moments.

I do have one ongoing issue I’ve been reluctant to write about. It feels so minor compared to everything else. But as I’ve shared many times, the side effects of chemo are brutal and never really go away. Ever since that first drop of poison (I mean medicine) entered my body, it has done a doozy on my hair and nail growth. My hair is much thinner, and my nails grow at a glacial pace. I’ve also been plagued with two big toenails that simply won’t grow or heal.

After four years of babying them with little progress, I finally saw a new podiatrist, and he was unwavering: both big toenails need to come off. I had MRIs on both feet to rule out a deeper bone infection. Thankfully, there was none, because that would have meant losing my big toes entirely. So after that scare, losing just the toenails feels like a victory! I’ve scheduled the surgery for September and will update you all then. I’ll admit I cried a little, grieving the loss of my toenails and saying goodbye to pedicures forever. But I am FINE. JUST FINE! 😊

A Proud Wife Moment

I couldn’t be more proud of Jamie for publishing his first book, Medicare Mastered: A Strategic Guide to Coverage, Costs, and Choices. He is a published author! This book has been such a labor of love, born from years of helping families navigate Medicare with clarity and confidence. If you or someone you know is approaching Medicare age or looking to better understand their options, I highly encourage you to grab a copy! (Yes, I am so biased.)

If you could help us spread the word, it would mean the world. Every share, purchase, and review truly makes a difference as we work to simplify this often-confusing journey for so many.

Looking Ahead to Summer

With summer upon us, Mason is heading off on his second trip to Philmont Scout Camp in New Mexico. This Scouting High Adventure is something he’s been so excited about, and as an Eagle Scout, he is incredibly proud to go. I will miss him terribly, but he grows so much from these experiences. We can’t wait to hear all about it when he returns, and we’re hoping to carve out some special family vacation time before he heads back to school as a junior. Yes, I just typed “junior”!! Junior!!! When I first had Mason, my Momma told me that the “Days may seem long, but the years will fly by”, and boy was she right!!!

Side note: When I was first diagnosed with cancer, my number one wish was to make it to Mason’s High School Graduation! I may be jinxing myself, but it doesn’t feel that way! I’m gonna make it!

Oh, and we’ll officially have another driver in the house… oh boy! 😊 More milestones, more memories, and more reasons to cherish every single day.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Your support, prayers, and kindness lift me up more than you know. Here’s to soaking up every beautiful moment this summer brings and continuing to kick Cancer’s ASS!

With gratitude and love,
Renee Kranking
Moments Matter: Thriving With Metastatic Breast Cancer