LIVING MORE AND REFUSING TO BE ANOTHER STATISTIC

I have always known there was an average timeline on my kind of cancer. 104 months flew by and by cancer standards is a long time. But as my oncologist has said about all of her patients - it is never long enough. I always want to write more, do more, travel......

HERE COMES THE SUN

There is a Beatles song called “Here comes the sun.” (1969). The lyrics say so much. The song talks about the long cold lonely winter, but states “Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, and I say it’s all right.” In addition to my service dog I have a rescue cat.......

ENJOY EVERY BREATH!

One of my favorite quotes is “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” (Corona, 1989). I first saw this quote on the wall at my hairdresser. I loved it so much that I got online and purchased one for......

A THANK YOU TO ALL THE WONDERFUL ONCOLOGY NURSES

I have been sick most of my life with various illnesses due to an immune disorder. Throughout my hospitalizations and office visits, I have gained the utmost respect for nurses. It is the nurses who take actual care of the patients in most cases and are the conduit to the doctors. It......

I’LL NEVER GET TO RING THE BELL

I never knew until I was diagnosed with cancer about the bell. In many cancer centers, including the one where I receive my treatments, women and men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer get to pick up and ring the clapper. After their last chemo treatment, they celebrate as their family......

I ALWAYS PAY THE PRICE

Several people with cancer have mentioned that they are often told platitudes like, “You don’t look sick,” “You must feel great,” or “Are you all better?” I get these remarks all the time. To make matters worse, I will never be off chemo because of a blood cancer, so I am never......

WE ALL NEED AFFIRMATIONS

One of the characteristics I notice many of us have (especially women but I think men do too) is that we tend to downgrade ourselves. Ask almost any woman about her body and she seldom tells you that she has beautiful curly hair, or pretty skin. She will instead say that she......

LONG AFTER CANCER, THE DOGWOOD LIVES ON

I am one of those fortunate people who searched and found a church family I truly love. Many of us can spend a lifetime and never find one. I grew up in the same church for 60 years. I attended as a child, but lost interest as an adult. I kept my......

DANCING LIKE THE SOLAR TOYS THROUGH CANCER

I have a three season patio in my apartment where I love to spend my time. It is glassed in and I can enjoy the sun, watch the gently falling raindrops and gaze at the clouds on a non sunny day. Even on gloomy days, I have string lights all around and......

WHEN DOES GRIEF END???

One of the hardest adjustments to accept after any type of loss is the never ending, always present, gut wrenching feeling of grief. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, the loss of a home after a fire or tornado, the loss of a job, or a mourning of one’s......

TAKE THE RISK – OR NOT!!

I was at lunch with several friends, including one who had gone on a cruise with me. Two of the others asked me, “Why with cancer would you go on cruises where there are so many germs.” My friend, Ruth, answered, “Because she can take a nap when she gets tired.” I......

I AM LOSING MY MIND – AND MY HEARING!!!

Many of us joke that of all the things we lose - losing our mind is the worst. Somehow this quote doesn’t seem very funny with chemo fog. The other tough side effect is losing my hearing. I was born with a severe hearing loss, worked as a rehabilitation counselor, and have......