I have
added some blogs to the list on my top page. Please check them out. They are
really very powerful, and have wonderful stories to boot. If you have a blog
that needs to be added (or you want me to remove yours), shoot me a comment.
Most of these people are cancer survivors. Some are still battling their cancer - others have beaten the beast. Every single one of them deserves recognition for their accomplishment, and every single one of them are people that I consider friends, even if we've never met in person. The beauty of this blogging thing is that I have the capability of reaching SO many people without necessarily trying to.
Most of these people are cancer survivors. Some are still battling their cancer - others have beaten the beast. Every single one of them deserves recognition for their accomplishment, and every single one of them are people that I consider friends, even if we've never met in person. The beauty of this blogging thing is that I have the capability of reaching SO many people without necessarily trying to.
Comments:
Carol
Urban said...
You
are very sweet and kind to list my blog. My mom wanted me to journal my
experience while going through cancer treatment. I was just too exhausted to do
it. Now I do the blog as a journal for me.
I forget so much of what has occurred. I don't know if this is a permanent side effect from chemo or anesthesia.
Yesterday, Mother's Day, Phil and I stopped for ice cream. It actually blistered a section of my lip. That has never happened before and I immediately thought it was still a side effect from the Oxaliplatin. How I hated those side effects!
I forget so much of what has occurred. I don't know if this is a permanent side effect from chemo or anesthesia.
Yesterday, Mother's Day, Phil and I stopped for ice cream. It actually blistered a section of my lip. That has never happened before and I immediately thought it was still a side effect from the Oxaliplatin. How I hated those side effects!
May
11, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Later:
Wow - how
is it Mother's Day already? It seems like we just celebrated the New Year, and
here we are already at the middle of May. Before I know it, we'll be back at
Christmas. Where in the world does the time go?
It's unbelievable to me, as I get closer and closer to my cancer-versary, that it's been almost a year since that fateful day. I thank God everyday for my kids, and for the blessings of my life. I am so grateful for my mother, who dropped everything to fly out to Phoenix to be with me during what was undoubtedly the hardest thing I have ever gone through. Without her (and my Dad), we wouldn't have made it through this, and there aren't words to describe how grateful I am to have them in my life.
I got an email from a blogger friend, Dennis, who posted a comment that I made to him on his blog. Here is the link to his blog and post. I go back and read it, and it makes me grateful that I have people like Dennis to keep me grounded and remind me of WHY I have gone through this. I posted earlier about some of the blogs that I have been following, and they are all amazing people.
One of them, Kim, is someone I met at the Undy 5000 last November, and got back in touch with her recently. She's a stage 4 colon cancer survivor, and was (I think) 29 when she was diagnosed. WAY too young. She's a fighter, and has already beaten the odds she was given at the time of diagnosis. We spent several hours at dinner the other night, talking about our experiences, comparing stories, marvelling at similarities, and just making such a wonderful connection. She is an inspiration to me, and I can only pray that her surgery this week goes well, that her doctors have steady hands, and that her body recovers swiftly and completely. I can't wait to see her at events in the future, telling people her story and making a difference in the world. It's going to be a beautiful thing.
So, on this Mother's Day, circa 2009, I wish all of the mothers a happy and healthy day. Take the time to think of your kids and their father - whatever your relationship with him, you made beautiful gifts together. I know my kids are my reason for living. Without them, there wouldn't be as much fight in me. I am grateful for my own mom. I am grateful for all of the moms in my life who took such wonderous care of me from both nearby and far. There aren't many ways to repay those gestures.
It's unbelievable to me, as I get closer and closer to my cancer-versary, that it's been almost a year since that fateful day. I thank God everyday for my kids, and for the blessings of my life. I am so grateful for my mother, who dropped everything to fly out to Phoenix to be with me during what was undoubtedly the hardest thing I have ever gone through. Without her (and my Dad), we wouldn't have made it through this, and there aren't words to describe how grateful I am to have them in my life.
I got an email from a blogger friend, Dennis, who posted a comment that I made to him on his blog. Here is the link to his blog and post. I go back and read it, and it makes me grateful that I have people like Dennis to keep me grounded and remind me of WHY I have gone through this. I posted earlier about some of the blogs that I have been following, and they are all amazing people.
One of them, Kim, is someone I met at the Undy 5000 last November, and got back in touch with her recently. She's a stage 4 colon cancer survivor, and was (I think) 29 when she was diagnosed. WAY too young. She's a fighter, and has already beaten the odds she was given at the time of diagnosis. We spent several hours at dinner the other night, talking about our experiences, comparing stories, marvelling at similarities, and just making such a wonderful connection. She is an inspiration to me, and I can only pray that her surgery this week goes well, that her doctors have steady hands, and that her body recovers swiftly and completely. I can't wait to see her at events in the future, telling people her story and making a difference in the world. It's going to be a beautiful thing.
So, on this Mother's Day, circa 2009, I wish all of the mothers a happy and healthy day. Take the time to think of your kids and their father - whatever your relationship with him, you made beautiful gifts together. I know my kids are my reason for living. Without them, there wouldn't be as much fight in me. I am grateful for my own mom. I am grateful for all of the moms in my life who took such wonderous care of me from both nearby and far. There aren't many ways to repay those gestures.
Comments:
Jill said...
Happy
Mother's day to you too!
I am so happy to hear that you and Kim got together. You are both very special women and I am so happy that I have had the chance to meet you both.
Have a blessed day :)
I am so happy to hear that you and Kim got together. You are both very special women and I am so happy that I have had the chance to meet you both.
Have a blessed day :)
May
10, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Later:
Somehow,
almost a year has passed since I was diagnosed. I am really struggling with
this date, and not just because it coincides with my mom's birthday. I think
it's because it's making me think about where I was a year ago. What was going
on in my body that I didn't know about. Makes me ask, what's going on in my
body NOW that I don't know about.
More than that, it makes me think about how I am going to handle this date. I am going to be here in AZ, my parents, brothers, and husband all in another state (country, for Jim), and I don't know how I am going to handle the emotions that will inevitably run through me on this day. I need to celebrate the anniversary - certainly, I have so much to be grateful for. The diagnosis led to my life being extended far beyond where it was headed, and words don't exist to express how that feels.
And yet, I feel like it's a sad day too. It's a day that has literally shaped my life. It's a day that has changed who I am forever. I am still the same person I was before the cancer - I just have this additional major element added to me. I suppose it's a bit like becoming a mother for the first time. You are this individual with a life, with like and dislikes and wants and needs and emotions. And, this change comes into your life (with or without forewarning) that fundamentally and dynamically alters your perspective on everything. With a kid, you life goes from being about you to revolving around diapers and bottles, spit-up and poop. With cancer, sometimes it's the same things [ :-)] but most times, your life focuses so much on you, your doctor's appointments, surgeries, chemo, medicines, prescriptions, food, sleep, etc. that you still, in the same fashion, lose track of who you were before this event.
So, while I will definitely celebrate the day (and do what I can to focus on living rather than the alternative), I know that I will be on a roller-coaster of emotions. I know that I am going to be thinking of the past 12 months, of what I have been through, and trying to imagine the next 12 months. I have a PET scan and a colonoscopy in July - how will those turn out? Is this just the first battle in a war, or have I indeed beaten the enemy?
I don't know how I am really going to deal with everything over the next two weeks. I think it's going to be up and down. I think I am going to have days where it's all good, and I can see the light ahead, see the reason for my disease, and honor the journey I have taken. However, I know there are going to be the times when I mourn what I lost, when I question my body's strength, when I ask myself WHY.
I.......
More than that, it makes me think about how I am going to handle this date. I am going to be here in AZ, my parents, brothers, and husband all in another state (country, for Jim), and I don't know how I am going to handle the emotions that will inevitably run through me on this day. I need to celebrate the anniversary - certainly, I have so much to be grateful for. The diagnosis led to my life being extended far beyond where it was headed, and words don't exist to express how that feels.
And yet, I feel like it's a sad day too. It's a day that has literally shaped my life. It's a day that has changed who I am forever. I am still the same person I was before the cancer - I just have this additional major element added to me. I suppose it's a bit like becoming a mother for the first time. You are this individual with a life, with like and dislikes and wants and needs and emotions. And, this change comes into your life (with or without forewarning) that fundamentally and dynamically alters your perspective on everything. With a kid, you life goes from being about you to revolving around diapers and bottles, spit-up and poop. With cancer, sometimes it's the same things [ :-)] but most times, your life focuses so much on you, your doctor's appointments, surgeries, chemo, medicines, prescriptions, food, sleep, etc. that you still, in the same fashion, lose track of who you were before this event.
So, while I will definitely celebrate the day (and do what I can to focus on living rather than the alternative), I know that I will be on a roller-coaster of emotions. I know that I am going to be thinking of the past 12 months, of what I have been through, and trying to imagine the next 12 months. I have a PET scan and a colonoscopy in July - how will those turn out? Is this just the first battle in a war, or have I indeed beaten the enemy?
I don't know how I am really going to deal with everything over the next two weeks. I think it's going to be up and down. I think I am going to have days where it's all good, and I can see the light ahead, see the reason for my disease, and honor the journey I have taken. However, I know there are going to be the times when I mourn what I lost, when I question my body's strength, when I ask myself WHY.
I.......
Comments:
Nancy said...
You
have shown so much strength for one person to have...I truly believe you will
handle anything and that all your test will show how God has given you the new
life you now have and will continue to have.I do wish I were closer so I could
be there for you more.Michelle,you have soooo much courage and love and push
that you will get through anything.I have had the honor to watch you grow
through this and watch others that wasn't able to make it...God will guide you
always.I love you sweetie
May
11, 2009 at 5:34 AM
I
can't remember feeling anything but thankfulness for still being alive on the
1st anniversary of my cancer diagnosis. My next PET scan is July 13 followed by
a visit to the surgical oncologist on July 22 (day after my 47th birthday, woo
hoo!). September 5 will mark the 2nd anniversary of my cancer diagnosis. I am
grateful to God for allowing me to continue living. I am grateful that he
allowed me to find you. HUGS!! You are an inspiration to me.
May
11, 2009 at 7:05 PM
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