Wednesday, November 16, 2011

An Anniversary

Exactly two years ago I had my final chemotherapy treatment for triple negative breast cancer. It seems a fitting date to resurrect my blog. Breast cancer has been conquered for now and I have my life back. However, my life is vastly different because I had breast cancer. Just this morning when our cat, Jeremyah, woke us up at 4:45 yowling for us to put food in his dish, I thought about those early mornings during treatment, waking up, alone with my thoughts, unsure of what was coming at me in the days ahead. Here I am, in those days, and it feels good.

I volunteered for a breast cancer walking study, "Moving Forward Together," sponsored by the Centers for Behavioral & Preventative Medicine in Providence, RI. I'm rapidly approaching the goal of walking 5 days each week during this 12-week program. I just completed week 3 and walked 4 days, 2 miles each time. Now that's progress! Considering I could barely walk the length of a football field during and immediately following chemotherapy.

Before cancer, I worked -- the same job I'd had for twenty years. Post cancer, I am retired and busier than ever. I babysit two of my beautiful grandchildren on Mondays and Fridays. I take care of my 86-year old mother in the early stages of Alzheimer's. I am meeting every other week with two close friends as we engage in St. Ignatius exercises using Journey with Jesus: Discovering the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius by Larry Warner. I'm having fun making clothes for my grandchildren as I reengage with Simplicity and Butterick patterns I learned to sew with in 9th grade Home Economics class. Thank you Mrs. Lombard!

My husband and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary on October 16, 2011! I feel so blessed to still be married to my best friend, my rock, my support, my devoted husband. Sometimes I don't feel like I don't deserve him, he is so good to me.

So I celebrate two years cancer-free and the new life that breast cancer has unexpectedly brought me to.