In the weeks since I shared my recent cancer diagnosis,
I have been truly overwhelmed, touched and deeply humbled by the
outpouring of support from countless people. These days, it’s so easy to
say you have a ton of friends/fans/followers,
etc. but it is only through something like this – something that shakes
you to your very core – that helps shed light on the fact that there
are true compassionate hearts, shoulders to lean on, and hands to hold
behind those names.
So, where are we now? We have officially reached the front line of the battle and are taking no prisoners. I’m recovering as well as I can from surgery – cutting out both the tumour and any delusions that this entire situation might have only been a convenient misdiagnosis. It’s definitely very real… and very sore… but on some weird level, I’m glad to have the first step behind me.
I’m pretty sure I make a terrible patient
– did I mention that my husband is a total rockstar? – but I’m trying
to find my glimmers of light wherever I can find them. The hospital was
cold but the medical staff was incredible – and the heated blankets were
a godsend!
So through all of the support I’ve been fortunate enough to receive, one sentiment keeps rising to the surface – everyone can’t wait to read the “major victory” blog at the end of this journey.
Well, I can’t wait for that either, but because we’ve still got quite a
few more steps to get through before this becomes a distant memory,
I’ve decided to focus on the “mini victories” we’ve managed to achieve so far…
• This process can be good for a girl’s ego – I’ve repeatedly been told how young I am throughout this whole process – haven’t really heard that much in days prior!
• What better excuse to go out and stock up on some pretty new bras? If everyone in the world is going to be seeing them, might as well make them look good!
• I finally managed to squeeze in a family portrait session – no idea how they turned out yet but at least I can visibly prove I’ve been part of this family too! (Thanks, Anita!)
• There are some AMAZING resources set up to deal with these types of situations!
o I found an incredible retail store in Burlington
that outfitted me with a post-surgical camisole, support pillow and an
avalanche of information and resources – all as part of a complementary
support program. So sad that such a shop needs to exist, but so
wonderful that it does!
o I attended a Look Good Feel Better
workshop and was shocked at the amount of resources, support and, yes,
products I walked away with. Questions I didn’t even know I had were
answered, hopefully putting me even further ahead in the game.
• Did I mention my husband rocks?
Forget the white horse – any guy who can deal with post-surgery vomit
and empty an ‘ooze sack’ on a regular basis with a smile on his face is
definitely my kind of knight in shining armour!
•
I have always been a “Let me know if I can do anything to help” kind of
girl. One of the things I will be sure to take away from this whole
ordeal is to offer less and do more. Seriously, my
heart has always been in the right place, but I’ve learned to take the
Nike approach going forward and “just do it”! The meals that
miraculously appeared and kept my family fed, the decaf double-tall
non-fat lattés that made their way into my hands, the care packages
filled with wonderful little time-fillers that just showed up, the
playdates for my son that just materialized… I have no doubt that being
able to enjoy these benefits while not having to coordinate a single thing definitely contributed to the entire recovery process.
Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things. ~Author Unknown
