Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Sunday

On Sunday we went to our grandson's church to see him be given a Bible. He looked so happy and sweet, very excited about getting that special book. As I sat up as tall as a person who's 4'10" can, straining to catch every smile, I was thankful all over again that I am here to savor such sweetness. Smiling through tears of gratitude, I said a prayer for all those who are  no longer able to experience these moments. I thought especially of the younger ones, like my support group friends John and Roger, who left behind young children and will not be part of so many special times in their children's lives.It doesn't seem fair, and I pray their children will remember how very dear their fathers were. Cancer, you can be so cruel...

Thursday, October 20, 2011

A Touch of Melancholy

I'm feeling a little bit melancholy about Thanksgiving. It's second only to Christmas as a special day to me, and it's increased in importance since my cancer experience almost 4 years ago. I was diagnosed with colon cancer the day before Thanksgiving and had my colon resection the day after it. So, Thanksgiving was spent in the hospital instead of around a table with lots of family. As a matter of fact, I didn't get anything to eat because of my impending surgery and all the testing that went before it.

I'm very grateful that my cancer was discovered early, and that I am still (so far!) in the clear. I've been blessed with that, for sure. But it does smart a little that Thanksgiving has that extra bit of importance to me now, but it doesn't seem to be that way for my family. Unless something happens that I'm not anticipating, it will be just Bill and me around a quiet table. Bill's absolutely wonderful, as always, but Thanksgiving to me should be about a bountiful table and lots of sweet faces to gaze at around the table.

For anyone that cares to know, my 4-year anniversary is Nov. 23.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

I visited a friend today while she was having chemo at the cancer clinic in our local hospital. It felt odd to go in there just as a vistor. Nobody was checking me over thoroughly or taking my blood. Just, "Hey, Gail. Why are you here today?"

I was struck once again by the good fortune I had to not have to do chemo or radiation. That's one of the biggest gifts God has blessed me with in this life. Of course, when I expressed that to my friend, she reminded me that she's seen me go through so much pain on many occasions, so maybe I haven't skated away scot free.

God bless anyone who has heard the words, "You have cancer."

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

It's been a bit of time since I wrote. I realized that I never wrote about the results. Everything is okay! The chest x-ray only showed some bronchial thickening, which is probably from past respiratory infections. And the bloodwork numbers were good!!! So, I live to face another day, and I'll use that time to Relay like crazy until a cure is found! Praying for all those not so fortunate...