Two really positive things happened this last week, and both on the same day. I want to tell you about them. Like you are sitting on my deck out at the campground on a beautiful sunny day, and we are talking. All the while, the birds warble in the trees, and the trees are moving to one of those summer breezes that feels so warm and good.
So last Friday morning I officially began radiation. It kicked into gear a week earlier than planned, beginning on June 23rd. Best of all, it finishes July 22nd, one day before my Block of the Month Quilt Show at the Aurora Sewing Center store in East Aurora on July 23rd. Yup! I just advertised our big block of the month quilt show on July 23rd. LOL Hope you will come!
Today is Monday and I just finished my second radiation session, commuting to Harlem Road from the Attica area where we are camping at Skyline Campground. Its a 45 minute drive from here - which is the pits with gas prices what they are - but I will not give up my summer. It's worth the investment.
What is radiation like? Well, it's decently indecent, and after that drive, the session lasts 10 minutes. Quick. Easy. Over and done. Then I'm headed back home. Side effects, you ask? I feel a little weird off and on. That's all I can say. There's a 'tired' that comes and goes.
While there, I lay under a humongous machine that carefully maneuvers itself into place. It doesn't hurt. It doesn't annoy my claustrophobia, and I barely hear the radiation happening. It's hard to tell when the machine is doing its thing. I am happy the whole process is as easy as it is.
So now the second positive thing that happened on Friday was that I had an opportunity to meet an angel. That is absolutely correct. Last fall, one of my wonderful block of the month ladies introduced me to her best friend from high school, a friend who is also a cancer survivor. And that best friend mentored me all winter and spring, giving me a listening ear when I needed it most, and supporting me with honest, straight information about the cancer experience. Her name is Myrna.
I learned at our in person lunch on Friday that her hug is as marvelous as she is. Her conversation is terrific, especially as she shares her enthusiasm for exploring her family tree on ancestry.com. We also shared how much we appreciate the word 'unremarkable' whenever our medical reports underscore that there is nothing more for concern.
My prayer for you as you possibly make a cancer journey is that God puts angels like Myrna in your life. These gifts from God ground us during the worst of times, helping us to find courage, strength, and peace. Even more, these angels hold our hand through their words and convince us that we are truly a cancer survivor.
With love for Myrna, I am signing off, The quilting cancer girl
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