The doctors suggested in August, after my surgery and a CT scan, that I was cancer free. As you know, they still wanted to put me on three months chemotherapy as a precaution. This week I did a new CT scan and after the doctors evaluated the scan they can see no sign of any cancer. When I discussed the result with them I asked: “Am I cancer free?” and the answer was “Yes”. What a relief!!! Of course there…
Today it’s Thanksgiving. I celebrated my first Thanksgiving 10 years ago, only four months after moving to California from Norway. I was certain that during the dinner we would tell each other at least one thing we were thankful for, but that did not happen. I’m not sure if that is because this is not a tradition in our family, or if it is not a tradition at all. I haven’t given it much though, so I’ve never asked anyone…
Yesterday morning I looked at three large pink pills that were in the palm of my hand – the last dose of my chemotherapy. I put them one by one in my mouth, swallowing them piece by piece while drinking tea with milk, sip by sip. I was very happy, but thought I would feel more joyful. What I felt yesterday and feel today is more relief than joy – and that’s ok. Perhaps my comparison to climbing to a…
I have put a post-it note on the mirror in the bathroom. On that note there are fourteen circles, one for each day I am taking the last set of chemo pills. I need an extra motivational kick to keep my spirits up. Every night before bedtime I cross out one circle. I have crossed out half of the circles and I am now half way through the pills and can finally see the light at the end of the…
After a two mile walk and an hour of yoga I am now sitting in bed with a face mask on (not the virus prevention kind). I’m trying to get the blood flowing, joints greased, and get some color back in my tired and gray face. Lively jazz piano music is winding it’s way up the stairs from the speakers downstairs. Benjamin is humming while preparing dinner. I hear a knife chopping on the wood cutting board and I smell…