In my regular life (pre-breast cancer) I had a routine to start my day by reading something positive that would inspire me to keep my thoughts fine tuned in a direction that would serve me well. I read a lot of books, would seek out quotes on the internet and read articles in spiritually based magazines. Staying inspired has always been my secret weapon to stay ahead of the curve emotionally, spiritually and even physically while navigating any of life’s challenges that inevitably appear, sometimes without warning. What I have… Read more Inspire Thyself →
Life is not always predictable which has certainly proven to be true for me in the past few months. The good news is that after my Chemo treatment on Monday, I did not become dehydrated as I have in the past and subsequently had an easier time with side effects. The bad news is I did such a great job with hydrating that my sodium level significantly decreased causing me to feel excessively weak. The good news eating potato chips has been the subscribed temporary treatment. The bad news is… Read more Good News~Bad News →
Since I learned I would be embarking on this cancer journey I decided I would use the experience to look for the blessings and reap some lasting benefit from the… Read more The Blessings →
Not so long ago I was in a dark place. My metaphorical sun that symbolizes brightness and joy did not appear to be shining. Instead, it felt like a dark grey cloud blocked the warmth and the brightness that typically shines on me. Rather than feeling like my usual happy and joyful self, there were times I struggled to be optimistic that I would ever feel good again. In other words, I was tempted to believe the sun will never shine again. In this post-chemo period, I felt pretty miserable… Read more The Sun Always Shines →
It is 10 days post Chemo #2. After a rougher than expected post-chemo experience, I am now seeing a pretty quick shift back to feeling normal. Thankfully, I had a scheduled check-up at the Cancer Center yesterday and my bloodwork confirmed my prolonged weakness and ickiness was due to dehydration. After having a bag of I.V. of fluids infused with some additional meds for inflammation and a dose of Potassium for good measure, I made a shift. I walked out of the Cancer Center at my full height, rather than… Read more Time for Change →
If you have been living on this planet for more than a few decades, you figure out that life does not always go as expected. You can do research, study and specifically prepare for many of the challenges or even the opportunities that may possibly appear in our day to day lives, but the unexpected still happens. . . at least some of the time. What I have learned is NOT an effective tool to deal with the unexpected is to complain about it. Complaining only delays dealing with whatever… Read more The Unexpected →
One of my significant learnings on this cancer journey so far is that it is the little things that bring the most comfort. Perhaps it is because when we feel ill our needs get narrowed down the basics. For me, the little things, which are actually big things in disguise all come under the heading of love. When I was hospitalized recently for dehydration and subsequent kidney failure, my husband showed up one day with a big smile on his face and a roll of soft, cushiony Charmin toilet paper… Read more The Little Things →
Once again, I am paused. Like a machine that typically runs smoothly and efficiently, but temporarily has the pause button pushed. I know I will be up and running like a top once again, so I will patiently wait. I pause and wait for the chemo drugs to do their thing. To flow through my body killing cancer cells while I nap or soak in a deep hot bath. I pause and wait for my white blood cells to regenerate due to the Neulasta injection so my immune system can… Read more Paused →
Kate Believed She Could ~~~~So She Did 