Tag: Happy Thanksgiving

I have so many things to be thankful for this year but it really comes down to people.

The wonderful new people that entered my life this year, the people I met last year that stuck around to see me through ongoing issues, the people I have met online like you, the people I met unexpectedly, the friends I have had forever, and those I recently reconnected with, and my family, the champions, that have stuck with me through thick and thin.

It was another year of medical drama, some of which got very serious, but I was surrounded by people virtually and physically who picked me up and saw me through the pain and the fear. There was a young man who I will probably never see again whose presence let me know there are angels everywhere.

It was a year filled with fun as I had the joy of watching my grandkids excel at sports and school. It included seeing a “bucket list” concert with my daughters. It included family getting together for holidays and birthdays. It included family and friends just coming to visit, and grandchildren staying overnight, for the weekend, or for a week or more.

It is the people in my life that give my life meaning. Hearing how serious the infection was in my arm and that I could have lost my arm or the fact that if it had not been found when we did it could have killed me really made me take stock of everything about my life. I am still dealing with some side effects/conditions that affect the choices I make in my life or that can abruptly change my plans but I hope that changes soon. Most days I feel as good as I did before cancer struck and on those days I was to be present in the people’s lives who have seen me through the good times and bad. The people that I am thankful for today.

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
— Marcel Proust

Happy Thanksgiving! May you be surrouded by people that make you happy today and every day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Last year at this time I had just finished up my radiation treatments and was about to embark on the pill form of my treatments and one of my oncologists had promised a drama-free year. Well, it started out great with me only having a few side effects to the cancer medications.  Then in April, right after we moved to our new place, I was referred to the Wound Care Clinic for a small ulcer on one of my legs. That healed up pretty quickly, but by the end of July, I was back to wound care with a large sore on one leg and a smaller sore on the other. They have had a devil of a time healing and they really hurt too. A couple of weeks ago I was temporarily taken off one of my cancer drugs that the doctors believed were hindering my healing and already the small sore is healed and there is a definite improvement on the other leg. Sadly, all these appointments added stress to my life though because the co-pays have really hit hard but I really had no choice. 

I have met a new group of angels at the wound care clinic that I am so thankful for. I have had many ups and downs and even a bit of a meltdown at one of my appointments and have been so warmly treated by the entire staff. They are professional and tried so many things over the months all while remembering I am a human being struggling with a body I felt was betraying me. 

With all these appointments I am thankful for my husband and my daughters for getting me to my appointments and trying to learn as much of my care as possible so they could continue treatment at home. 

I am thankful for my son and his girlfriend for stepping in to help in any way they can. My son did the bulk of the moving but all my kids have gone on and above to try to make things easier for both me and my husband all year long. 

I am beyond thankful for my grandchildren. The older ones have been indispensable and the younger ones make me laugh and they all help me not to take myself too seriously. 

I am thankful for my extended family and friends that are still keeping me in their thoughts and prayers. 

I am thankful for all the Great Escapes bloggers that continue to stand by me when I am running off to appointments and when I fell behind the last couple of months. The authors have been fantastic too. 

Again, you, the readers of this blog have stuck by me and cheered me up, and supported me too. Please know that while I may not always reply to your comments I do read each and every one. You have made me smile, laugh out loud, and given me strength. You also let me know when I screw up and I always appreciate that.  

So while it definitely has not been a drama-free year, but I am still here, reading, reviewing, organizing blog tours, and sharing my life with you. COVID is still a problem but we are making progress. Get your shots, wear your masks, take care of YOU and maybe next year we will be thankful to have kicked it to the curb. We are all in this together and together we can do anything. 

I hope you have a wonderful day.

I have so much to be thankful for this year.

Granted cancer and a pandemic are definitely not something anyone would be thankful for but because of a bunch of awesome essential people I am still here and I am thankful for that.

I am thankful for my husband. He was my primary caregiver through all the chemo side effects and took me to most of my appointments. Because of COVID, he has been working from home and his employer was very accommodating which enabled him to be here when I needed him.

I am thankful for my kids and grandkids, pitching in wherever they could. Helping with personal care, taking me to appointments, cleaning the house, picking me up off the floor (chemo had me fainting for a few days), and just calling or visiting to make me smile.

I am thankful for all my friends and extended family who kept me in their thoughts and prayers and sent messages on Facebook that gave me so much strength.

I am thankful for the fantastic Great Escapes bloggers that kept all the book tours going without missing a beat when I needed days off or was recovering.

I am thankful for the doctors, nurses, and others at the Waupun and Fond du Lac Hospitals who took care of me when I had my chemo port put in, the breast surgery, and when I was hospitalized due to the chemo side effects.

I am beyond thankful for all the angels at the Agnesian Cancer Center. They walked me through a terrifying time. From the minute I heard the words, “You have Breast Cancer” my life has been crazy with fear and worry. Everyone that took care of me was amazing. From the person who met us each day at the door, to the nurses, rad techs, doctors, counselors, nutritionists, and receptionists I was truly blessed. Facing this during a pandemic could have been really hard. I would have loved to have family right by my side but that wasn’t an option. The people at Agnesian made it so much easier.

I am also thankful for YOU! The readers of this blog who have stuck by me during my absence earlier this year and my erratic posting since my return. Hopefully, by the new year, I will be back on track. 

I know this year Thanksgiving is different for all of us due to COVID 19. I am hopeful that we will be able to gather with friends and families again soon. Until then, wear your masks, wash your hands often, socially distance, read some good books, and stay safe. We are all in this together and together we can get through it. 

Happy Thanksgiving!