I was on the fast track of life. Forty-nine years old, thirteen years married and two super cool daughters who are nine and twelve. I was leading a charmed life when the diagnosis hit. It took me until I was thirty-five to find my husband. He is a wonderful man and would be perfect if he could just cut hair.
I was a special education teacher before I became a stay-at-home-mom. What a misnomer. I never stay home. I'm driving to or from school, sports or volunteering.
I thought I had been through a lot. We live on the water and were hit hard by Hurricane Isabel. We have rebuilt and since then summers are filled with fun.
It was a devastating blow to be told I had breast cancer. The wait for surgery and staging was petrifying. I could not have found a better person to perform my surgery than Dr. Lauren Schnaper. Not to mention her wonderful staff. I still remember the first time I met Barb Raksin. She told me to consider myself family and helped me every step of the way.
The chemo treatments are difficult but were made tolerable by the unbelievably wonderful and compassionate nurses in the infusion room. They make me feel special when I am there. I have found enormous strength and support from the other patients. I applaud all the survivors who are still in treatment. I feel I am on a journey, but I am not alone.
I am starting to realize that God was sending me a message. My merry-go-round was spinning too fast. I have been forced to slow down. I need to remove the phrase "real quick" from my vocabulary. Now I spend more time exhaling. Maybe my cancer was a blessing in disguise.
I know I will never be the same after my treatment is over. I will be a better, stronger me!
