I got my "fighter pants" delivered!!! The gal who organized the whole thing, Summer Hunt, came over on Sunday the 12th and the whole experience of meeting and talking with her made my day. That weekend after chemo I'd really been struggling to find my smile - I was really down and couldn't figure out why although I'm sure the fact that my body was pumped full of chemicals had a little something to do with that! Anyway, this dose of cheer was a perfect pick me up!! She was SO generous and in addition to the pants, she gave me a gift box with lots of gift cards and the receipt for a "Brick of Hope" (which helps with funding for cancer research) in my name to be placed up at Huntsman Cancer Institute. She also gave ME a thank you note which blew me away - I'm the one with all the thanks and gratitude!!! This whole experience wasn't about all the "stuff" though... meeting Summer was wonderful! She is such a happy, spunky, high energy person and that really rubbed off and inspired me. The fact that she didn't even know me but served me, and two other gals battling cancer, in such a thoughtful & fun way was very overwhelming.
I am also so grateful for all the people who supported her in the sale of the pants. I got the cutest picture/text of my niece across the country wearing a pair of the exercise pants. I also just saw a gal in the grocery store wearing them. I went up and introduced myself and then like a total dork said, "those are the pants that were named after me" Oh my gosh, as soon as I said that I realized how weird it was and wanted to be swallowed by a hole in the floor; I was so embarrassed by my crazy self! At least it gave Matt and I something to laugh about all night -- haha!!! Anyway, you've gotta love all the wonderful things that come your way during the midst of the yucky stuff in life. People are good!
Yesterday was treatment #7 - I only have one left!!!!!!!!!! The side effects are similar as the last 2 times... numbness in my extremities and tiredness, but both totally doable. The treatment went well but my sweet nurse Lisa was on vacation which gave me a tiny bit of anxiety until I started to talk with the alternate nurse. His name was David and he was really kind. The thing that really endeared me to him though was his back-story. He had a tattoo peeking out from under his scrubs so while making small talk I asked to see the whole thing. It was a tattoo heart that said "Mom" on it and there were three different colored flowers around it. I totally laughed because of the classic nature of the 'mom' tattoo but that quickly turned to tears as he told us he lost his mom to cancer and got the tattoo to remember her by. Then, he told us that each of the flowers represented his first wife, his sister, and his father who ALL also died of cancer. He was a nurse before all these diagnoses but switched to be an oncology nurse so he could help take care of these four relatives. He said it was the biggest blessing to be able to administer their meds and help them live a better quality of life before they'd passed away. This wonderful man loved his job because he connected with all the patients and their families in a deeper way. I was floored and inspired by his story and wish I would've gotten a picture to remember him by but by the time I thought of it my drugs had started to conk me out. Needless to say, I loved getting my meds administered by this amazing nurse. People are SO good and I'm SO inspired by all of you! To all of you who are reading - I love you all and I'm so grateful for your love, your interest in me and my family, and all your support. Have a great week!!!!
Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart. -- Anne Frank
Be the change that you wish to see in the world. -- Mahatma Ghandi
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another -- Charles Dickens
The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
It's not
enough to have lived. We should
be determined to live for something. May I
suggest that it be creating joy for others, sharing
what we have for the betterment of person kind, bringing
hope to the lost and love to the lonely. -- Leo Buscaglia
