Cramming the Daylight Hours

I haven't updated in a while because life is wonderfully full and incredibly busy!  I am delighted to write that I have a terrific amount of energy again, and I find that I enjoy cramming the daylight hours with as much as possible.  I am currently working the infant room at summer camp in an attempt to get my baby fix.  (No, the dog didn't work.)  I am completely addicted to MOOCs (massive open online courses) and have taken part in some fascinating classes like The Music of the Beatles, Moralities in Everyday Life, and Human Genetics.  (Coursera is a great app for this, if you're interested.)  I am volunteering again in my free time and am learning all about the workings of Second Harvest Food Bank.  (Like my 8-year-old says, what's more important than food?)  I am able to read, read, read again and am plowing through some of my own choices, along with some recommendations from my teen.  (That is so fun!)  All of this put together makes me feel like screaming, "I AM BACK!"  Well, the updated version is here anyway...I will never be Version 1.0 again.  Like those old Greeks said, no man ever steps in the same river twice because it's not the same river and he's not the same man (or woman.)  But Me-Version 2.0 is almost complete!   

I completed My Very Last Treatment on June 27th.  Before I was hooked up, I had a conversation with my nurse about my port because it seemed to be showing more of itself as of late and I was a little worried about it shifting around under my skin.  A really nice guy in the chair next to me started talking to me about all the issues he had had with his port and how it was so troublesome that he was now on port #2, which was also beginning to give him trouble.  I am grateful for the gifts given to me every day; in almost 2 years, my port has never given me pain or trouble with my meds in any way.  My last treatment was delightfully uneventful, which means that I am finished!  My oncologist said all is well, and the port can now be removed so that is scheduled for July 21st.  Six days and counting...  

During the 7/21 surgery, I will also get one of the last phases of reconstruction done at that same time.  (Am I allowed to write about nipples on Blogger?)  My final lady parts will be created by my amazing plastic surgeon (and then the only thing left will be tatts to complete the look.)  A friend recently asked, "Wait - are you nipple-less right now???"  It's hard to picture I'm sure, but what I currently have are implants under skin with massively huge scars in diagonal lines across each breast and no nipples because those were also removed during the mastectomies.  The new-fake nipples will be created with skin flaps cut along the scar line and folded outward into a sort of pouch.  (The tattoos will be last which will provide the appropriate coloring.)  The whole procedure is actually quite amazing and fascinating.  The end is rapidly approaching.  Still hard to imagine!

One of the hard things about cancer is that it really messes with your mind.  You have to work hard to dwell in the now and not get caught up in the what-ifs of the past and/or future.  It takes active work a lot of the time but fortunately it can also wax and wane.  So until next time, I leave you with one article and one song that will tell you where my head is at this point.  It's a great place to be; I am full of joy at being this far along the journey and this healthy.  


The article is about the life of Nelson Mandela; it's about how he survived his emotional and physical journey all those years.  Click here.  

The song is by Natalie Merchant and is an oldie but a goodie.  When I hear it I am reminded to relish every minute.  May you "know it's true, that you are blessed and lucky" and feel it in your heart.    Click here.