The Forest

You may have heard the cliché, “Can’t see the forest for the trees” – a way to express that focusing on details (the trees) can keep you from seeing the bigger picture (the forest).  I’ve told many people that I got through my cancer journey by taking one step at a time.  If I had looked at everything I would have to go through – the radiation, the surgery, the chemo, the recovery – I would have been overwhelmed.  So I focused on the trees.

Now, it’s time to look at that forest.  No matter what kind of journey you are taking and where it has led you (or is leading you), I think it’s important to take some time to reflect on that journey and see how far you’ve come.  To look at my forest, I’m taking a different approach to this post and using pictures to tell the story.

Share the strength.

 

Click on the first photo to start the photo album; advance by clicking on arrow at far right of each photo.  

November 2013: Still in shock, I celebrated my father’s 101st birthday with my sister just three days after receiving my diagnosis. I would start radiation nine days later, driving more than a hundred miles for each treatment. There would be 25.

December 2013: The whole family was together at Christmas; I was halfway through my five weeks of radiation by this time.

January 2014: Now finished with radiation, I took a quick trip home to see my father in West Virginia. It would be the last time I’d be able to travel for a while.

February 2014: Two days before surgery, I celebrated the successful completion of a class project with students.

February 2014: My surgery lasted about six hours and almost one whole quadricep was removed with the tumor. I was able to sit in a chair on day three and enjoy flowers my students sent me.

February 2014: After a week in the hospital, I returned home with lots of help from family and friends, as well as a visiting nurse.

March 2014: Within a couple days, I could move from room to room with the help of a walker.

March 2014: Three weeks later, I was able to take a few steps on my own. I still had stiches and surgical drains, which were starting to drive me crazy!

March 2014: I had to undergo an outpatient procedure to have a MediPort put in through which chemotherapy would be administered. This was the most painful week I had on the journey. I kept telling myself, “This too shall pass.”

April 2014: I would go in the hospital on a Monday for chemo and be discharged the following Friday. The day after my first round, I went to the salon to get my head shaved. I couldn’t control cancer entering my body, but I could control my impending hair loss.

April 2014: A couple days later, I went to school. It quickly became apparent that I didn’t have the strength to continue in the classroom. My white blood cell count was too low and I had pneumonia, which postponed my next chemo treatment. I felt betrayed by my body.

May 2014: By Mother’s Day, I was halfway through chemo. My white blood cells were recovering, but the red blood cells were taking a hit. I would have to start blood transfusions.

June 2014: When I was feeling up to it, I tried to maintain a normal life. The week before my fourth chemo treatment I was able to go out for lunch, although I tired very easily.

June 2014: I was able to attend an awards ceremony, but chemo was taking its toll. The day before I had to get a platelet transfusion and the day after I had to get yet another blood transfusion. Chemo would be delayed again.

July 2014: With the required four chemo treatments completed, I had to decide whether to go for an optional fifth. I decided the risks were starting to outweigh the benefits. Three weeks after my last chemo treatment, I was able to get out a little more.

July 2014: A month after finishing chemo, I ventured out for my first long drive — back home to West Virginia.

July 2014: With my strength slowly coming back, I made up for lost time and traveled to see my grandson . . .

. . . . and daughter . . .

. . . and stepdaughter and her husband.

August 2014: Although more tests had to be run, I took myself on a Victory Tour to Cape Cod and Maine to celebrate the end of treatment.

September 2014: Three weeks ago today, I was told I was cancer-free, 282 days after the MRI that revealed the tumor. I CAN see the forest for the trees.

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