Happy August-is-Tomorrow!
It's been a little over a month and there is so much to update. Summer is hot! I do not like it. But I do like spending two weeks in the Caribbean. But why, when you're closer to the equator, is it actually cooler? Riddle me this. Hmmmm. I had a fantastic vacation away from work and life and spent so much sweet time with my family. 2 weeks is really the perfect amount of time to vacation. You have time to relax and explore and enjoy and feel ready to get back to life. We swam with dolphins and fish and stingrays and sharks. We pet turtles and rode jet skis and ate lots of incredible food. Oh, and there were games thrown in every night. I read 2.5 books and earned an incredible spf 50 tan. And I just really appreciated every moment I had. Vacation is necessary!
So, on Monday, July 18, we received some bad news. My Mom's cancer is back. Luckily, it is only stage 1, but it was the news that we've been dreading for 4 years. But really, there is much good news. She's responding incredibly well and quickly to treatment, she is maintaining her work/life schedule and now we are looking for a bone marrow donor. We always knew that this was on the horizon, we just hoped it wouldn't happen so soon. The great thing is that we've been through this process on the other side and hope that there is good karma out there, for a willing and eligible donor. This is going to change the face of this blog a bit. I still want to keep journaling because it's great therapy for me, and I hope it will help others going through similar situations.
In LG news, She is really doing fantastic! She is off many of her meds and is energetic and living life like any 3 year old should. I received a thank you card from the family. It was incredible to see their hand writing and read their words. The most touching thing they wrote was that they celebrated me on Mother's Day because I gave life to their little girl. I hope someday I can tell them how much that meant to me and how privileged I feel to have been given the opportunity to give them hope. The experience changed and strengthened me and I truly believe it will be a saving grace through this next chapter of my life with my Mom's cancer. There is a peace and an understanding that has come with the opportunity to donate that I know I wouldn't have had without it.
Our days are numbered, and only God knows how many, so take life by the horns and start living! You only get one life. NO regrets!
Happy August!
