Tag: FAP

Optimism and Hope

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Happy New Year! On NYE 2022, at a local restaurant, a couple walked up to me and reintroduced themselves – we worked on a community project 25 years ago. Cancer survivors themselves, they told me they enjoyed reading my essays in the Health section of the Philadelphia Inquirer (for new readers, mine was FAP with a side syndrome of desmoid tumors). What?  They asked when I might resume writing – I’d taken a hiatus most of 2022. That’s all the inspiration I needed. Due to my health journey, I have connections to groups of people that the average person does not. I’m seeing so much positivity in this new year.  And support. Positive support is critical to healing and a happy soul.  It is so easy to pass along a kind word or smile. Could I be highly alert to the passing of time and the merits of optimism having faced a real possibility of no time – yes. I also know from my family that I’m annoyingly optimistic and I’m damn proud of that!  I’m not saying that I don’t have down days. Sometimes I just roll with and embrace the melancholy for a short amount of time.  Then I force myself to put on those big girl boots and literally walk.  Fresh air and Mother Nature are quite the healer.  Sometimes I call a friend. This photo is named Optimism and Hope. Although geared up for the walk, still they stare and press noses to the door, anticipating the journey. My hope for the new year is that we give and receive kind words and smiles daily.  Let me know what you’re seeing out there or if I can be a friend to help lift you out of a funk.  Peace to each of you.

Take Care of You

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Happy 2022! I took a hiatus from writing and found I missed it enormously. The holidays, ya know. I dove into the season head first, 110% excited that my daughters from opposite coasts would be home together with their PA sister. I started my hiatus in early November attending a gorgeous wedding, reveling in love and life and so much dancing! Celebrated my husband’s 65 birthday at the happiest place in the world with a fun and rowdy group of loved ones. And skid into the Christmas season happy and content. Come January, the house quiet once again, I felt a little deflated, started thinking too much about my health and desmoid tumors – yep went down that damn rabbit hole. The pity party lasted a day. I dusted off my pickleball paddle, tuned up my skis, grabbed the dogs’ leashes, and took off to take care of me, determined to get some exercise everyday. I had a January reset- a trendy term these days but accurate in my case. Although I’m still and probably will always take oral chemo, I can’t let the lethargy keep me down. I listen to my body- rest when my body demands it; eat the foods that lift me, physically and spiritually (some foods are just that good!); as well juice daily with a recipe to keep inflammation down. And, most important, I move everyday that I can! This reset is probably a smart life-style choice for most people- healthy as well as cancer survivors. It’s simple – take care of you! And if you sense a friend needs a lift, be the one to reach out. Trust me, it’ll be time so very well spent.

Today is My Day

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October 24, 2011. My life, and my family’s, forever changed. Ten years ago today, I was diagnosed with FAP colorectal cancer. It was shocking. I was a healthy person – walking miles a day, bike riding, pilates, working in my gardens. My oncologist was always impressed, saying my will to participate in life is what kept me strong, mentally as well as physically- that and having 3 teenage daughters! Through my trials and tribulations, my girls have become more in tune with the possibilities life has to offer and have a tenacious grip on their goals. When we get down, we know we can call each other and get a firm hand to lift us out of our funk.

I know it’s an odd day to celebrate but I do as it makes me realize how damn lucky I am to be on this great big, beautiful earth. Sure, I’ve lost a lot but I gained much more. Cloudy or sunny, I embrace the day- ok, cloudy days make it a bit tougher to stay motivated! I have friends and family that stuck with me through the good, bad, and down right ugly. I took up a new sport – thanks to a friend- and made more fun friends. For all this, I am grateful. At the end of the day, I fall into bed, content and happy.

The Fine Art of Weed Whacking

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My husband purchased a new weed whacker. I decided I wanted to learn how to use it. I know, some of you might be thinking “why?” But I like to learn new things and be useful. So I put on junky clothes, my garden boots, ball cap and goggles. Kevin was patient getting me started. Then he went to Ace to buy more weed whacking paddle thingies! An hour later, my arms shaking, the trim around gardens, pool decking, sidewalks, and driveway looking like a blind person whacked it with a jagged machete, Kevin kindly took the tool and told me to rest, enough damage done for one day!

Exhausted, I went inside and cleaned up. Deciding I am more geared towards gardening and cooking, I made myself a salad – fresh yellow tomatoes from my garden, mozzarella, avocado, sea salt/pepper, and a drizzle of blood orange olive oil. This is my good to summer salad – healthy fats, vitamin C, potassium, niacin and folates! Life without a colon – survivor of FAP colorectal cancer- makes me always look for ways to make my food enrich my body and soul. Give this salad a whirl – you could even add a hard boiled egg and some fresh basil!

Fun Fridays

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My daughter told me to start writing again. I admit, I had writer’s block. And I started having fun again. You know, belly laughs and sunshine. Surviving FAP colorectal cancer and it’s subsequent chronic symptoms, I know fatigue and I say enough is enough. So, hello Fun Fridays. I’m thankful for these times and friends and plan to keep it going. I mean, belly laughs are good for the soul, right? Try it today!

Little Things

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Those little bulbs work hard to push up through that frozen ground. They keep at it until, at last, they feel the sunshine and light. They keep going, don’t give up, and we get to enjoy the beauty bestowed upon us, who have done nothing but wait and watch.

It’s March – Colorectal Awareness month. All we have do is show up – at the GI’s office and get an exam. It’s not hard, just make a call, schedule the appointment. Push through 30 seconds of discomfort to earn knowledge about your body and health. Trust me, colon cancer and its treatment is way worse than 30 seconds of discomfort. Please, take care of yourself or a loved one and get checked out! Enjoy today, enjoy everyday, enjoy good health my friends!

Gone Baby Gone

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3 years, 1,095 days, almost. I was on TPN for just about 3 years and in August, it was finally over. This past week, all the supplies were picked up. That blue bag – it was my constant companion every night, softly humming me to sleep for 8 hours until the shrill alarm, alerting me that the infusion was complete, blasted me into total awareness in the dark, wee hours of morning. At first, I felt so very off kilter – What? I can eat now? No, that can’t be right. But here I am, eating again and very content. Baking, cooking, juicing – wow, how I missed all that! For all you out there on TPN, there is hope. I pray that my body cooperates and I don’t have to go back on TPN. I’ve been given a gift and I pray everyday that I don’t lose this gift of freedom…to choose my next meal!

Just a small sample of my daily supplies