Mom's Cancer Lessons Continue

My mother was loving to all.

She taught her children well.

How to laugh, even when raising a mere smile seems impossible.
How to celebrate the smallest of victories as it is a positive step forward.
How to remain curious for learning never ceases.

Her living with cancer is a lesson both my late brother and I benefited from although she would have hated having had us put through it.

The occasional vent is fine, but a constant whine is not.
Continue to do for others.
Never give up hope.
Focus on even the tiniest wonders of nature and respect it.

Her valiant battle ended 26 years ago this year.

Luckily, her lessons continue thriving.

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Pesky Prednisone

Chamomile tea warming by my bedside while a massaged glob of lavender-infused lotion disappears into my hands. Meditation music at the mere touch of a button ready to lull me into deep and restful slumber. Insert diabolical laughter here. Too bad the steroids, I am currently taking to combat the nasty Rheumatoid arthritis side effects of Keytruda, are working against my desired result. That pesky Prednisone primed to keep me upright and awake into the morning's early hours is my new norm. Aside from the above, I've tried the old standards like reading in bed, wearing an eye mask and counting sheep. The latter proved really bad idea. Prednisone also sends my appetite soaring. Visions of fluffy ovis quickly transformed into succulent grilled lamb chops before they cleared the fence. I have no need to complain. Despite retaining constant under eye bags, steroids have failed to give me an over abundance facial hair or muscles....

The Nippy Noggin Club

One thing rarely mentioned on cancer support groups or other sites is how cold one’s head and ears can become from a lack of hair. I come from a family of mostly men. At various ages all experienced follicle challenges. But even those who showed more skin than hair, never mentioned being affected by the big chill. Not me. It seems everywhere I go my nippy noggin comes along. Admittedly, when summer temperatures soar in the high 90’s feeling even a hot breeze across my naked scalp is nice. However, just the mildest of air conditioning has me scrambling for cover. Never a hat person prior to this latest challenge, I am now. A series of baseball caps and a wide-brimmed sun hat are typical daytime outdoor attire. Inside I cover up with felt and cotton beanies while singing the praises of the crafty volunteers who kindly donate their stitchery magic to my cancer care unit. Last week I was caught short. Having fallen and scraping up my hands ...

Cancer is only part of my journey

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