(photo courtesy of James Edward/Dallas amazing person and photographer)
One year ago today, I was
getting ready to go under the surgical knife - 8 hours of surgery to remove the
itty bitty cancer in my not so itty bitty breasts...unsure what life was going
to be like without them... if the cancer had spread and if chemotherapy
required...again. It was a time of introspection and yes, fear. Like so
many bad memories, this one seems long ago and faraway. No nodes (I'm still
thankful for all that great cosmic chanting)...and no terrible side effects.
Movement on my left side
is still not good; my scars are still prominent but I'm feeling stronger every day.
Pictured here is my crazy self at the Stiletto Stampede (an event
benefitting Komen Dallas) running a 100 yard dash in high heels and high heat
index...and let me tell you, I did not finish last. THIS IS MY RUNNING EVENT.
I think I finished about 10th out of 200 and next year, I hope to win. Or
have fun trying. Or just pretend I won because you can have cancer and get away
with stuff in your head.
Back at the gym and
swimming and my Pilates practice (thank you Laura for your patience working me
back to flexibility!). Much of my former clothing bought to flatter the
busty girl, have been replaced by smaller, different kinds of styles. I am
happy to be able to rock the non V-neck fashions. For those of you who have
coveted the big breasts - they are not all they are built up to be. I'm loving
the itty bitty club. Really.
I'm constantly reminded
how short life is; but how full of adventure it can be. Please don't wait
"until..." to do something you've wanted to do; please don't forget
to tell people you love them often; please don't carry anger with you - move
through and past things that in the final analysis don't really matter.
My sister would have
turned 49 on Monday July 9th....taken away at age 43 to breast cancer. That's
why I'll keep running, walking, standing on my hands, yelling from the rooftops
- ENOUGH BREAST CANCER.
Come take a victory lap
with me...
