EDITOR,
I've been feeling so much gratitude lately that I wanted to share it even though my crazy breast cancer journey is not complete.
Wow! I think much of the time about all my "co-survivors" - that's my family, my friends, my colleagues, my treatment team, my neighbours, my children's school, my hockey and dance families, and everyone else I have encountered along my journey. I am overwhelmed with the compassion in every contact. From each and every one of you I feel the love. Not just the wonderfully thoughtful things you do for me. Not just all the loving and encouraging words. But I feel such a positive vibration. I feel your thoughts and prayers deep within me. I can't imagine being able to remember to thank you for each and every kind deed, gift or greeting.
Thanks to my husband for too much to list. You are superhuman! But mostly you remind me to ride this rollercoaster one moment at a time. Thanks to my children for accepting this challenge the best that they can and giving me awesome back scratches and bald head massages. Thanks to my family - sisters, parents, in-laws for coming to help out with the day to day challenges while I'm in treatment and for loving me so much. Thanks to my coffee posse - from the day I first told you, you have been bringing me so much hope, smiles and encouragement.
Thanks to everyone at Northlands Medical for moving so fast, then treating the whole family so compassionately. Thanks to my BCCA treatment team led by Dr. Villa (Tequila). I feel confident that I am on the path to a cure. A special thanks to chemo in Squamish for taking me in so quickly. Jeff and I think you may have saved my life! I am thankful that chemo in Squamish is such a lovely experience. Thanks to the Whistler lab for getting my bloodwork done so efficiently. Thanks to some fabulous nurses and doctors at Whistler Urgent Care for taking care of some of the nasty side effects of chemo. And thanks to my amazing pharmacy team at Rexall for all your help.
Thanks to my hairdresser who helped me through the hair loss from chemo so compassionately. Thanks to Buffalo Bill's staff for helping me to "celebrate" the start of my cancer cougar journey! And thanks to all who came out to dance all night. Thanks to my friend who drove me everywhere when I couldn't so that I could enjoy window shopping and perusing the Re-Use It rather than sulking at home. Thanks to those who send me inspirational songs and videos, I really take them to heart. Thanks to those who gave me some precious gifts of jewelry, clothing and scarves. I treasure these things and feel a healing power in them. Thanks to all my friends who have and will be participating in a variety of cancer fundraisers. You have no idea how thankful I am that, due to research, my aggressive cancer is curable. Thanks to a neighbour for noticing my uncomfortable hat and replacing it with something much nicer. Thanks to a lot of other neighbours and friends for helping by having my children in your care while I rest and recover. Thanks to so many neighbours who have offered me oodles of encouragement and any help I may need. Thanks to friends, health unit colleagues and the Spring Creek School staff for cooking for us. I can feel the love and healing cooked into each bite. And what a relief not having to think about "what will we have for dinner tonight!" Thanks for the encouraging and loving Facebook and email messages. They keep me sane when I'm hiding out at home with low white counts. Thanks to many coffee shops for my yummy decaf, non-fat mochas. Thanks to a certain tea shop for a variety of tea that still tastes great with my chemo taste buds. Thanks to some special people that I learned to meditate with. I can feel the benefits every moment of every day and yes, I will complete my 40-day challenge! Thanks to some breast cancer survivors I work with and my dear neighbour, a survivor's sister, for the support and advice as I need it. And finally (for now) thanks to an author named Kris Carr who is teaching me that "cancer will take you to your zero point and teach you how to live like you mean it."
Patricia Stoop
Whistler
