Abundant Blessings ... #2

If you had the ability to edit your life, would you? When you look back at your raw footage -- layers of images, stories, conversations, and events -- what would make the "final cut" and which bits would end up on the editing room floor?

My raw footage IS my final cut.  Even though I've experienced many rough patches along with the times of smooth sailing, I'm keeping it all!

Blessing #2:  Daughters

I have been, of all women, MOST blessed! I have four beautiful, precious daughters; Rachel, 30; Esther 24 (yesterday!); Kate, 22; and Joy, 20.

When I first got my diagnosis, I felt like I needed my girls close to me, for them. My thought was that if they were able to see me with their own eyes, they would have the reassurance that I was "OK".  In reality, however, I needed them close to me, for me. Their strength, their encouragement, their reassurance, their push, would all be vital to me over the next many months.

As any mother knows, each child is a unique treasure -- at times, so unlike their siblings one would question whether they had any genes in common. As individual as my girls are, so too was the uniqueness of how each one supported me along my journey.

Rachel, and her husband, Stu, opened their Victoria home and welcomed me into their guest bedroom for three months. Having such a gorgeous home and location to recuperate and walk between each chemo cycle was instrumental in maintaining a positive attitude. Rachel came with me to doctor appointments and chemo. We shopped together, cooked together, and watched too much TV together. 

Once I returned home to Ashcroft, there was not an appointment or chemo cycle that Esther missed.  She faithfully sat by my side during 6 and 7-hour marathon chemo sessions in Kamloops, and made sure I was never alone traveling to my appointments and consultations in Kelowna. For a young woman who needs every hour of work she can get, Esther never let earning a dollar stand in the way of supporting her mom.

Kate -- where do I even begin -- Kate was my "rock"... and my rock star! Her support began when she surprised me for my mastectomy and proved herself to be the world's most dedicated, doting nurse possible. Her care continued in Victoria, attending appointments, chemo, and sitting with me, wiping my face as I threw up after my first chemo cycle. A ruthless expert with the Neupogen needle, Kate did her share of stabbing me! In Ashcroft for the summer, she motivated me to get moving, encouraged me to eat healthy, and provided hours and hours of laughter, enjoyment, and company.

With us for the entire month of December, Joy was my private (and cheap) physiotherapist.  She maintained the perfect balance of loving supporter and hard task-master persuading me to push past what was comfortable each day.  I attribute the excellent range of motion I have today to her ability to motivate me.  Once she was in Alberta, inspirational messages became her expertise and she intuitively knew exactly when I needed one to get through my day.

Precious girls, I could not have done this without you!