As I sit here this Sunday morning with  my quart of coffee (yes. quart. litre. a lot), I'm reflecting on the events of the past year. February 4 (last week) marked one year since my diagnosis with breast cancer. One year ago. To remember the emotions hitting me at that time is enough to raise my blood pressure. So, I won't. What I will remember is the way all my care was orchestrated and fell into place and felt specifically tailored for me. I will remember in spite of the weather delays in getting appointments, everything was going to be okay. I will remember the trauma of my first biopsy made it clear to my dear friend Ami that she was going to make it a point to be with me for any potentially traumatic appointment. And she was. And if she couldn't be, Anne-Marie was there. Or Kristi would pop her head in the mammogram room to see if I was okay - taking a break from her pharmaceutical job where she was mixing MY meds for my chemo. My friend making my medicine. Perfect.
I will remember the day of my first chemo receiving so many texts and messages saying, basically, "You got this, Lisa", over and over again until I actually began believing it. I will remember coming home to flowers, cards, gifts and food that first day. I will remember having so many meals delivered to my door that now the list has exceeded 100 meals. That's around 10 meals a month! For a whole year!
I will remember the kindness of my workplace. The space and time they give me to recover and still do my job. And when I fail, the grace they show me. Wow.
I will remember the two weeks straight I got to spend with my little sister Kristy when she came to take care of me after the mastectomy. The diligence with which she watched my "drains" and kept them clear and wrote down when I took my meds, and tended to my every need. I will remember the visits from my older sister Janet and her smiles, the games we played, the attention she gave her nephews so I could rest. The movies, but mostly her smiles.
I will remember the time my parents gave me - both sets. My parents sat with me, folded laundry, fixed broken things around the house, and loved on me. My in-laws sent notes, love, texts, gifts, and visits, too. What a blessing to enjoy your family!
I'm leaving people out and I don't want to do that, so I'll stop here. Just know that you are remembered. I have a list. For real.
Now I face the end of this journey. The good end. One more chemo - last chemo - on February 25. Radiation therapy starts this week on the 11th. I'll be ready for a big celebration Spring Break - by that week (which is March 27-April 5), I should be finished with all cancer treatments.
Above all, I have to say, again, God is always good all of the time. I believe that now.