A collegue is battling brain cancer. I’ve followed the posts each day, praying, and hoping with Kristy and her husband.
I’ve also learned a little something along the way.
Primarily, ”do it now”.
What do I delay, thinking I’ll do it ”one day”?
What do I miss as I take care of details that really won’t matter in the long run?
When you are faced with a terminal disease long before your time, it makes you look at life differently. I know that because I was diagnosed with cancer at 32 years of age. I remember standing outside in the driveway, waiting for my husband to come home so that I could tell him the news. I remember gathering my 8, 8, and 9-year-old around me in a tight circle and telling them that “mommy was sick” without giving away the scary details.
I’ll never forget the sting of the needle when it entered the vein on my hand. Or my cotton-headed daughter climbing into the hospital bed with me because she was scared of the tubes after surgery. Or my husband holding me tight when the diagnosis just kept getting worse.
Everything fell away in those first few weeks. What was important? All of the priorities in my life suddenly dimmed.
All the small pleasures lit up like stars in the sky leading to a life of simplicity. After treatment I carved away many things that used to matter a great deal to concentrate on the things that were revealed as priceless.
Read Kristy’s husband’s post, will you? And while you are at it, will you pray for this family? Especially the two grown daughters struggling to make sense of their momma’s sickness.
Suz
7 Comments
Suz, you and I can relate so perfectly, but unfortunately those who have not faced a life-threatening illness think they will live forever!
Facing my own mortality was a gift: everything on my passionate to-do list has been checked off and doubled checked. Why is it that everyone thinks they will live forever? We took cruises we couldn’t afford; took trips to Italy, and have amazing memories of family vacations that we would have never taken. MEMORIES–lots of them!
I can truly say, there’s not ONE regret and not ONE thing left I want to do! If it does happen, it’s just icing on the cake. About half of all my speaking engagements deal with cancer-related events, and the heads nod and tears flow…they get it! When I give the same speech to a secular audience, one or two cancer survivors will come up to me and say, “You know, not everyone will ‘get it,’ but we do!”
Somehow I wish we could put a microchip in everyone’s mind and heart and say, “Just do it NOW!”
Last night Mark and I were talking and we realized that had it not been for 12 years ago, I would be waiting for retirement from the medical field, making my list of things to do, and never doing them!
So very sad that the majority of people live their lives in complacency and mediocrity because they think they’ll live forever.
Thanks for sharing this relevant and timely post! Kristy and her entire family are in my prayers!
Suzie — and Connie, too — thanks for sharing from the wealth of your own personal experiences!
I am at a loss for words. My mind is blank after reading their story. I wonder if I could ever be that strong and faithful. I need to keep that story in the front of my thoughts. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Connie, For years I haven’t spoken about cancer, and yet it is such a major part of my story. Perhaps it’s a topic I need to begin to speak about.
Cheryl and Greg, thanks for stopping by. I’m also at a loss for words in this situation, but the faith exhibited by this couple is beautiful. Thanks for praying for them.
I kept up with Kristy and Milton’s story for awhile. Thank you for posting the link to their blog. A friend was diagnosed just yesterday with a tumor in her temple and she heads to California today to meet with a surgeon. They don’t know anything about it yet, but she has 3 kids and is scared. We’re all praying and hoping, but I watched my pastor’s wife die several years ago, the exact kind of cancer which Kristy has. Yet I know my God heals and am hoping for Kristy and Milton.
Thank you, ladies for the reminder that life is short. Especially, Connie, your reflection on where you’d be now hadd you not had cancer. I’m going to get back to writing now.
Thanks for the gentle reminder to do it now. My husband lives with Type I Diabetes. I’ve seen him in a couple very scary health situations that have made us live a more intentional life too. We never know what tomorrow brings. Recognizing this is one of the blessings of such tragic times.
Suz, sorry your friend is going thorugh this, and so very grateful she and her husband are people of faith.
Thank you, Dotsie. I love the word “intentional”. It is something I desire to do in my own life, but sometimes I forget. Perhaps we can all remind each other from time to time.
Suz