Fresh Start

After a short hiatus, I am back!  Life has been busy lately.  As most of you know, Jeff and I moved from Memphis to Central New York.  We love it here, but adjusting to our new lives have taken some time.  Transitioning to our new home, and social life has been simple.  We adore our house, and our surroundings remind both Jeff, and myself of the towns we grew up in.  I can see us setting down roots here, and hopefully starting a family of our own someday.

My healthcare has been a different story.  My body punished me for taking time off the treatment schedule to move.  It took some time to procure the medications, treatment plan, and the correct hospital to best facilitate my illness.  My doctors from Memphis transferred me to a wonderful doctor here, but the hospital did not have the technological advancements required to treat my tumors.  The physician here worked tirelessly to find the perfect cancer center for my specific needs.  I am truly grateful for his persistence.  Fortunately, I am now, back on track.

I have been at my new hospital in Syracuse for a week, and my healthcare future is looking brighter.  My cancer still presents itself with an abundance of challenges, but this new facility has brought me much joy.  The hospital I started at was small, and had few "regular" patients.  I found it difficult to meet people, and make friends.  The hospital staff was outstanding, but I didn't have much social interaction.  I missed that, especially coming from large hospitals in Arizona and Tennessee with a ever-revolving door of new, and "regular" patients.  The first day at the cancer center in Syracuse I felt the sense of community I was used to feeling at previous hospitals.  In fact, the first person I had a conversation with had ties to a patient/friend I knew in Arizona.  We chatting the entire afternoon, and I left for the day feeling happy.  For the first time since moving to CNY I felt comfortable, and secure with my healthcare center.

The next morning I got a call from my friend in Arizona who knew the woman I met the day before.  She explained to me that the woman, I met the day before, called her the minute she returned home from the hospital.  She told me how happy her friend was that she met me, and how much she appreciated the time I took to talk to her.  She went on to express how wonderful it was for a young woman like me to take interests in old ladies like them(her words, not mine).  What she said next took me by surprise, and truly struck a cord with me.  She told me that I am doing my life's work.  I am a saint sent to patients stricken with terrible diseases to help them cope, and guide them through their healthcare.  Lastly, she told me that I have been put on this Earth to mend people's hearts, and revive their souls.  Those are extremely powerful words.  I didn't know how to react to that.  I sat speechless on the other end of the line, and began to cry.

I am FAR from a saint.  There are many aspects of my life, and personality I could improve upon.  Her words have stuck with me though.  I have a lot of guilt when it comes to the type of daughter, sister, wife, and friend I am.  I wish I was better at being all of them, but I am comforted knowing that I have helped, even one person, navigate their way through cancer treatment.