The final installment of my cancer story took place on September 20, when I underwent reconstructive surgery at MD Anderson. The surgery was a cinch compared to chemo and the double mastectomy; my only issue was a prolonged feeling of fatigue, for which I blame anesthesia, rather than aging. Driving back into the medical center … Continue reading A Circuitous Path
Sunday at church, Mark and I grabbed our coffee and tea before walking into the contemporary service at St. John the Divine. An old friend stopped us, saying she didn't recognize me with blonde hair. I never know how to reply to others' acknowledgement of my new hairstyle, be it blonde or bald, so I sheepishly … Continue reading Weaving My Story
I'm back home from Paris, healthy and overflowing with gratitude. It's a long way from The Lancaster Hotel on Rue de Barri to room 55 at MD Anderson's Mayes Clinic, but I'm fortunate to have access to both. Despite an ATM machine eating my bank card half-way through the trip, the experience exceeded my expectations - which … Continue reading Prescription: Paris
Except when you go to the airport a week early. Then, not so much. A month ago, my second cousin’s wife (aka Lauren Hudson) took me to lunch after hearing about my diagnosis. “You need to break some rules,” she said, reflecting on my tough 2016 and now cancer. “I don’t break rules,” I explained, to … Continue reading Paris Is Always a Good Idea
For sports fans, the "Holiday 6" college football bowl games dominated New Year's weekend. The Rose and Orange Bowls did not disappoint, nor did the (Pasadena) Rose Parade floats, including the one with surfing dogs. Crystal bowls, however, provided the highlight of my holiday. Rothko Chapel hosts a Crystal Bowl Sounding (co-sponsored by MD Anderson) on … Continue reading Bowl Games
My new reality, combined with a shaved head and unexpected weight gain from IV steroids prior to each chemo treatment, dealt my vanity a debilitating blow last week, right about when I decided to watch Love Actually for the first time. Let's just say I experienced a cathartic cry. Walking into a plot rife with … Continue reading All We Need is Love
Much like Chris Farley's "That's going to leave a mark" clip from Tommy Boy, cancer is beginning to leave it's mark on me. Naiveté regarding my ability to keep things pretty much "normal" disappeared along with the remaining hair I still had. My pillow looked like the dog bed of an old schnauzer. At the same time, … Continue reading Leaving a Mark
After pulling my hair out by the fistfuls all week, I texted Sarah that it was time. She reached out to our hair stylist, Angelique Hoover, who, in spite of the fact that her grandmother was dying, agreed to come to Sarah's house on Saturday morning at 11:30 to shave my head. Sarah and I … Continue reading Non Sequiturs
Three weeks into cancer and I'm figuring out a few things: My port, "Rose," is my best friend. If I can nab a recliner in a certain area of MD Anderson, a hospitality cart rolls by with hot tea - multiple flavor options. MD Anderson's library is well-stocked and more lenient on overdue issues than other … Continue reading Beautiful Disaster
