Scrapbook Encouragment and Support

It’s Tuesday night. Feels like I’ve lived a whole week today. Up at 4:30 a.m. Off to work with my sweet driver Sherri shortly after 5ish. At work I felt like I’d freeze one minute and rip off my clothes the next. I got so cold I plugged in my winter heater and used my sweater coat for a blanket across my knees—for all of about ten minutes—then it’s rip them clothes off and turn on the fan. See why I’m tired? It’s a lot of work dressing and undressing.

Cassie stopped by my desk about ten. “Did you hear the all call? We have a meeting up front.” She ushered me through the bare aisles. Obviously everyone else had listened. When we walked to the center of our company Cassie nudged me to the center of the group. I heard Dan, our President talking about Sarah, one of our sweet little co-workers who is moving to Washington. I assumed the meeting was to tell her goodbye. So much for assuming, the meeting was called for me. Yeah, me. I’m rarely at a loss for words, but this really really surprised me.

Dan handed me a beautiful purple, velvet covered scrapbook with my cute lion face from this blog on the front cover. What fantastic support. Four women did the scrapbooking, one did the photography, all my co-workers wrote me encouraging notes laced together with scripture.

I’ve felt very confident I’m not going through this cancer battle alone, but today all my co-workers assured me they are my support and they are praying for me. I couldn’t read the notes there, too weepy. I packed the album to my appointment this afternoon and shared it with several people while we waited. We had an ultra long wait because Dr. Silva had an emergency today. Today’s wait wasn’t bad, I made a new friend.

I saw a ball cap on an obviously bald woman, asked her if she’s a Dr. Silva’s patient. Yep, she is. We have an appointment to talk later this week. She’s a single mom with two teens and a twenty-six year-old. Her cancer has spread much further than mine and is now in her breast and her bones. She’s a nurse and works two jobs to keep her family together—how has she handled her chemo? Well, that’s what I’ll know by the weekend. In only the few minutes we talked I knew I’d met another woman to add to my list of inspirational and motivational mentors.

Funny thing, I know I have that dreaded disease called cancer, but I’m feeling pretty good, I look okay, and I know I’m loved. What more can we want in life.

There’s more to write about, but it’s time to call it a day. Check my caringbridge site to read more of the actual outcome from today’s consult.
Tomorrow I'll try and post a couple things about the book--several asked, it's so cool.
PS: I managed to learn the names of the nurse and a front desk gal, too. I'm learning this is important in my cancer treatment, more about that later.