A LITTLE SOMETHING I POSTED ON THE EXPRESSIONS GALLERY DECIDED TO SHARE IT HERE AS WELL

In 1998 I had a recurrence of breast cancer that pole vaulted me from a stage 2 to a stage 4 in less than a year. During this time my husband was always trying to come up with things to do that would get me out of the house and away from the thought of cancer. He decided it would be fun for us to go to San Francisco on the 4th of July to see the fireworks. We took our teen agers and two of their friends with us, we rode the cable car and mostly my husband and I sat on the grass relaxing while the kids ran around all the booths doing things teens do. As night fell the fireworks began and everyone was having such a good time, we could see the fireworks from several different places they were being shot off from, however I was silently sobbing thinking this could very well be the last time I would watch the 4th of July fireworks with my family. I hid it well and they never knew the emotions that were tearing at me. I have been back to San Francisco many times since and have had a good time, sightseeing, riding our bikes, watching Lance Armstrong race and watching my son compete in martial arts competitions. This Saturday my husband and I went by ourselves as a special day to celebrate life (Monday is my 3 year anniversary from my 3rd battle with cancer.) He bought tickets to my favorite musical “Fiddler on the Roof” and decided that we would stay the night in the city for the first time; we also rode Bart (Bay Area Rapid Transit) in for the very first time which goes under the ocean for a bit and it such a fun time. Again we rode the cable cars this time in the back with a great view of our ride and the second time I actually risked life and limb by riding on the side of the cable car while other cars and such whizzed by me. I have a very weak arm from lymphedema so to say I was clinging to it is not an understatement my arms were interlinked. Now how does this all tie in, well my husband mentioned to me how fun it was on that day we came to see the fireworks and for the first time I told him I had sobbed a lot during those fireworks, he asked why and I told him it was because I thought it would be our last fireworks together. With a tear in my eye we smiled at each other and grinned at how far we have come and at how WE had beaten cancer not once, not twice but three times, yes “WE” have come. He is my caregiver, but he is oh so much more than that…he is my reason to fight he is my warrior within. We had a really, really great time this Saturday. I love going to San Francisco, but mostly I LOVE going places with him. Those of you who are in the midst of your cancer battles please do not give up, do not believe there will be no more good times, there can be and there very well may be.

Much Love,

RE