Two years ago today I had my hysterectomy

It's two years ago today that I had my hysterectomy.  My oncologists/gynecologist thought he got it all so I consider myself to have No Evidence of Disease from that day forward.  He did not remove any lymph nodes since he did not see any that looked suspicious.  I had chemo as a preventative since I had UPSC but he did not recommend any kind of radiation.  I made it through three chemos before I was close to dying.  It adversely affected every organ of my body and I am still dealing with some of those issues today BUT I am alive!  I had my checkup last Thursday and was told to come back in six months.

During these past two years, my oncologist's 41-year-old PA died within five weeks of being diagnosed with brain cancer.  She was a runner, a health-nut, a kind, compassionate person and mother of three young boys.  I read her obituary while I was sitting with my feet up in my recliner, eating a bowl of mint ice cream.  Why is she dead and I'm still alive?  I've thought about that a lot.  She did everything "right" and I, for the most part, did everything "wrong." Maybe, when it's your time, it's your time.  I don't know.

Since my hysterectomy we also retired, sold our business we had for almost 30 years, bought a second home in Florida to get out of the Wisconsin winters (really a third home since we still own our home near Green Bay where our son and his new wife are going to live), moved up to our lake house for the summer and fall and celebrated 46 years of a wonderful marriage this week.

I grew up dirt poor - five kids sleeping in the unfinished attic of a one-bedroom house with a coal furnace barely heating the first floor with alcoholic parents.  I loved reading and I loved school.  I met my husband when I was 16 and he was 17 and I just knew he was the "one."  I bore two children and we adopted two more - over 20 years apart.  We worked hard and made a good life for ourselves.  If I died tomorrow I would not regret anything.  I have made peace with my past.  I don't believe there is a heaven but I sure hope there is.  

And, I look at my cancer as a blessing.  It brought me to a place of gratitude and contentment.  I don't take anything for granted anymore.  I smile more, I laugh more, I go out of my way to be kind to anyone I meet; I'm a better person for having cancer.  And, more importantly, I have met all of YOU, a wonderful group of women who have helped me immensely along this life path.  Thank you!!

Love,

Eldri