Moving Forward (2013 in the Rear View Mirror)(YEA!)

I  never wish time away. Never look forward to the weekend so much that I want Wednesday through Friday to go away. Never want 6pm to come so badly that I try to will the afternoon to disappear. I learned that in 2001, when facing the possibility that there might not be a 2002. That said, I will not be sad to be out of 2013. In all of the 52 years I’ve had, 2013 was arguably the hardest.

First, there was recovering from ACL reconstruction and missing the entire ski season last winter and the first part of my active summer. I’m still dealing with hospital bills from that one. Then, I was diagnosed with this weird, rare cancer that some lifelong oncologists (including mine) have never seen. I do have to say the cancer diagnosis did make me forget about the ACL rehab. Just like slamming your toe into the leg of the bed makes you forget about your headache. Surgery recovery was harder than I expected; radiation was the toughest challenge I have worked through (am working through) in my life. And now, on the very last day of this stupid year, I am back at the cancer hospital, getting my first Cat scan post-treatment. Also in 2013, a longtime Livestrong pal’s wife died from cancer just months after diagnosis, and I had to watch my vibrant, larger-than-life friend, Chris, lose his cancer fight, too.

But wait. There’s more.

In the spirit of focussing on good and not evil, let’s look at the balance of my 2013. What now ranks as number one in the plus column came today at my end-of-treatment appointments at Huntsman and the University of Utah Cancer Center. My CT scan is clear and my  blood work is giving the docs (and me!) nothing to worry about. (I know, I buried my lead. It’s my story) I’m good to go til my next CT scan in 3 months. Of course, as nothing is easy, my sodium count is way low (!), so I have to have that rechecked before getting the all-clear for Kilimanjaro. That’s me, who puts salt on everything. Weird.

Also on the list of good is that my yearly MRI after having breast cancer 12 years ago probably saved my life. You may remember that’s how the docs found my thymic carcinoma in stage II instead of stage IV, like they do in most people. (Get your check ups. Don’t be lazy. Do it.) Also thankful for health insurance (even though sometimes I go round and round with the company), great doctors, an unbelievable support network, and the fact that I am really getting better. I can eat and drink anything with the exception of soda, beer, and wine now. (I told Dr. Kokeny that today and said that that’s probably not a bad thing. She said, “Except that it’s New Year’s Eve. Want me to prescribe some Lidocaine so you can drink at midnight?” Did I mention I love Dr. Kokeny?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many other adventures made 2013 NOT a complete bust. I went to Kenya with Project Humanity to work in Rusinga Island, which was amazing and life-changing. I spent two weeks in Europe with my family. I went to London  to visit my nephew. We got to watch our pals, Martha and Taylor, race in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, where I was further blessed to be a spectator and not a racer. 🙂  Patrick and I podium’ed at my new favorite half-ironman triathlon in Santa Cruz, where I had expected to be spanked by California women. I got Lucy Liu from Furburbia, and she’s been a great addition to the family, although occasionally I have to remind Emmitt Smith to be nice to her since after all, I got her for him.

Does this all balance out to put 2013 in the plus column? It’s hard to say, but just as I won’t wish time away, I won’t regret time spent. Like Lance (!) probably still says, “Good days and great days.” What Dr. Akerley called “short term violence” to my body for the greater good doesn’t fall into either of those categories. But so far, at least, the ends do justify the means. And I’m excited to head into 2014 without a mohawk. Happy new year!