Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Sidetracked

I thought I was going to be writing about the election tonight (I am watching all of the exciting coverage right now), but life brings you new twists and your blog posts change accordingly.

Yesterday my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

I’m sure everyone who has ever known anyone with cancer would probably say it came as a shock, so let me just get this out there - I’m shocked.

My mom had been experiencing pain off and on for months without doctors being able to determine the cause. Just before the weekend she had a CT scan, and after half a day worth of additional tests yesterday, they finally found several large tumors. Unbelievably, surgery is already scheduled three days from now and chemo will be quick to follow.

In the short time my mom had to process all of this, and maybe because she’s been an analyst for a tad too long, she decided to make a list of Pros and Cons. I already new my mom rocked, but I didn’t realize she's actually an intergalactic super star! Here’s that list…

Pros:
  • I have a support system of people who love me and people I love
  • I have adequate health insurance
  • I have ample sick leave
  • I am always interested in a good test, challenge, journey
  • I will lose weight :)
  • I will have new (and possibly better) hair in a few months
  • I will participate in studies that may benefit others
  • I can only become a better person through this
  • My priorities will be reinforced, redirected
  • I am already meeting interesting people and I'm bound to meet many more
  • I'm not the first - many have gone down this path before me and I can benefit from their experiences
  • I would rather it be me than others who I love

The only thing she could come up with for the Con list was that she might disrupt the lives of those around her, but considering my dad is self employed and I'm still jobless, that's really a non-issue. I can’t help but think that if I were the one with cancer my Pro list would be a lot lighter and my Con list would be a lot heftier, but that’s why my mom’s just awesome.

Well, that's a lot for one evening. There are many unknowns ahead. The only one that I anticipate getting answered anytime soon is who the people have chosen to lead this free nation, and while this doesn't hold quite the weight for me that it did just 24 hours ago, it's a good start. Until tomorrow then...

1 comment:

tara said...

wow. what an admirable woman!