49 is Feeling Fine!

July 14, 2011

Today I am 49 years and 2 days old. And I’m feeling good, which is good considering the last 8 challenged-filled months. What with a hip replacement due to a cancer relapse, and having to utilize a walker, which I have ditched. YEAH for me!!!!!! My cane and I are best friends, at least outside the house. When I’m inside I don’t use it and am hoping to give it up by the end of August.

Adding to my issues my sister, Daryl, had a cancer relapse too. She’d been feeling pain in her groin area and thought it was a groin pull, well if it were only that simple. Then a knot showed up on her head, in the front of her head. She thought something had bitten her. Turns out it was a tiny tumor, which she has named Matilda, and the groin pull was actually a cracked pelvis, luckily just two small hairline fractures. So add my relapse + her relapse and you have some idea of what has been going on. But believe it or not, it is all good.

Life if unfolding as it should. Some days I have a hard time remembering that but in the end I always come back to the knowledge that what is for my highest good and Daryl’s is manifesting.

I know I sound like Pollyanna, the main character in the best-selling novel Pollyanna. The main character has an optimistic outlook on life that revolves around The Glad Game, which consists of finding something to be glad about in every situation, a fine coping skill for anyone, in my opinion. But being a Pollyanna is generally not viewed as a positive; instead it is usually a putdown and a way to belittle positivity. I do employ The Glad Game as a coping mechanism but not because I love Pollyanna, am naïve or trying to smile my problems away.

I do it because my Mother, Barbara Lee, taught me to find the silver lining in every situation. Sure there will be some circumstances that make you want to scream, pull your hair out, stomp your feet and cry. So when confronted with such a situation, scream, pull your hair out, unless of course the chemo takes care of that for you, stomp your feet and cry. Then do your hair, if there is any left or put a wig on and get on with living. At least that works for me. I have to find a silver lining in order to make it through to the other side.

Anger, denial and pessimism will do nothing but make whatever is happening worse. Don’t get me wrong I have my moments, I am human. But I have come to realize that finding a silver lining will lighten the burden and make the journey less taxing. So given the opportunity to choose between optimism and pessimism I am always going to go with positivity but that’s just me: Valerie “Pollyanna” Lee.

Live, Love & Laugh!

Until I post again make sure you get your fair share of Cupcakes & Travel Magazines!

Valerie

Welcome Back to Me!

June 7, 2011

Hello, Hello, Hello! I know it has been too long since my last post but I have been relaxing, resting and getting treatment for my cancer relapse. Life is good and getting better each day. Some days are okay, some are FABULOUS and some have been not so good. But that's life.

My new hip is acting like it’s mine – still a little stiff but more walking will take care of that. I “walk” around the house without my cane nowadays and use it only outside the home. The reason I put walk in quotation marks is in the beginning it was quite the sight to see me doing some semblance of walking in the home. Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.

For those of you who didn’t know I was terminated by my employer when my short-term disability ran out but there are no hard feelings. They supplied me with information regarding long-term disability which I am currently receiving along with social security benefits. It is all good. As long as I can pay my bills, including a ridiculously high COBRA tab, I am happy. I am beyond grateful for my insurance and no matter the cost I will pay it.

My family has been beyond supportive and loving. I shall share some stories of our time together during my recuperation period, which included my sister Brenda’s healing from a broken ankle at the same time. Since her condo has so many steps she had to spend 4 months with us (Mom, James, Daryl and I) while she healed and did physical therapy. It was quite the experience.

Happy Birthday to my cousin Wanda today!

Until my next post~

Love, Light & Peace to you all!

Daryl is in complete Remission

10/25/10

Prayer Warriors:

Today, Monday, October 25, 2010, my sister, Daryl Lee was told by her oncologist that she is in complete remission. No sign of cancer!

That's all I've got to say!

PS That is not true - I have a few more things to say: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU and THANK YOU for all the prayers, thoughts, healing vibes, encouragement and kindness!

I'm Coming Along Great!

October 17, 2010

Prayer Warriors:

Just wanted to send a quick update to everyone. I am doing fine. I've done 2 chemo treatments and I do believe I have 12 more to go - I go once a week. No side effects at all - YEAH!!!!! The miracle of modern medicine continues to amaze me. So I am giving thanks each day for my supportive and loving family, my friends, all the prayer warriors on my side, my healing team, modern medicine, and just plain old life everyday I open my eyes. Now don't get me wrong I do have my moments but when they come I give thanks and count off all my blessings.

So Thank you to each and everyone of you who keep me in prayer and thought!

PS Daryl is healing wonderfully - back in class at Columbia 3x a week. Her doctors continue to marvel at her speedy and steady recovery.

The Bald & The Beautiful!

September 24, 2010

Presenting my sister, Daryl Lee, after her stem-cell infusion. Bald and Beautiful! I took this picture today as she was finishing up her Spanish homework b/4 heading out to catch the train for her class at Columbia. She keeps on keeping on.

The Certificate Says It All!

September 17, 2010

Yesterday, Thursday, September 16th was my last day of radiation treatment! AMEN! Thanks for all the prayers, thoughts, emails and love! Onto to chemo.

Momentary Pit Stop in Crazy-Weepy-Dark-Cloud Land and then onto Sunshine Land!

September 4, 2010

Yesterday was a weepy, tearful, emotional day. Not all day long, intermittently throughout the day. One second I was cool, the next I was so weepy I couldn’t listen to a dear friend’s (Alissa) voicemail message and thrown into the mix were those moments of passionate craziness, which equaled an overall feeling of discombobulation.

It all worked out in the end with the help of my sister Daryl. She pointed out to me that it was the Oxy aka Oxycodone aka the painkiller. One of the side effects is depression. Add to that piece of information the fact that I forgot to take my Paxil aka an anti-depressant. Oh and one more tidbit to the brewing stew is I forgot to eat so it was quite a day for me but my leg feels better after my second zap of radiation. Bitter with the sweet, that’s life.

I ran into an old family friend the other day and he said the exact same words in response to something I said to him: the bitter with the sweet that’s life. He was right. Life is usually a combination of the two sentiments: bitterness and sweetness. We just have to figure out how to deal with the bitterness, how to savor the sweetness and finally how to live so that we get more sweetness than bitterness.
I was not in a good place the other day but I’m okay today. I am so glad to have only made a Pit Stop in crazy-weepy-dark-cloud land.

So join me in a song: Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, The sunshine in, Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, The sunshine in, Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, The sunshine in!*

I hope this has been Tasty and Informative like Cupcakes & Travel Magazines.

Have a FABULOUS Labor Day weekend!

*Lyrics by James Rado, Gerome Ragni, and Galt MacDermot.