I always knew I wanted to document this journey because even though I will never forget this experience it is not something I will always remember. Like any life changing experience the harsh, raw reality of the experience is constantly at the forefront of your mind but as time passes the magnitude of the memory fades and life fills you with another memory and very soon the bad experience is dulled and watered down with new experiences and memories. I cannot wait for that to happen!
I have always documented my life through photos and I am always the one behind the lens, I have always shied away from attention and this experience has put the spotlight on me and my life and I have had to embrace it and learn from it. It has also helped to put things into perspective for me as I have always focused on doing so much and being so active, always ensuring that my lengthy to do list is ticked off! I have now come to realise that I need to take time for myself and to become more indulgent and less practical! The daily grind will still be there.
Throughout my journey people have told me that I am strong and brave and I tell them that I am so grateful to have been dealt the cards that I've been dealt and that I am not going to question my hand. I am not going to play the victim because that will take up too much of my positive energy.
This happened to me for a reason and from adversity comes opportunity. I see this as an opportunity for me to learn a very profound lesson.
I have always been determined and extremely patient, some may even prefer to call it STUBBORN, but these traits have served me well throughout this journey. There is no way you can fast track the process, you have to deal with every obstacle along the way and I have tried not to anticipate too much going wrong because my focus is to remain positive and to "just keep swimming!"
I have now done ten treatments in total! I only have six to go with my final chemo on 01/10/2015. Once chemo is finished I will have a four week break and then begin six weeks of radiotherapy. These treatments will be done every day Monday - Friday for six weeks. I hope to be finished this entire process by mid December.
I have always documented my life through photos and I am always the one behind the lens, I have always shied away from attention and this experience has put the spotlight on me and my life and I have had to embrace it and learn from it. It has also helped to put things into perspective for me as I have always focused on doing so much and being so active, always ensuring that my lengthy to do list is ticked off! I have now come to realise that I need to take time for myself and to become more indulgent and less practical! The daily grind will still be there.
Throughout my journey people have told me that I am strong and brave and I tell them that I am so grateful to have been dealt the cards that I've been dealt and that I am not going to question my hand. I am not going to play the victim because that will take up too much of my positive energy.
- I am grateful that this happened to me and not to my children and husband because that would have devastated me.
- I am glad it happened to me and not my parents because that would have broken me.
- I am thankful it happened to me and not to my sisters .
This happened to me for a reason and from adversity comes opportunity. I see this as an opportunity for me to learn a very profound lesson.
I have always been determined and extremely patient, some may even prefer to call it STUBBORN, but these traits have served me well throughout this journey. There is no way you can fast track the process, you have to deal with every obstacle along the way and I have tried not to anticipate too much going wrong because my focus is to remain positive and to "just keep swimming!"
I have now done ten treatments in total! I only have six to go with my final chemo on 01/10/2015. Once chemo is finished I will have a four week break and then begin six weeks of radiotherapy. These treatments will be done every day Monday - Friday for six weeks. I hope to be finished this entire process by mid December.