Chemo in the rearview mirror

My last chemo session is officially in the books! I can’t fully express the emotional lift I felt knowing it was my final infusion. The days that followed were just as challenging as ever—perhaps even more so, given the cumulative effects, but I kept reminding myself that this was the last time I would slog through this mess.

Three weeks in, I’m doing pretty well. The effects of chemo (and radiation) are still present, but so is the gradual process of healing. It’s not a linear journey; there are some setback days, but many more that are really good days.

 Here’s what I’ve accomplished:

·      Baked a loaf of sourdough bread after reviving Stella, my trusty starter, who patiently waited for six months.

·      Walked a lot! Thanks to the weather gods for some beautiful late-summer New England days.

·      Cooked actual meals, with gratitude for the bounty of summer farmer’s markets.

·      Managed to stay upright—I haven’t fallen down!

·      Experienced hair loss, but it’s all part of the journey.

·      Spoke at a conference! It felt wonderful to be back in the saddle, even if just for a moment.

·      Reflected on the joy, love, and optimism bursting from my heart for an incredible pop-up community of family and friends.

So, what’s next?  Well, first up is a family wedding to celebrate Eli and Jenny in San Diego in early October. What fun that will be!  Upon returning home there will be a slew of procedures to determine that in fact, cancer has left the building.  I will meet with my phenomenal care team on October 18th to determine next steps based on the results of all the aforementioned procedures. 

Here’s a request: please visualize health and vitality alongside me. I’m doing my best to hold onto the belief that my minions (see this post) understood the assignment and did their job—after all…they had only one job to do!