My story is one told from both sides: patient and caretaker…
One year ago to the date my dad went Home so his body would never have to feel the pain the cancer was causing him. My dad and I had been there for each other in our fights against cancer.
My first tango with breast cancer was in 2014, my dad’s started on my birthday in 2016. When I was going through the screening this time I wished so much he was here. And today I felt him with us as I had the surgery to install my port that will allow me to take my chemotherapy. Maybe it’s just coincidence, maybe not, that today is the anniversary of him going home (Feb. 5), that I was placed in room #5 and I had my first dream I ever remember being under anesthesia.
Our stories are similar but different. I was fortunate to find my cancer to be non-invasive the first time around but this time it is invasive with a great prognosis. My dad, unfortunately, did not take the steps for screening when he received information that he should be tested.
My story is one told from both sides. A side of selecting a very aggressive treatment that yielded small chances of recurrence, only to find out recurrence happened. The other side was being a caretaker for my father that showed me feelings of love, patience, impatience, frustration, anger, withdrawal, helplessness and relief.
From Dad, my faith grew stronger and would prepare me for this new journey. Sometimes our battles are not easy and do not make sense or turn out the way we want them to. However, sometimes circumstances give us a second chance, much like my dad’s experience. Cancer took my dad but Cancer will not break me. There are certain things that reside in me that will not be broken. I will look at this journey as another experience that will enrich me and hopefully others.
