It's been a year.

Onehalf

It's been a year.

Onehalf

Last year at this time, Christmas celebrating with family and friends. I had my second treatment of Chemo, for Ductical Carcimona Stage 1.

I rememebr hiding my feelings of being scared, and feeling like "how long will this last" All I could think of was "at this time next year I will be done with my Chemo and Radiation treatments". Instead of sugur plums dancing in my head the only vision I had was my breast.

This year as after we got our Christmas Tree, I opened my box of ornaments....I kept pulling my favorite piece out to place on the Tree, but something was not right...I couldn't find a lot of my favorites on top as usual...They weren't wrapped and put away like I have done for so many years..... 

Let me explain,... I have worked with young children for 21 years. Each year I have been given ornaments from families and co-workers. Each ornament on my tree has a special meaning, I have only a few store bought ornaments to fill in the back gaps on the tree.

So you can see I take extra time and special care to pack my trimmings away for the next year.

Well as I was decorating, it just did not feel right....then a family friend stopped by, as I continued to trim the tree, she mentioned how she had helped me take the tree down last year.......It all came flooding back to me.

I had gotten my chemo treatment a few days before and I was experiencing some side effects that made me tired, and really not wanting to do much. As a friend she helped me, not knowing how I put things away....

 My message here..... Is for those of you who are going through treatment now. Enjoy all that you can get out of your holidays. Accept the help and concerns from family and friends...they only care.

And yes the time will pass. 

Here I am one year later...had clean and clear Mammograms and checkups. Feeling like I did before Breast Cancer, with the only exception of really enjoying my family and friends. I no longer take my family for granted...and I love each of them.

You too love yourself and the ones around you,

Happy Holidays,

Denise ( Onehalf)

cookiegal

what a lovely essay.....thanks for the perspective!

AnneW

Here's hoping for many more years...

Anne

iodine

How beautiful.  Wishing all a warm, loving, and joyful Christmas.

The year I was dx'd, we put lights on the tree.  My ornaments are all very special, too.  Including the ones made by tiny hands so many years ago.  That year, the kids could only come home Christmas Eve, and we all usually  put on ornaments, but that year, everyone was so tired.  It was the first time I'd seen them since Aug. (dx in Sept.)

I rec'd a friendship one from a dear friend and it's the only one that made it on the tree.  LOL.  As sad as it looked then, it has become a dear memory to me of a special friend and a family that was struggling to make it Christmas even tho we all were challenged.