Mrs. Perun

Mrs. Perun

Recently, I was reflecting on what it was like during the holidays of 2004. I was in the middle of chemotherapy, at my lowest of lows in life. I don’t know how many of you have ever seen a chemotherapy treatment room, but the majority of these places are set up with a dozen or so recliners around a room. The nurse’s station is located very close in case any crisis should arise during treatment. Your chemo sessions are usually on the same day so you end up with the same people week after week. Everyone becomes very particular about where they sit, who they are sitting next to, the nurse working with them, etc. It is just like an athlete who is superstitious and performs the same ritual before each game.

I was blessed and sat next to the same lady, Mrs. Perun, throughout the majority of my treatments. If my memory serves me right, she had chemo on and off for over 12 years. Mrs. Perun laughed at anything I said and always had the best attitude toward life. She got on her knees in front of her recliner to pray before and after her treatments.

When I go back for check-ups I continue to try to schedule my appointments so that I run into Mrs. Perun. I haven’t undergone chemo treatments for about 3.5 years, but Mrs. Perun is still in chemo and smiling every time I see her.

I think about Mrs. Perun because she impacted me so much. I was incredibly lucky to have someone so inspiring next to me during treatments. The doctors and nurses are truly angels dealing with patients that have an uncertain future. Keeping a positive attitude in a chemotherapy room is not the easiest thing to do. I used to sit in my recliner and look around the room, at all of the other patients, for hours wondering if I could create something to keep us all going. Could I come up with products that would remind us to trust all parts of the journey?

Ruth and I talk often about life. We all are constantly confronted with daily challenges. That is a part of life. Raising children, taking care of aging parents, careers, illness, someone close to you ill, relationships, finances, sitting in traffic, school, weight issues and the list goes on and on. There are always going to be bumps in the road and some much higher than others. But I can promise you this-- if we learn to trust our journey the ultimate outcome will be all it should be.

I was one of the lucky ones. I had 8 dense chemo sessions, which meant my chemo treatments were every two weeks. I lost my boob, all my hair, and my fingernails but I have my life. It was during this most challenging time that I truly learned the meaning of Trust Your Journey.

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When a bad thing becomes a good thing

When a bad thing becomes a good thing

I will never forget my first week of chemotherapy. As if the cancer wasn’t enough, you suddenly are thrown into the more difficult challenge of dealing with all the side effects of chemo. The doctors and staff like to share with you the percentages of patients who get what side effect. At first I thought it was all a shot in the dark as to who would get nauseated, lose hair, lose fingernails, have a port, etc. But after talking to many women who’ve gone through the experience, I’ve decided that all of us had our fair share of most if not all of the side effects.

In the beginning you’re told NOT to go eat your favorite food after your first chemotherapy session. I was sure that advice didn’t apply to me and met friends at a wonderful café to enjoy my favorite veggie wrap immediately after my first chemo session. In four short hours I was not too thrilled with my decision. I got very sick to my stomach, and the nausea remained with me every day for two months. Naturally I was dreading my second chemotherapy treatment. After I was done, I thought of trying to turn this bad thing into something that would do me some good. So I asked the friend who had taken me to chemo to turn into a fast food restaurant where I ate my fill of French fries. Needless to say, I haven’t had fries since, and that was three-and-a-half years ago.

“A mistake is simply another way of doing things.”—Katharine Graham (1917-2001)

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Moms

Moms

Mother’s Day, which comes this weekend, gives us an ideal occasion to honor our Moms, whether we’re still blessed to have her here on earth or even if she has passed on. Our Moms are incredible with their multitasking abilities and unconditional love. Of course, what we appreciate most about them is that they brought us into this life.

Have you ever noticed how our roles change over time? From birth to our teen years--and sometimes beyond--they care for us constantly. Then we find our independence and take care of ourselves while they do the same. Years later we kids find ourselves becoming parents to our parents. Moms are the greatest gift in our lives, and I feel especially blessed to have a wonderful, loving Mom.

“Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” –Anne Frank (1929-1945)

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms out there!

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The Good Old Days

The Good Old Days

So often these days--maybe because of the current economic situation--I hear people talking about the good old days. The memory of days past, when life seemed so much simpler, comes to mind frequently. Some people think it was when gas was fifty cents a gallon, others think it was prior to the electronics that keep us constantly tethered to work, and most think it was any time but the present.

If you look a little closer, you might realize that the good old days are right now. There are so many wonderful things at our fingertips that weren’t available in the past. We’re much closer to eliminating many serious illnesses or at least extending the quality of life for those afflicted with them. We have an amazing ability to communicate with anyone anytime. And we’re all blessed with choices today that just weren’t there years ago.

But more than anything, today--this very moment--will be the good old days in the years ahead. We must cherish the present more than the past. It isn’t always easy to be “in the moment,” but it’s necessary in order to enjoy life to the fullest. Today we’re living in the good old days.

“Enjoy yourself. These are the good old days you’re going to miss in the years ahead.” --Unknown

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