Skip to main content

Chemo with Kathleen





After a recent chemo, where I was chaperoned by the always affable and charming Chris, my nurse Alicia queried “Who will be bringing you next time?”
Truly, the entire oncology staff was not only charmed by Chris, they were amazed at the intricate cross stitch stocking she was working on and then awed that it was her third and final work of art.

  I responded to Alicia (a new friend, really) that another friend would be bringing me and she remarked something like “you have a lot of wonderful friends”. To wit, I agree!

 Chris commented, “yes she does! Chemo with Kathleen!”

 Chemo with Kathleen. Sounds like a title to a book like "Tuesdays with Morrie" or "Me Before You", great books about friends stepping up to help a friend through illness and/or treatment. Only difference in this case would be that this sickie lives on to make more friends and to treasure the ones she has. 

What I’m discovering on these chemo days, aside from all the vital medical stuff I’m supposed to care about, is my friends are amazing people! Yesterday's chaperone was Jo who came after cleaning and preparing her boss' office for painting; she works as an office manager for a small church and has become the Pastor's organization guru (among many other things!). A heart of a caregiver, Jo has! I kicked her out after the Benadryl kicked in so I could nap and she could go back to help her Pastor.

 Another friend who drove me is the wife of our former Pastor. She has driven countless people to chemo or doctor's appointments and is herself a breast cancer survivor. She helps countless people to this day with small and large acts of kindness. Lois seemed to understand that on this particular chemo day, I needed solitude and a nap more than a friend to sit with me and she left to run errands. How did she intuit this other than through too many years of doing the just what she was doing for me?

 I discovered while talking with another friend chaperone, that she's a talented artist who likes to stretch her artistic boundaries by taking art classes in media she is unfamiliar with or uncomfortable using. She's in her 70s and enjoys learning new things, considers it a priority actually. I want to be like Marilyn when I'm in my 70s - not all complacent and comfortable but willing to expand my horizons.

 My sister, Kelli came and didn't draw on me with sharpies but drove all the way from Kohler Wisconsin to spend a lot of time watching me sleep (and taking pictures that she shared with family!). She also made dinner for us and kept me company for my first of the now-weekly chemo treatments. She too is a breast cancer survivor and I'm sure sitting with me brought back less-pleasant memories.

 I have a roster of friends that have signed up for Chemo with Kathleen. And more that have signed up to bring dinner on chemo Mondays. I have a roster of friends that have sent cards, flowers, gifts and messages. I have a roster of friends that I am grateful for beyond words. In this darker time of my life, while I battle this touch of cancer, they are providing light and love to help me fight the fight.

 Perfect time for some Carol King!

 You've Got a Friend
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

It's not a popularity contest, but ...

When a New Year begins with only whispers of the previous year

  I spent the last 45 days of 2024 suffering with a wee bit of the plague.  It didn't completely stop me, but it came close. I only briefly came out of my isolation to participate in the Lakeshore Community Chorus' holiday concert, to take care of the world's most adorable bairn and then celebrate his first birthday, to attend Christmas Eve worship, to see the bio-pic of Bob Dylan, celebrate NYE with the previously mentioned adorable grandson and his parents and to have short visits with my daughter from a different mother/father and her adorable daughter. I don't think I missed any 'events'. After each of these 'events' I then went back to my cocoon (the recliner in the living room, with my blankie and water bottle). There I could cough, sneeze and ache in relative comfort with my tissues, Mucinex and Advil nearby. I also discovered the comfort of an occasional hot toddy. When there were no signs of improvement, I went to my doctor and she prescribed an...
1 comment
Read more

When you encounter a totally different reality

John and I arrived early for an appointment (for those of you that know my husband, you know that this is not infrequent! The story of arriving three hours early for a flight to Phoenix from Midway still gets repeated and laughed about when the 'kids' get together). We found a seat and the waiting room began to fill. We had chosen seats away from the TV where NBC's Today Show was playing, so we couldn't see what was on the screen. Another couple sat before the TV and provided commentary and as the time progressed provided a glimpse into a total different 'reality'. "Oh I can't even stand to look at him. He's so evil" "What is wrong with his hair?" "This administration will do down in history as the worst ever." "The federal government is taking over the states. There's going to be a civil war, just you wait." "They just let all those illegal aliens in and then they're going to give them weapons to take...
1 comment
Read more

Friday Night Lights

Friday night lights were blazing last week - when for the first time in the history of our little town, the Saugatuck Indians clinched the district title! You can see the sheer joy on Matthew's face and the pride in his father's eyes in the picture above. Leading up to and during the game, there were several things that made the victory even more sweet. The first being that the sports writers in the area, to a person, all predicted the opponents, Climax-Scotts, to win. They'd had a perfect season - until Friday. The second was that we had to travel quite a distance (nearly 90 minutes) to get to the game. And the weather was frigid and snow was blowing - thankfully it was blowing towards the Climax-Scotts stands and was at our backs. And then our quarterback injured his shoulder and had to sit out for a good portion of the game. Thankfully, the replacement quarterback (a sophomore called up for the playoffs from the junior varsity team) did not let the stress effect his ...
3 comments
Read more