Hi everyone! It’s nearly a week since chemo infusion #3. It’s been a bit rough. Chemo side effects are cumulative. However, I am powering through and resting… a lot! It’s been a crazy week news-wise. Health and COVID-19 continue to be hot topics. Health will remain a trending topic as the seasons change, temperatures dip and flu season sneaks up on us.
Good health is something many people, I feel, often take for granted. It's autumn and I'm missing all the fun autumn activities. The apple orchards, the pumpkin shopping... the typical fall activities that make this time of year so magical. If you’re dealing with an incurable disease you may understand this a bit more. COVID-19 has many people re-evaluating their health and well-being. You pause to take better care of yourselves. You wash your hands. You wear a mask. Maybe you eat a bit more veggies or bake some yummy sweets. You pay attention to how you feel. You take time for you because you really don’t have much of a choice. You are more aware of your mental and physical health.
I’m halfway through my chemo and as the side effects accumulate you become grateful for the back stretch you’re able to do. You are grateful when the headache disappears for a moment or vision clears up. You are grateful when something has some taste and you’re fatigued but can actual get up. You are grateful when temperature doesn’t effect your teeth and your back and bone pain eases up. These are little things most of us take for granted because I pray you never have to experience them. These are all symptoms I know are temporary. I’m working on trying to manage them. This goes for the thousands of us battling and thriving with cancer. This goes for all people dealing with incurable diseases. We all have our struggles. It’s how we handle them. Sure, some days are just going to suck. That’s ok. Just know that all days won’t suck. You’ll have good days too and you are not alone.
So my message today is this. Take care of your health and care about those around you. It doesn’t matter if they’re strangers. Their health matters too. They have kids, friends and family who all want them to be healthy and live their best lives as possible. Good health is a blessing. Please take care of yours.
