It’s Not the Easy Stuff that Makes us Strong

Over the last two weeks, there have been many accomplishments – big and small – that I have been lucky to be a part of.  Some of them have included me, while others I have merely been a proud member of the audience.

Sometimes we take for granted such accomplishments, such as a graduation or a medical test that shows what we want it to.  We travel through life just being used to things, knowing what to expect –
assuming many parts of life as simply “how it’s supposed to be.”

It is when we step back and realize that, at any second, life doesn’t have to give us “what we expect” and we truly learn to appreciate those small, but mighty, accomplishments.

One week ago, I cheered my cousin on as she walked across the stage to receive her high school diploma.
Though there was no doubt in my mind that she could do it, there were a few years that were very hit and miss.  Grades weren’t a priority for her; she ran around with a rough crowd for a period of time.
Several of us who cared about her wondered if we would see her graduation day.

But we did – and it was awesome!
You could not have imagined a bigger smile on that young lady’s face as she walked proudly across that stage.
And I was so thankful to be a part of that moment.

The next day, I was in Murray, Kentucky to watch my baby sister receive her Bachelors Degree in Business.  Another proud moment!

I have never doubted her intelligence, nor her will to achieve something –
I’ve always known that she would accomplish whatever she set her mind to.

On the flipside, I didn’t see her name in the program or the fact that she graduated magna cum laude because
…ahem…
she waited too long to submit for graduation.
(Too studious that she forgot, I’m sure!)
But she graduated nonetheless and I am so very proud of her!

In addition to the joys of graduations, I also received some positive news from a few places.

First, I was accepted into the online MSW Graduate Program of Psycho-social Oncology at the University of Louisville.  I applied in January, before my relapse occurred, very excited to continue on with school and be able to help others going through a similar situation.
However, due to the relapse and the uncertainty of how long this treatment will last, I chose to postpone my studies.  Thankfully, I am able to defer acceptance for up to two years – so there’s definitely the possibility that I could start next fall!

More good news came from the chest X-ray that was done after chemotherapy #2.  It shows significant decrease in tumor size.  This means that the chemo is doing its job and we’re that much closer to getting rid of this awful disease.  The margins of the tumors were not measured, so I am not sure how much of a decrease there has been, but I’m a firm believer in “Any decrease is a good decrease.”

This news doesn’t change the plan of action.  I will still continue to have treatment every 21 days.
I just finished #3 this past week with little to no side effects, which is a blessing!
After #4, another chest X-ray will be done, and after #6, I will be traveling back to Cleveland for a multitude of scans at their hospital.

The last two weeks have simply shown me how to be joyful in even the slightest achievements,
whether they are yours or someone else’s.

Take something like a graduation.
For some, it’s a no-brainer.  They know they are going to graduate.
High school or college has happened and they’re ready for the next phase of life.

But there are others who aren’t quite as sure.

It is more difficult for them, and you watch how hard they push themselves to earn that diploma.
And when they do, you can almost taste the victory with them!

There are also folks who live their entire lives never having to worry about what a test result will show.
They will never understand the uncertainty and fear that many have during that waiting period.

At times, I’m a bit envious of those people.

But then I think back on all of the tests I have had – all of the waiting periods –
and I realize how blessed I have been.
Some of those test results came back positive, but some didn’t.
It was the latter of the two that helped me appreciate the health that I did have.

If you are never faced with a challenge in life, how will you ever know if you can overcome it?
How will you know what pain feels like?
How will you know what victory feels like?

I encourage you to live in the present – accept life’s challenges head on and appreciate them,
because it’s not the easy stuff that makes us strong.