Reconnecting Up North
It’s officially been one week since I finished chemo and there is a sense of freedom that is creeping in, although it will be shortlived.
This week we came up to my childhood home in Petoskey, MI to spend the week with family for the holiday. This is really the first time since I started treatment in January that I’ve been able to get away for more than a couple of days. When I tell you it’s just what the doctor ordered, I’m not kidding.
I always joke that ‘lake life’ is different, but coming up here this year, after everything I’ve been dealing with, is what my mental health needed. It’s a different pace of life, and I almost feel that in a sense I’ve escaped some of the stressors that are just ever present in our home. When you’re going through cancer treatment it becomes such a big part of your life that it takes over your personal space and relationships, it’s everywhere.
While I love our home, getting all of us out of it is what we all needed. Our relationships have all been strained as life’s stressors and daily monotony have had everyone on edge. Even in just a few days up north everyone's shoulders relaxed, we spent time engaged with each other, I feel reconnected with my family.
I’m also seeing the early beginnings of how this diagnosis is impacting Quinley and her relationship with me which I haven’t noticed to this point. Generally, Quinley beats to her own drum and doesn’t need anyone's approval to feel good about herself. But this trip we had some friends come on the boat with us and I saw a different side of her. If I was sitting with one of my friend's daughters, she needed the attention. If I cheered or laughed with one of the other girls, then her world came crashing down because “I didn’t cheer that loud for her.” While Quinley knows I have cancer, she doesn’t really know what that means, but it seems she may be understanding and feeling more than I previously thought.
As much as this is a time to relax, I’ve also been taking advantage of the downtime to get ahead on work. With surgery approaching on the 22nd, I plan to take a couple of weeks off to recoup, and being a solopreneur I want to make sure my clients don’t feel any of my downtime. So while I’m used to always working ahead, because a marketer is always planning for future events, I’m trying to complete five weeks of work into the next three. And I will… because it’s me and if I say I’m going to do something, I will. The workaholic in me is strong, even if my immune system isn't.
People have been asking how I’m feeling about surgery, and I don’t know if excited is the right word, but I look at it as the next step in my treatment, and as of July 22 I will be able to say that I’m officially cancer-free. While I’ll be cancer-free, my treatments likely won’t end there. I may be eligible for a couple of trials, pending how my path comes back, which could end my remaining 6 months of immunotherapy and allow me to get my port removed sooner. But if there is still cancer in my path, I will likely have to continue immunotherapy and chemo for another 6 months after surgery. Radiation is also part of my original treatment plan, but I will find out more on that after surgery.
So with that, I’ll leave you with my philosophical thoughts. As I sit here, I can't help but reflect on the importance of connecting with our family members. Life has a way of checking us when we least expect it, and it’s in those moments of chaos and uncertainty that we truly realize the value of our loved ones. Being up here, away from the usual hustle and bustle, has reminded me of the simple joys and deep connections that often get overshadowed by our daily grind. Family isn’t just about sharing DNA; it’s about sharing our lives, our struggles, and our triumphs. So, as I navigate this journey, I encourage everyone to take a step back, breathe, and reconnect with the people who matter most. In the end, it’s these relationships that give us strength and meaning, helping us to weather any storm life throws our way. Plus, who else is going to keep your ego in check and tell you when you’ve got food stuck in your teeth?