Hannah Beth and Aiden burst through the church doors as excited-out-of-control kids sometimes do. Hannah Beth left Aiden half running, half falling behind her. Ray helped me in. The joy of celebrating the 2010 Wonders and Worries Christmas Party with my family outweighed the pain and nausea that gripped me. They hopped from craft to craft making friends along the way. I tried desperately to keep up, to stand up, to walk. THEN THE PIZZA ARRIVED. I had to intercept the milk ridden pizza from the mouth of my sweet boy. They always had snacks to accommodate him. We passed up the pizza and cookies, but offered him some other snack that eludes this chemo brain of mine now.
Hannah Beth chose to sit on the ground rather than at the table and chairs. WTF, I thought.
A. How will I get down there?
B. How will I stay down there?
C. How will I get up?
A little man was bee-bopping around his mom, dad and brother. He quickly distracted me from my conundrum. He was hilarious. As his mother wrangled him in, I asked her how old he was. He was the same age as Aiden. She introduced herself, Todd, Sam and Luke. We traded the several battles we endured during our war. I had met several strong women within my two year fight and recovery, but none who had as many complications as me. It was nice to meet somebody that was willing to lay her heart out so quickly to me. Breast Cancer Sisterhood does that to a person.
We were both Pink Ribbon Cowgirls and figured out pretty quickly that we had a mutual friend, Kathryn. She knew Kathryn VERY well as they were diagnosed within a week of each other and went through "chemo orientation" together. Kathryn and I met through a Livestrong class. Both of these women are the kind that never meet a stranger. They both have a laugh that makes YOU laugh. You know the kind that you can't forget? The kind that is bringing a Kool-Aid-Kid smile to my face as I type. Through this thing called cancer, all three of us were instantly drafted into the infantry.Through this thing called cancer, we were bonded by love, courage, strength and above all HOPE.
We barely noticed where we were and why were there! Todd and Ray had both done a great job of keeping the kids busy why we continued to talk. This woman, who's name I had already forgotten and I kept talking as our husbands patiently busied our kiddos with the festivities. Our husbands had to practically organize an intervention to stop our conversation. Reluctantly, I left and refocused on my beautiful children who were bursting with energy driven by sugar, carbs and SANTA!
Before I knew it, the staff and volunteers began to pack up the decorations and left-over crafts. We walked out the door, my heart was full. My sweet kids had an absolute blast, my husband was tired and happy, and I was able to come! God brought another woman into my life that knew my heart before I spoke. She knew the constant pain and unending struggle to keep on fighting for EVERYTHING.
As we loaded up in the truck, Ray commented on the family we just met. I only remembered Sam and Luke's names. Within a split second, I was disappointed with the effects of chemo on my brain. How is it that I can meet somebody that I truly enjoy company with and forget their name? Who does that!?!? Ray consoled me for not being able to remember the names of the woman and her husband. Thank God, we traded our digits and e-mail addresses! I popped a Zofran, Meclizine, Compazine (anti-nausea), and a Norco (pain) for the ride home. I looked down at the napkin as we drove home, "Kristi Appenzeller..."
No comments:
Post a Comment