“Does that mean it’s gone?” I asked with a glimmer of hope in my eyes disguised as tears. Dr. Hanna smiled and with a hint of jubilation and a wink of the eye said, “There is no evidence of tumor.” Psalm 25:5 You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.
“So that means I’m cancer free?” I asked again, and he shook his head a certain yes, without ever saying the words. At that point I knew that the tumor that had so violently reared its ugly head (in my certainly more attractive one) was no longer taking residence in my body…EVICTED! I looked at my mom who clearly was trying to maintain some semblance of composure, but the quiver of her lip and the tears in her eyes said what the lips couldn’t speak. Dr. Hanna went on to tell me, with the usual audience of doctors from around the world in tow (this time from Italy and Pakistan), that this wasn’t the outcome he expected when he first saw me just a year and 9 months ago. “You’re a fighter. But more than that you are a winner,” he told me. I told him about my efforts to give back now. I told him about Relay For Life and how I was led to be the Event chairperson. I told him about being chosen as a Hero of Hope for the American Cancer Society. He told me with such sincerity and joy, that he was so proud of me. My world renowned doctor who helped make the plan that helped save my life was proud of ME. For once, words escaped me.
When I walked out of my appointment in the
Head & Neck department, joy was palpable.
You could probably see my smile beaming in the reflection of the windows, in the twinkle of my eyes and the step in my toes (a sound byte from Kool
and the Gang’s ‘Celebrate’ just jingled in my ears).
But part of me slowly began to pull back the emotion just a bit,
realizing that others in that waiting room may have just heard for the first
time that they had cancer, or that it had come back. It was a momentary internal tug of war. But maybe, just maybe, they would share the
joy with me and see the hope that is out there if you are willing to take hold
of it. I continued with a smile on my
face past the waiting room back to elevator B, which I had ridden so many times
up to the 10th floor in anticipation. This time the elevator music was different, like
the tune I had heard just minutes before. Now I was able to ride it down to the
1st floor with a clear head (literally) for the first time in
years. So, with all my scans completed
the day before, and appointments with pain management out of the way as well, I
was free to exit the building for the first time as not only a survivor, but
cancer free.
I should’ve never questioned the outcome of
the day, given that it started with a trip to my favorite little restaurant,
Sweet Paris Crepes, where I feasted on an apple crème brulee crepe. I’ve
been dreaming of this since my girlfriends came to visit when I was in
treatment and we discovered this little gem of a place in Rice Village. I had wanted to find my way back, but the grueling
schedule was continually denying me of my unalienable right to sweet apple
goodness. As we walked from the
restaurant back to the car, I realized that we were passing the little jewelry
store where Chris & Gina bought me the boot necklace which I wore every day
for the rest of my treatment and that day as well. The boot is my symbol, used since the
beginning when I had the famous Kick Cancer’s Ass party. It’s been my cancer kicking mantra. I should’ve known then, as I passed that
store, it was to be the day I would hear that wonderful news. It was no coincidence that I had kicked
cancer’s ass, while wearing that necklace, no less.We had gotten out of MDA (MD Anderson) a little earlier than normal and the road traveled led me past the apartment where we lived for 2 months that fateful summer of 2013, when life became more than just living, but surviving (cue Donna Summer’s ‘I Will Survive’). It’s strange to say that I don’t have any negative feelings about Houston or the old apartment. I don’t cringe when I think about my treatment or feel like I can’t take another step into that hospital again. You might think it odd, but I remember it all with the slightest bit of nostalgia. It isn’t a place where negative things happened. It was a place where the most positive thing happened…my life was saved. The drive to Houston and even passing Plum Creek serve as reminders of the miracles that happened in my life and my family’s life.
When we lived in the apartment, a visit to the Ross Store just across the street would bring me joy. Trust me, when you’re doing chemo and daily radiation, you take joy where you can get it. So, as the beginning of my celebration day, Nana and I made one more stop at Ross to see what kind of treasure I could find to treat myself. After all, didn’t I deserve a gift?! I know what you’re thinking…but yes, you CAN find treasures at Ross. OK, maybe not a Tiffany necklace, but maybe something interesting. Well, unfortunately for me, I only found ‘treasures’ for the girls. But I know where my real treasure is. Matthew 6:20-21 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
So, off we went, battling the Friday
afternoon Houston traffic up the 605 towards the 10, the road that leads to
Buc-ees(you didn’t think we could pass by Buc-ees without stopping did you?). Talk about pure unadulterated pleasure! Where else can you get everything from snacks
to deer feeders, turquoise jewelry to housewares? Maybe Buc-ees would be where my treasure lie
that day! Convinced that it was, I
searched and searched for the perfect piece of memorabilia that would
commemorate this special moment in the perfect way! The pajama bottoms with the smiling beaver
wouldn’t do. The refrigerator magnet
wasn’t quite it either. But low and
behold, like a star shining from the top shelf, was an oversized Buc-ees wine
glass calling my name. We would
certainly celebrate that night with a glance of wine, and Buc-ee gives me joy,
so it was a match made in Heaven. Well,
not literally, but you get my drift.
While I was driving home, I was a 12 year old
girl (with a driver’s license) in a 45 year old woman’s body. I was
taking selfies with Hottie the Hedgehog (my Cancer Plum Sucks mascot ) and my baby
Buc-ee keychain. I was giddy with
excitement to make my way through the list of phone calls that had to be made
before a Facebook post could be posted.
But the incredible news would have to wait for the rest of the world,
until I could get home and into the arms of my precious girls to tell them
first.
I was happy that my mom was there to share
that moment with me (getting the good news that is, not necessarily the
Buc-ee’s part). But a huge part of me
was sad that Will, who has been there for nearly every other appointment,
wasn’t there to experience it with me.
But a change in scheduling made it impossible with his work
schedule. He truly deserved that moment
as much as I did. He endured as much as
I did. The cancer was as much a part of
him as it was of me. But now that weight
has been lifted…that burden released and prayers have been answered. Psalm 65:5 You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O
God.
The radio was playing an assortment of
familiar country tunes from the 90s and now (sounds like a radio tagline,
doesn’t it?). When I heard them say
something about a new Garth Brooks song, I was excited, having been a pretty
big Garth fan in the past. “If Tomorrow
Never Comes” was always one of the songs that Will and I claimed as our
own. We wanted to use it in our wedding
as the first dance, but thought it sounded a little morbid for a wedding (talking
about tomorrow never coming and all).
But now I understand the truth behind the words and it never rang truer
in our relationship than the past two years.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow. If tomorrow never comes, will she know how much I loved her? Did I try in every way, to show her every day that she’s my only one. And if my time on earth were through, and she must face this world without me, is the love I gave her in the past, going to be enough to last, if tomorrow never comes? Garth finishes that song with these words, “So tell that someone that you love, just what you’re thinking of. If tomorrow never comes.”
I couldn’t believe my ears when the new Garth
song was called ‘Mom’. Here I was in the
car with my mom, having just received this amazing news together, and God
placed this song on the radio for us to hear for the first time. In the lyrics, God is telling an unborn
child, who doesn’t want to leave HIS side, about its mother on earth who is
waiting for their arrival. My mom, who
gave birth to me 45 years ago, was able to be a part of my ‘re-birth’ through
this experience. We both teared up as we
heard these words:
You’ll never have a better friend, or a warmer touch to tuck you in. She’ll kiss your bruises, your bumps and
scrapes, and anytime you hurt her heart’s gonna break. So hush now baby don’t you cry. Cause there’s someone down there waiting,
whose only goal in life, is making sure you’re always gonna be alright. A loving angel tender, tough and strong. It’s almost time to go and meet your mom. It was a special moment, and that song brought tears to my eyes for my mom who had to watch her baby suffer through all this. But she also got to witness through me the strength and perseverance that only happens with Christ by your side. That song also brought tears to my eyes thinking about my own beautiful girls, and how truly blessed I am that God chose ME to be their mother, and that I would get to continue being their mother for a very long time. They are my gift and my song. Jeremiah 1:5 Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I knew you.
That night, as we rolled into Lakeway, we planned a celebratory meal at Mandola’s with the family that was in town. Their gnocci with alfredo sauce, peas, mushrooms and prosciutto is to die for. Or, in this case to live for! So, that would be my first cancer free meal! My parents, the girls (who I hugged with all my might) and my brother all shared in my joy that night as we ate and drank and toasted my good news. Proverbs 15:15 For the happy heart, life is a continual feast. When we got home, I checked the mail and had a package from my cousin Bridget, which was full of funny little things, including several little ladybug items. I could barely believe my eyes. What a precious sign from God. She was with me on this special day and so was my Grandpa ;)
I closed my eyes that night, with a peace about me. It was the peace that surpasses all understanding. It was the same peace that got me through the storm. Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. At that moment, in my head, I heard the words of the song that made me cry in that first worship service after my diagnosis, and every one since. “Blessed Be Your Name” – Matt Redman
Blessed be your name, when the sun’s shining down on me
When the World’s all as it should be, Blessed be your name.
Blessed by your name, on the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering, Blessed be your name.
