Time

A couple of weeks ago, Dave and I received the sad news that our friend's Mother had passed away. She had very aggressive pancreatic cancer and was only diagnosed a couple months ago....only weeks, really. I haven't been able to get this off my mind. It is a great loss like this that reminds me, once again, how lucky I am to have been diagnosed so early and that I didn't have to start treatment for several months.

Because of my early diagnosis, Dave and I were able to plan and enjoy a beautiful wedding, a tropical honeymoon and weekend getaways on our boat. We were able to enjoy family, friends and each other. We were able to catch our breath and make a plan...be more proactive than reactive. We were able to read, understand and ask questions about Myeloma. We were able to laugh and cry, be happy and sad, be angry and accepting. And even though cancer consumes us every minute of every day, there were brief moments when we were able to forget.

We had the gift of time that our friend's family did not have. We had the gift of time that my own family didn't have when my brother was diagnosed with testicular cancer so many years ago. We had the gift of time that most families touched by cancer do not have. For this time, I feel very fortunate and very blessed. It is this time, as I sit here occasionally bored these days, that I treasure and am forever grateful.