I'm Back!

[SisterMaryChocolate]

Well, after much too long, I'm back. Shortly after I was recovering from kidney cancer surgery, our beautiful 35-year-old daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer. I asked her what her dad and I could do to help her and she said, "Move in with me!" I took a leave of absence from my job and did just that...first for 3 weeks and then again for each of her 4 chemo treatments and then again for 2 weeks when she had breast reconstruction and a hysterectomy. 

It was good to be there with her and help care for my grandchildren who were then 8 and 3 years old. School functions, Girl Scouts, play dates all kept rolling on. 

And another of my goals was to keep her spirits up and show her that in the midst of a really bad thing, because cancer is a really bad thing, there can still be islands of joy and hours of fun and laughter. I told her I could even make chemo treatments fun and together we did. She is well now, a full year into her recovery. She radiates love and beauty!

I was blessed to become closer to my grandchildren and son-in-law. 

Now in September I will be going back to Mayo Clinic for my 2-year checkup for my cancer. I too feel healed and ever so blessed. But I needed to get back to this website and back to my giving challenge...so here I am again!

[Anita Silva]

You have gone through a tough time and I am impressed by the positive way you did this. Thanks for sharing, this is so inspiring. 

[Aunty Nean]

Your post radiates joy and positivity! Thank you and welcome back. My name is Jeannine and I live in Australia.

[Lois55 wwt]

Welcome back! Thank you for this wonderful post filled with love and positivity! What a blessing that you and your daughter are both survivors! Your family sounds awesome, and you especially so!

[Deb~ Community Manager]

I hope your report will be a good one. So happy you and your Daughter are here today~ You inspire~

[Deb~ Community Manager]

Bless you. Thank you for sharing this post. I will add you to my prayer journal and wish you only the best in life...

[Dawn wwt]

i am so glad you are back! thank you for sharing your story with us. i am  glad that you and your daughter are doing well now. when my Hubby had his cancer, he said that a positive attitude was key to beating it and you certainly had that area covered : )  i particularly love your statement that "in the midst of a really bad thing, there can still be islands of joy and hours of fun and laughter". it's a good thing to remember.

i am looking forward to reading more of your posts, SMC! Welcome back! Hugs, Dawn

[SisterMaryChocolate]

Thank you for your kind comments. I was cleaning out my e-mail file last night and came across an e-mail from the Giving Challenge about Elly Rose and just knew the time was right to get back here on a regular basis. All of us face huge challenges in life that can be made lighter by sharing a bit of positive energy.

[Ann]

Thank you for this beautiful post.  Your giving,l oving spirit comes through loud and clear. What a blessing that both you and your daughter are doing well and I feel in my heart that your check up will bring good news.   I look forward to hearing more of your giving stories.