Sharing an Email

Today I started to battle the "chemo haze" but managed to get through the day being fairly productive in the whole scheme of things. 

A couple of thanks for the past day or two:
Thanks Jodie for the words of encouragement tonight. 
Thanks to Maria for getting my computer fixed. 
Thanks to Shonelle for beating up Maria for fixing up my computer!
Thanks to Sharon for calling me from Abu Dhabi just to check in!
Thanks to Nat, Sue, Ros, Narelle, and Sam for all their cooking this week!
Thanks to my team for continuing to support me when I work at home during these chemo weeks.

I wanted to share an email with you that I received from Ronja (thanks for the courage of sharing this with me/us tonight)....

"Dear LT,

Another BC bombshell for me yesterday. A school friend younger than me, very fit and healthy.  Already had both removed and still doing chemo until December and radiation. L  She is handling it very privately and did not text me or call me. She had to tell me in person and I have not seen her since June last year as our schedules are very conflicting.  She called me yesterday morning and I had to go back home to get kade and then back to school basically to meet her for coffee. Had vacuuming planned at home.  Thankfully I went because then she told me her news and all I could think was and you were going to vacuum instead of meeting a friend for coffee.   She had one removed last November and the other in April this year.  Now also looking at hysterectomy and ovaries. Looks like both girls may have the gene. 

I cried again in the coffee shop this time.  This horrendous disease strikes so many women and it is so awful.  So much courage is needed to fight this stupid disease and so much surgery and chemo and radiation.  Christ. It is such a hard slog. 

I did the vacuuming at 10.30 last night. J

You hang in there. You are doing awesome.

This will be our next walk  to support a local family who also have the gene.  Elisha is 30. Both sisters have had double mastectomies.  The Mum has bone cancer now after fighting breast cancer twice and the father died a few weeks ago from liver cancer.  MAN!!!!  Elisha was to late she wanted to have a second child before the surgery but never got the chance, the cancer beat her to it.

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health-fitness/elisha-neaves-sad-story-sends-vital-warning-on-breast-cancer-angelina-jolie-double-mastectomy/story-fneuzlbd-1226643701662

I read Angelina’s story on your blog.  Awareness is good!

Sorry to ramble.  Miss you..

Big hugs

Ronja"

I share this email because it continues to bring the awareness to a very "real and personal" level for many of us.