A sad Day

In my team at work I have had two others that are also battling cancer at the same time. Last night we lost one of our very cherished team member, Ian Francis. Ian was a quiet achiever and came in when he could and gave everything he did in life all his efforts in his quiet and unassuming way. Even when going through radiation, surgery and chemotherapy he still kept his smile and humour about him. This post is dedicated to Ian. Someone who we will miss but whose soul will live on with all of us who knew him. May you rest in peace Ian.

Back in the Water

This weekend I went swimming for the first time since the BC started. Swimming has always been a place I can find solitude and relax. But I wasn't ready for how different my body was and how much one uses their chest muscles in swimming! My arms can't stretch the same distance they could prior to the surgery so the swimming didn't come near as easily as it has for the past 40+ years. That was a bit of a shock to the mental system as well as physical one. So I guess that means I need to spend more time in the pool,lifting weights and stretching to enable my arms and chest to be able to swim again...bummer.

Next Surgery...yes, there is one more

The other day I put in leave for my next surgery...my boss looked at my quizzically and replied, "there is still another one?".  The hard part about the cancer journey is for many people it keeps going for a longer period of time than most others actually "see".  So for me this is the final reconstructive surgery to put the permanent prosthetic. 

To read more on that:

http://pinkhope.org.au/inform/surgery/faq-mastectomy-and-reconstruction/#.Unbdy1u4bmI

The exciting part is I have scheduled this in for late December this year.  So what that means is I can go into 2014 without having any Cancer or Surgery to actively manage (knock on wood). 

What that means for 2014 is keeping up a more healthy lifestyle and living each day to the fullest (when haven't I done that though, huh?).