Fortunately I know my chemo regimine of taxotere and gemzar works on me because it sure does knock me out. I spent most of Thursday in bed, then made it down to the couch by 5pm. On Friday and Saturday I had more energy, but not enough to wake up before the rest of the family to write. This morning I woke up on my own at 6:19 and knew it was time to greet the day in a typical Shannon way. And Maya even got in her walk.
Part of my energy today is coming off a high last night. Tyler and I and quite a few friends attended a fundraiser for a wellness center that a previous counselor of mine has envisioned for years. This woman, Patti, has been helping cancer patients and survivors heal through group counseling for years, focusing on breathing, meditation, mindful eating, music, art, journaling, yoga, and so much more. Her vision is to create a center that encompasses all of this for free so that people struggling with cancer and their families can have a place to heal holistically. Insurance covers the drugs that pad the pockets of the executives of pharmecutical companies, but it doesn't offer anything to heal the whole patient. Patti wants to heal the whole patient.
The event was a dinner and silent auction in Grantie Bay attended by approximately 200 people. Money for the center was being raised through the auction items. I was distressed when I walked around to the tables to peruse the items and found that some of the items had no bidders, or the increments that people increased the bids were very little. Yes, I know these are tough economic times and we may even be in the midst of a double-dip recession, but if a person was in attendance at this event, they're not doing too badly.
After Patti gave her introduction, everyone was thanked, and evening's MC gave one last plug for auction items, I felt more needed to be said. Hence, not a shy girl, I asked the MC if I could say something. Of course tears came to my eyes first, and I assured everyone I had only one glass of wine. After their chuckles, I reached out to them to give more, to raise their bids. "Winning one of these items may be a little financial stretch on you, but when you're diagnosed with cancer, you're often out of a job. And when you're rediagnosed, you're out of a job again." This may be a little stretch for you, but imagine what will come out of it when Patti gets here center." Of course more babbling came with this, but that was the gist of what I said.
Apparently, the bids surged after that, and I even won a 1-year gym membership to Gold's Gym to help me get back in shape one all this chemo is over.
I now know that part of my cancer is to help Patti. My role is to help bring her vision to life and to play whatever part she needs from me. Cancer is a gift in many ways. In this case, it will be the gift of helping someone achieve their dream. Thank you, God.
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