Well, we are underway, and the first offensive has begun against mom’s breast cancer. Chemo is an onslaught, a shock to your system, and I suppose it’s even more magnified when you’re 80 (though, yes, her doctor says she LOOKS 60! She reminds us often.)
Mom seems to be holding up pretty well so far. She has her next round of chemo next Thursday, and there are 2 more after that, one every three weeks. This is all a lot to take in for a person who literally had not been sick a day in her life for the past 40 years. Several doctor visits a week, drawing blood samples, x-rays, chemo, etc. I’m sure that it’s almost more than she can bear sometimes.
But, through it all I have learned something about the importance of one’s perspective. Mom and I were talking the other day about the “what ifs?”. I asked what if this whole thing is all so that she can help others like her in her circle who have also been relatively healthy but are about to to go through a difficult time with their health? Her answer? “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, especially if I know it will help somebody else when I’m all done with it.”
Bingo. Perspective. Her whole demeanor and attitude perked up when she realized that this fairly horrible experience was going to teach her something that she could share with others. Man, I’d love to ALWAYS see trouble like that, with those kinds of eyes.
Maybe someday….when I’m 80. And yes, I hope I look 60 then, too.
