I know there are many flaws in our healthcare system. And, I believe there are many improvements along the way so that more Americans can receive healthcare without the fear of being put under financially in order to just be well.
Today, I want to say thank you for what IS working.
My mom has been undergoing chemo treatments for a year and a half now. She’s gone from having twice-monthly treatments to having weekly treatments. From having a drip IV to implanting a PowerPort. And through all this she’s received great care – in the way of smiles, friendly and familiar greetings each week, sincere conversation and respectful concern – from those in charge of facilitating her infusions at Kaiser.
I have gone with my mom for a few infusions and each time I see her comfort level with the people at Kaiser Santa Rosa. Her ability to feel at home in a place that causes her such physical pain. The kindness and easy understanding of one another that is exchanged with each visit. For this, and more specifically for the people of the Kaiser Santa Rosa Infusion Center, I remain reverent for the perfectly balanced respect and compassion they have shown my mom for nearly two years of her life. It’s a good feeling to know that in dark times, there is light in those situations for those that you love.
October is breast cancer awareness month. If you’ve read this blog for more than its last 5 posts then you know my mom has been working to kick cancer’s butt for over a year now.
And let’s say for no reason you want to do something nice for me, nice for others, and another reason to feel good about your day – just because.
Well, then it’s your lucky day. Here are some things you can do:
• Visit this site which will provide funding for preventative diagnostics, aka a boob squishing mammogram that could save a life through early detection
• Shop here or here or here to purchase items that have a portion of the proceeds directed back to cancer research, diagnostics support or medicine
•Check out this site or this one for information on how to conduct a self exam and other educational information
• Check out this network of beauty bloggers that have united to form Total Beauty - Total Cure to generate additional awareness
• Send a Boob-e-Card to someone else
• Comment here and tell my mom how much she kicks ass for putting up such a fight
My mom is the strongest, most amazing woman I know. She endured hours of surgery yesterday (masectomy, if you couldn’t guess by the title) and still managed to call last night to let us know she was doing well and feeling good. She was even cracking jokes and asking for more pics of the grandkids so she could check them out online.
I hope I am even half as strong a woman as she is when I’m old enough to be known as “Grandma”.
Two battles down, one more to go.
A special thanks also goes out to “Nurse Grandpa”, who has been taking good care of our VIP patient.
This week I am working from my hometown, hanging with my parents. Sounds “normal”, but usually I would be hanging here with my whole circus, I mean family, including my hubby and two kids.
This time I made the trip solo because my mom starts her chemo treatment on Wednesday and I wanted to be here for moral support, and to help around the house. (My dad is great and has been helpful and very supportive, but sometimes thinks that relish, napkins and other items simply dance their way from the fridge to the dinner table on their own.)
I have done lots and lots of reading on what chemo is, food you can eat to fuel your body and prepare for chemo, and about potential side effects. (My mom and I are going wig shopping on Wednesday too.) But all the reading in the world does not prepare me for how to watch the woman who has given me more strength than anyone in this world suffer. How do you do that?
Maybe I will have an answer after this week, but I bet I won’t.
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