What a difference a year makes……
It was a year ago that we found out about Barb’s breast cancer. Two days before summer 2007 Tahoe trip. Barb was following through with another suspicious lump in her breast. She had already had a mammogram and was advised to get ultra-sound biopsy. The next day after the biopsy, the Dr. called Barb at work and told her to come to the office, “and please bring your husband”. UGH!! Barb calls me at home and we agree to meet at the Dr. office. A thousand questions. Hundreds of scenarios go through my mind. The doctor said that there was no doubt. Stage 2 cancer, IDC – invasive ductile carcinoma. The diagnosis spurns a flurry of craziness. Not only the darkest thoughts in your mind, but in reality as well. Appointments need to be made. Scheduling of tests that need to be taken. Surgery. Oncologists. Double mastectomy. Breast reconstruction. Chemotherapy. Hormone therapy. Is this really happenning to us?!?
Oh, wait, we have a weeks vacation in Tahoe starting day after tomorrow! . Rooms booked. Plans made, friends coming in from far and wide. Good times to be had. And, oh yea, Barb has cancer.
We arrived in Tahoe two days later. In Shock. Trying our best to deal with the news. We didn’t know if this would be our last Tahoe vacation as a family. We didn’t know how good, how bad the situation was. All we knew was IDC and that the year ahead would be a difficult one. Remember, Barb had just had a spinal fusion the previous December. She had been back to work only two months when we were hit with this. We took things one day at a time during her fusion recovery, and decided the best way to handle things moving forward would be to take things one day at a time again.
In a way, the vacation (and the cancer news) couldn’t have come at a better time. We shared the news with friends and family, and were surrounded by all of them during our vacation. We knew that the road ahead would be a bumpy one, but with the grace of God, our loving family, our good friends, and good vibes, we would survive.
All the while in Tahoe last year, we said (and I thought) that whatever Barb goes through, and we go through with her, that we will all get through it together, and we will be back in Tahoe for 4th of July in 2008 to celebrate. We knew that if we could get back to Tahoe for 4th of July 2008, that most everything would be behind us.
Well, WE MADE IT. The last year has been rough, but we made it! Barb still has some stuff going related to her surgery and side effects from all the meds she is on, but overall she is doing great. WE MADE IT!
