Hi. I’m Kate. Turn ons include IV drips, PETscans, and organic fig newtons. Turn offs include whining, hospital gowns, and artificial sugar.
Let’s see how much life I can squeeze in between work, chemo, sleep, and scans.
Because I can.
I have done a lot of things in my life for a lot of different reasons. I ran the Marine Corps Marathon to test my endurance, hiked the Grand Canyon to test my mental and physical stamina, and went skydiving to feel the rush of adrenaline. I’ve even done a few things (that shall remain nameless) just to be a little rebellious. I always felt there had to be a reason, a justification for spending time, money, and energy on the activity. In all my life, it never occurred to me that ‘because I can’ was justification enough.
I was recently asked why I’m still working, going to the gym, or even brushing my teeth (ick!). I couldn’t think of a better reason than because I can. I’m energetic despite going through my fourth round of chemo (or is it fifth?), and, because of that, I feel an obligation to try to live my normal life. I see so many people at chemo who are struggling to eat, sleep, or simply breath. I don’t know why I feel so good, why I have this energy, but I refuse to take it for granted.
So, I go to work, I go swimming, and I brush my teeth…because I can.
On behalf of all of us who know and love you, thank you for continuing to brush your teeth!
I remember when my mom was going through chemo for ovarian cancer. After her treatments, ordinary tasks like propping herself up on the bed, drinking out of a glass, and brushing her teeth became as challenging and as difficult as climbing a mountain or hiking the Grand Canyon. For her, commonplace, everyday acts had become monumental tasks.
It was clear to me that by accomplishing one of these small feats, so simple for the rest of us, she could reclaim a little bit of the territory the chemo had taken away. She would spit a gob of toothpaste into the sink like she was planting a flag in the snow, and then she would step back, take it all in, and enjoy the hard-won view.
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