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One Hundred BlessingsApr 21 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Kemo Shark is a wonderful work. It explains many of chemotherapy's side effects [hair loss, fatigue, etc.] in an understandable and non-threatening manner.
I had always planned that my 100th posting was going to be happy and uplifting. In fact, I had worked and reworked several drafts focused on the theme of 100 blessings. Sometime, however, life just has a way of rearranging our priorities for us. Well, here is number 100. It is neither what I had intended nor is it particularly happy. As for uplifting – I guess that depends on your perspective. My father was one of six siblings who lived to adulthood. Between that six-pack – they parented 19 children over a span of 18 years. [Babies were a frequent product of the post World War II years!] Most of “The Cousins” spent our early days growing up together in Fall River, Massachusetts. While we are now scattered widely across this great land, we remain pretty close. Many of “The Cousins” manage to link up at least once a year or so for some family occasion. [SurgRN911 and I particularly like weddings and births.] Besides the usual Christmas greetings, many of us call each other at birthdays. We elders taunt the younger about their advancing age and the younger tease us about being “older than dirt”. All in good family fun, I can assure you. Yesterday was the 48th birthday of one of “The Cousins”. I figured I would give her a shout and ask if she were finally old enough to sit “at the big kids’ table”. I knew that she was having the big “H” [hysterectomy] performed earlier in the week so waited until this morning to call. She was her usual perky self and we spent the first few minutes in our traditional verbal joust. Then followed the obligatory “How is [16 year old] doing in high school?” and “What is up with that [6 year old] of yours?” “Well Gung”, she replied, “we’re all reading Kemo Shark.” What in blazes is that, I asked, a new Jaws sequel? “No Cuz, it seems that my plumbing was not all that had corroded inside.” “Besides ovaries, uterus, and other assorted female parts, the surgeon took out what else he could safely remove.” “I start aggressive chemotherapy next week.” “We’re using Kemo Shark to help prepare the girls for all the side effects I’ll experience from the chemotherapy.” “We are hoping that Kemo Shark can buy me some time – maybe even another five years.” “But frankly, my oncologist says that the odds are not good.” I was speechless! When I finally caught my breath we talked on for the better part of an hour. Not once did she lament her diagnosis, blame God, curse the medical profession, or scream “Why me?” She told me that her greatest ally in the battle with cancer was neither chemo nor surgery – but attitude. She said, “I told my surgeon about your Dad, Gung.” “Remember, after his cancer diagnosis they said he wouldn’t be around to make the next 6 month check-up”. “What was it, 17 years that he kept proving them wrong?” “Sorry, Cuz, but I’m going to break your Dad’s record!” Lord, one of “The Cousins” could sure use that 101st blessing right about now. Please help her break that record! I know that Dad won’t mind. [NOTE: Kemo Shark was written by a doctor and breast cancer survivor. It is designed to explain the side effects of chemotherapy to children. The hero is Kemo Shark who swims about the body and gobbles up the bad cells. I heartily recommend Kemo Shark. You can access it for yourself by going to http://cancer.med.upenn.edu/psychosocial/books/kemo.shark.] © 2001  |
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