Good Morning.

A wee little reminder popped up on my calendar today. It's been there since January 10, 2013.


"Chemo Anniversary Date"

On this day, 13 years ago now, I was heading back to Mount Auburn Hospital, there to hand back in my infusion pump for the last time. For better or for worse, I successfully completed the course of treatment, although the "Cancer-Free" diagnosis would not come for another year.

It remain astonishing to me that all of this even happened. Sometimes it feels like a dream, other times I'm acutely aware of it.

After my treatment was finished, it took a very long time to recover. I had CIPN, or 'chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy', something I still have lingering aftereffects today. Fine motor skills - buttons still sometimes give me trouble. My right foot never really recovered. I have had metatarsalgia for about a dozen years, and the ball of my foot has been swollen for so long, I now have a callous in that area. For 18 months after my treatment was finished, I had crushing fatigue, and even walked with a cane for about a year.

But nevertheless - it beats the alternative.

Those things I was so worried about during cancer? Well....Javier made his Eagle. He graduated High School. Went to the college of his choice and graduated Cum Laude. He's even got a pretty serious relationship with a fine lady going on. (This is giving me pause - he's basically told me that while they are thinking about it, neither one of them can afford to get married or even get their own apartment together at this time. Thanks, Donald!) A blog for another day.

So, here I am. Still standing, and still always moving forward like a shark, to survive.

Today I'm off to Grand Lodge in Boston. I was recently named to the District Service Team for my Masonic region, and I'm off for training and fellowship in my new role.