A little bit of madness...

This past month has been full...of good things and hard and hearting breaking things. About four weeks ago one of my very best friends was diagnosed with breast cancer. The statistic are that one in four women develop breast cancer, so I should have been more prepared that one of my friends, or myself, could receive this diagnoses. But like everything, you think it is never going to happen to you. She immediately went into surgery to remove the cancer and then started chemotherapy treatments. I have spent time learning about her type of breast cancer, the odds, the degrees and progression rates; about chemotherapy specific to her type of breast cancer, side effects, wigs, hair replacement systems...endless amount of information. What I found to be most surprising during this experience was the number of moments you could still find laughter, generosity, inspiration, and moments of gratitude. When the man at the hair replacement center found out she had breast cancer he only charged her $200 for what is normally over a $1,000. He was the most soft spoken and gentle and caring man I have come across. You won't even be able to tell it is not her hair. My friend decided to go fabulous through this whole thing. The first day of chemo she shows up dressed to the nines and with a fantastic bright shade of red lipstick! Chemo be damned! :) She has taken charge of how she acts and reacts to this process. Nothing is going to keep her from being true to herself. Can there be a better friend to have in your life?! She has been more brave and much stronger than anyone around her. I admittedly fell apart. The thought of not having her in my life was overwhelming, and the feeling that there is not anything you can do but be by her side was frustrating. These are the trials you want to take from the people you love. She was hell bent on me, and everyone else, pulling themselves together. She's been reading and editing and making suggestions on my paper for class. Its been great because I am writing about nutrition to help prevent disease and we are finding many supplements and foods to support chemo and reduce the risk of her cancer returning. I did become a bit jaded to my perspective on chronic disease prevention. My girlfriend lives a clean and healthy life style. Her only vice is a glass or two of wine on the weekend, but red wine is known for having positive health benefits. She is the last person I would ever suspect to develop cancer. I have learned that some things are out of control, but you still need to make choices every day to live a healthy and full life. My boyfriend suprised me when he came to visit over Labor Day Weekend. Knowing I needed a break from sadness and worry he took me up to the mountains on a long hike and proposed. It was wonderful to have a moment of joy during this time and I love him for realizing this and changing that day in my life.

My paper is nearly complete and I am feeling really good about it so far. I just need to focus in on the nutrional supplements I would like to highlight and figure out the conclusion. I am struggling to rephrase my thesis statement. I did find a great article today from a medical journal that nearly supports every aspect of my paper and I think I am going to adapt that to fuel my conclusion.

I am grateful for amazing friends who inspire me and push me to keep living the life I need to. I am grateful for an amazing man who knows me and supports me and offers me stability and constant comfort. I am grateful for the opportunity of education. It is empowering and motivating. I am grateful for those doctors and scientists who work hard at research and medical practices to help those afflicted with chronic disease. I am grateful to have a healthy body and know I cannot take it for granted. It's all about living in the moment and pushing yourself to be the kind of person you want to be. I am grateful for the many people in my life who are daily examples of this and who remind me to always be true to me.