For the past 13 months I have been following Becky’s experience with glioblastoma. On 23 December I wrote her a letter. That letter and her reply are below.
Following surgery yesterday, Becky finds herself on the very edge of a precipice. My prayer for her and her loved ones is that the wings that have carried me will also carry them. I know that this prayer has been answered already.
Hi Becky
I’ve been meaning to get in touch for a little while now but, like you just recently, I was searching for the words.
I just wanted to let you know what a blessing you have been to me through sharing your experience with cancer. Reading your story, my reaction was always, “She is so positive and appreciative of everything (not to mention really funny)! I hope that if I ever have to face a similar challenge, I’ll face it with the same mindset.”
Well, my opportunity came sooner than I could have imagined. In August I was diagnosed with breast cancer. During the three weeks between finding the lump and being told it looked suspicious (imaging indicated malignancy), there were some very dark, terrifying moments. But all the while I was confident that I would be ok; I had Someone more powerful than cancer on my side. And I thought of you. You showed me that a cancer diagnosis doesn’t have to mean living the rest of one’s life as if it was already over. You taught me that being grateful in the horribly difficult times as well as in the good times is important and healing.
I must confess there was a moment in those three weeks when I articulated the thought: “I’m not like Becky. I can’t be like Becky. I don’t need to put pressure on myself to be someone I’m not.” But that moment passed and I found that it was possible, not to be someone I’m not, but to draw inspiration from someone else and to learn and grow from their example.
So I want to thank you, my friend, for sharing the essence of who you are with the rest of us who are also dealing with the curve balls life throws at us. Thank you for being real and honest and vulnerable. I love you for it and I am grateful.
I am writing a blog for family and friends to follow my progress, but it’s also proving helpful to me. So far it’s been progress reports since my treatment started and I haven’t told the full story yet. Again, I’m looking for the words and the courage to be honest and vulnerable. It will come.
May I include your name when I come to tell the story from the beginning? You are an important part of my story.
Thank you.
Sending love to you and J and wishing you the best in the new year.
x
Becky’s reply:
This is such a kind note and thank you so much! I am so sorry to hear of your breast cancer. I have several friends coping with that right now and it is always a hard thing. I have been genuinely lucky with the relative ease of treatment, and that has made it easier to be positive and upbeat! My major problem still is ready [reading] so I had to have J read your note aloud to me. I will have him read your blog to me as much as possible (I'm excited you're doing this!) but I try [not] to raise expectations about how quickly I will respond to anything I have to process visually. Hope you have an awesome Christmas and New Year! Love to everyone. Oh, and yes, you can use my identity, my name if you like.
