My Favorite Holiday

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday - I love the lights, the trees, the snow, all the family returning home to share memories, meals and gifts. This year, especially, I am thrilled to be celebrating Christmas.

On December 8, 1998, I had the final of my three surgeries: my MRM (modified radical mastectomy). I celebrate 12/8 as my date of NED (no evidence of disease). It has been 5 years and what a 5 years it has been!

I'm writing this on Long Island where we are now in the midst of a blizzard warning - we have 11" of snow already and the worst is yet to come. I'm sipping tea, cozy in my den, and happy.

So many things have happened in the past 5 years - my daughter graduated college (the weekend before my last round of chemo), my youngest son began college last year, I got divorced (that was a good thing for me), I moved (I love my new condo), I acquired a new kitten (bringing my total to 5), my daughter got engaged (they're getting married this spring)and my dad developed colon cancer. My dad was never a great talker, but since his diagnosis, surgeries and on-going chemo, we have grown closer. He can discuss things with me about how he feels that he's afraid to burden my mom with. The family is staying strong to give him strength. Please pray for him and my mother.

Thanksgiving 1998, I was in the hospital for a week with a bout of cellulitis (details in a much earlier article)- this Thanksgiving I was celebrating in Hawaii with 3 dear friends. My first trip to the "Big Island", my first vacation without kids or husband since I was in college - it was wonderful! I remember 5 years ago, I was afraid 1998 would be my last Christmas. Five years is generally considered the significant anniversary for breast cancer - I am happy to have achieved that goal. And yet, as a breast cancer advocate, I know that there are no miracle cures, no perfect dates - I have had friends and colleagues who succumbed to the disease within the first year, and others who had a recurrence 15 years out from their diagnosis. As each year passes by, I grow strong and have a renewed sense that I must continue to share stories about breast health, cancer and urge others to do the same and continue to raise funds for research.

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