This is a story that begins about four years ago. Brian and I had been married about nineteen years and had been unable to have children. We began looking into foreign adoption through a Russian orphanage. As we all know, life doesn't always go as planned.
During a routine Dr visit I told my Doc about my little dog Yoda jumping on my chest and making me sore. She wanted me to have a baseline mamogram just to make sure everything was o.k. Three weeks later I was told there was a problem. The problem turned out to be stage four breast cancer. Needless to say our plans for adoption were out of the question. During the course of my treatments we suffered another devastating blow. Brian had been laid off from his job without warning. Now we not only faced a life threatening illness, but the possible loss of our home as well. It was almost too much to bear.
After twenty rounds of chemo, including a new cancer suppression drug, experimental microwave therapy, surgery and radiation, I went into remission. This was only the medical part of our ordeal. I can honestly say I don't believe I would have survived without faith. I had countless numbers of people praying for me on a regular basis. That was a source of comfort and strength that I could not have done without. I also had my sweet Brian who cared for me with so much love and patience that he should be nominated for sainthood. I also had My mom-in-law Charlene and my friend Dawn, both cancer survivors, who gently guided me through all the insane and dark thoughts that are a very real part of cancer. Three other very special ladies, Julie, Darlene and Bettye made sure that my sense of humor was intact and refused to let me give into fear and grief. My family made sure that I knew how much I was loved. My Great nieces and nephews sent me a card each week for two years. I can't put into words my gratitude for all the people involved in my recovery. I was blessed with two of the most wonderful Doctors you could ask for. Dr. Lynn Clark and Dr. Frank Senecal. My nurses have the utmost compassion and care for their patients. I know that all of this would not have been possible without a lot of answered prayers.
After being out of work for five long months Brian finally found a wonderful job. Even though he wasn't working, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He was able to be with me every step of the way. I can't imagine going through this without him. He got me thru the deaths of my parents, now he was helping me fight for my own life. Yeah I know it's corny, but he completes me!
Skip ahead about two years and we're pretty much back to normal. Our friends Lars and Dawn inform us that they are going to adopt a child. I had a lot of mixed emotions when I heard this news. I was thrilled for them, but it also brought back the disappointment of our having to give up that dream. Lars made a point of telling Brian that Dawn had survived nine years af
ter her own battle with stage three ovarian cancer. He reminded Brian that there are no guaranteed tomorrows. I'm ashamed to say we had seen that as a reason not to try adoption. We were both unsure that Brian could handle being a single parent. Lars pointed out that it could just as easily be me raising a child on my own. He and Dawn urged us not to give up on our dream of having our own rugrat. I really hate to give him any credit and risk inflating his ego, but well, he really did a good thing. They were blessed with a beautiful little girl from Kazakhstan. Now we get to be aunt and uncle to Lauren, aka LuLu.
