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Post by msweeney on Apr 24, 2008 14:32:19 GMT -6
I'm going to take a page from Joel's notebook and ask a question of the group. I just congratulated Cindy on her good news from her recent MRI. I always felt so good when I got back a good test result and, as I mentioned to Cindy, I suppose it is because I will always rember getting the bad news from my first MRI.
The year and half between my diagnosis and my surgery was a tough time. My recovery from surgery had some real hard spots. Lots of reasons to get sad, discouraged and frustrated. It seems funny to think about celebration around anything that has to do with my SCT. But I have decided to have a celebration when I hit my three year anniversary (Sept. 28th).
So here is my Joel-like question. What have you done to celebrate your milestones or significant moments in recovery? They can be big or little celebrations, or just good memories from your journey beyond SCT surgery. Maybe by sharing our thoughts we will all become better at undertanding how far we have come and appreciating our fortitude and determination to not let SCT's steal hapiness from our lives! Maybe we should collectively declare an SCT Survivor Holiday, known only to our group but confering special status to go out and do something kind for yourself and those that helped you along the way.
Matt
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Post by Linda51 on Apr 24, 2008 19:34:48 GMT -6
Well, for myself I have had 13 anniversary and I have two anniversary a year since I been through 2 surgeries. The first 5 years I would have sad ones because i was thinking more or less of the things this tumor took away but also very thankful that it wasn't any worse. Back then there wasn't any website like this so it was like you was all alone even though I had met two sweet ladies from Florida so I knew I wasn't the only person with this.
By the time I had my seventh anniversary I wanted to do something that I thought would never be possible and that was to climb up a mountain in NC. It was hard to do and I had to have help because of the rocks but I did it and had no major accidents but will never try it again once was enough to say I did it.
This year my anniversary going take place at the conference it not going be my actual date but it will marked my 9th year since I saw my wonderful neurosurgeon. He is my hero and he just an awesome doctor and to see him again and for him to see how far I have come just going make this year anniversary more memorable. Also, it going be great to introduced my SCT friends to him.
Anniversary are great to have and it okay to be sad but there is also some good things to remember as well. As times goes on you find yourself thinking less about all the bad and you appreciate all the good that has come out of it. If you never had the bad you wouldn't know how to appreciate all the good things we have.
~Linda
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Post by Joel on Apr 25, 2008 13:38:43 GMT -6
A Survivors' Holiday!! Can we get off work? Linda--can you write to my boss? haha!!
Seriously this is a great idea. Maybe it could be scheduled to occur at each conference!
To tell you the truth, I've probably spent my holidays trying to FORGET! But probably, that is not too healthy. I need to keep looking on the bright side.
Joel
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Post by deirdre612 on May 4, 2008 19:57:46 GMT -6
I'm coming up on my 10 year anniversary of the first surgery in July this year, its quite a significant number, so I think I'll celebrate by going out and doing something physical, just because I CAN! I've never really 'celebrated' up until now because its something that is significant to me and my husband, but most other people have no idea what we went through. I try and remember on the day and give myself a 'mental high five' for everything I've achieved since then, but having had 2 surgeries its easy to forget! Not this year though, regardless of the weather I'm going to go out for a run, because 10 years ago there is no way I could have even considered it.
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Post by 8338 on May 6, 2008 21:01:42 GMT -6
Matt,
I don't know- when I get that email from Dr. Jallo, as soon as he reads my scans, I panic before opening it up. When I read the good news, I am at work so I share this with everyone but they don't know how exciting this is. Then I call my husband and family and boys. I then say prayers of thanks.
Barb
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Post by rubestr3 on May 7, 2008 7:46:12 GMT -6
I just reached my 10 year anniversary mark! I started celebrating in the parking lot of the Imaging Center when I picked up my MRIs. The first thing I do is tear into them, read the report and look at my films. Then....I turn up the radio and take off singing and bouncing in the car! It was just two days ago, and sunny and warm up here in NW PA! Perrrfect!
Some chocolate and wine are in order! Haven't yet figured out what to do this year to celebrate....
I can't remember what I did last year! Since the operation, my memory is not so good....
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Post by Jody on May 11, 2008 18:07:49 GMT -6
I celebrated my first anniversary by having a baby. I was in the hospital in labor and Zack missed being born on July 23rd by 56 minutes. Ha Ha. July will be 17 years - I haven't formally celebrated once. I guess because I'm too busy. It's on my mind, but I've never done anything special.
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