Be it joy or tragedy, we learn a lot along the way. We learn to adapt, adjust, and plan where we can. Especially during unpredictable times, planning and adapting are key to managing the roller coaster, along with a good attitude and a desire to keep moving forward. We can’t change the destination, but we can moderate the journey.
Adapt As Best You Can
Unfortunately, those warnings about potential side effects that you hear during drug commercials are very real. For my sister battling ovarian cancer, one of the chemo drugs had the rare side effect of strokes. Yep, she had two last year, about six weeks apart, requiring two hospitalizations. The drug also caused internal bleeding, which has since required four more hospitalizations and remains an ongoing problem only mitigated by frequent blood transfusions. All of this has presented numerous hurdles that were never expected, but little adjustments and strategies along the way have helped make the situation more manageable.
For example, while spending days and nights with my sister at the hospital, one thing that really irked me was needing to drive home to bring in the mail! So, I soon learned – just have the post office hold it. I also switched all of my bills to online payments, so the delay in receiving paper mail is never a problem. These were simple adjustments that have removed burdens I don’t need.
Look for the Bright Spots
No one wants to spend countless hours receiving chemo or blood transfusions, but they’re better than the alternative! And, the times are best spent with a smile and a good attitude. In addition, we’ve gotten to know many nurses and support staff, sharing good conversations across the months with our new friends. This is not the path we would have chosen, but we’ve done our best to make the most of this journey.
Wishing Everyone a Peaceful and Joyous New Year