Month of Grattitude

There is a facebook campaign for people to spread out their gratitude for the entire month of November. People share the items that they are thankful for. Everyday, without needing to post a new "status" I am reminded of something I am thankful for. And most of my gratitude starts with "Well, this time last year...". Everything when compared to getting ready for the 3rd round of chemo lends itself to a grateful situation. It also is a great self motivation technique. Don't want to go to the gym? Remember self, you were only able to run twice in three weeks this time last year. And off I go to they gym. Thankful that I can.

Another thing I am grateful for? Hair cuts. They are still uproariously fun. I mean I giggle like a little kid throughout the entire time. This month, my new hair grew back so thick that I actually needed it thinned. HA! I needed my hair thinned. BC (before cancer) my hair couldn't have been any thinner. My hair has straightened out a lot in the past two weeks. I am still fascinated to see what texture each week brings. Grateful, however, for the full head of hair.

I have said it many times before, but I am thankful that the cancer I had was one of the most treatable and well studied cancers. I am grateful for the response (and utter decimation to cancer) the surgery, drugs and radiation provided. Working in a hospital and seeing the horrible things that cancer can do to people makes your grateful. When a patient from about a year ago, who was starting her cancer treatment around the same time as you, comes back in with a recurrence and metastasis, you are grateful to the point of tears for the way your cancer hand was dealt. When you and the attending physician shed some tears together over the patient's prognosis, you are thankful for everything in your life, but mostly you are grateful for life.  

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This year I am working on Thanksgiving day. It's my turn and I am 100% sure that I will feel better than I did "this time last year". Especially, because I will not have had a chemo infusion and nuelasta shot. I am still grateful for my Mom's mashed potatoes and still ready to eat 2x my body weight worth of said potatoes.

Happy Thanksgiving