Every Thanksgiving I develop a certain pain in my chest that is unrelated to the big turkey dinner and pumpkin pie dessert. In an article entitled "Thanks," from Oncology Times, I discuss this pain:
"With our holiday of thanks approaching, I wonder if the ache is the swell of gratitude for the medicines and technology (and factors beyond comprehension) that enabled my survival. Or could it be my heightened appreciation for the simple things, a gratitude that nearly explodes inside my chest? If so, why does the sensation persist despite my prayers of thanks and savoring of ordinary moments?"
As I explain in the article, the 18th century moral philosopher, Adam Smith, was not a physician. But his writings helped me diagnose my pain.
So I've done my grocery shop in preparation for the sumptious dinner I'll serve Thursday evening to family and friends. Now it's time to lay out all the ingredients needed to treat the pain in my chest. The floor in my study will be a mess for a while. But when I'm all done, my study will be clean again. And the pain in my chest will be gone.
Wishing you all a meaningful and joyful Thanksgiving. With hope, Wendy
Wendy,
Thanks to you for what you have done and continue to do to promote a healthy survivorship.
Best wishes to you and your family
Michael
Posted by: Michael | November 25, 2008 at 05:33 PM
Dear Michael,
It's my honor.
As I tell my physicians and nurses, the best way I know to thank them for all they've done to help me become a Healthy Survivor is to help others find and follow a path to Healthy Survivorship.
With hope, Wendy
Posted by: Wendy Harpham | November 25, 2008 at 06:21 PM
Wendy, you've expressed how so many of us survivors feel on Thanksgiving and so many other happy days in our lives, when we're surrounded by family and friends. I'm so grateful I live during a time when cancer technology and treatment have become so successful that we have over 10.5 million survivors in this country.
To me, everyone who joins the Cancer Club receives unexpected blessings as well as the responsibility to pay it forward to survivors we meet. The more people I can educate about this complex and frightening disease, the more content I am.
God bless you and your family this holiday weekend.
Posted by: Lisa Thompson | November 25, 2008 at 08:21 PM
Dear Lisa,
Thank you for what you are doing to educate others. Cancer has certainly taught me the meaning behind, "'Tis better to give than to receive."
Enjoy the holiday, Wendy
Posted by: Wendy Harpham | November 26, 2008 at 06:48 AM