Dear Dawn,
Today will be a pivotal day in your life. You will get a phone call from an oncology nurse that will change a lot of things around you and inside of you, but it won't change who you are. You know deep down inside that you can get through hard things--you have always known that. Today and in days to come that will be put to the test. Always remember that you're stronger than you think you are.
Over the next year you will find yourself surrounded by the most remarkable support system. You won't be able to escape it. It will be as overwhelming as the news you received today about your cancer. This amazing group will be made up of your husband, your children, your families, your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers, your fellow church members and even complete strangers. They will encourage you with hugs, phone calls, gifts, text messages, emails, cards, food and prayers that will keep you going through the most difficult days. Let that group of people help you even when it's hard to accept it. Some days the help might be something that's equally important for them to do as it is for you to receive. Don't be too proud to take the help that's lovingly offered to you.
Rest assured, you will be tended to by the most amazing doctors. They will be more than doctors, they will become your friends, your team members. You will cry in their offices and laugh at their jokes. They will look you in the eyes and tell you that they can help you and they will mean it. They will ask you where your strength comes from. Don't ever, ever miss an opportunity to tell them where your strength and comfort comes from.
You're going to pound your fists on your steering wheel and cry hot, angry tears when you hear this difficult news. Get it out. Tell God how angry you are and how it doesn't seem fair to your little family. He can handle it. He created every cell in your broken body and he's catching every tear in his very capable hands. In the next year you will learn to love and rely upon him more than you ever dreamed possible. He will be there in the cold, dark nights and he will greet you each morning with a fresh day. He will bring you emails, cards and conversations at the exact moment that you need them. He will make your witness strong and will give you so many opportunities to encourage people even as you struggle.
Here's the truth, chemo will suck. I mean really, really suck. Night 4 will be the worst. On those Monday nights you will cry yourself to sleep. You will feel awful physically and emotionally. The darkness will be heavy. Let that be your day to sink into the sadness. Let it go dark for a while because I promise you the sun will rise again the next morning. Trust me.
You will come to love those people who work with you at the oncology clinic. They will totally be able to sense that you're not a big fan of being part of their club and they will kindly serve you and tend to you in spite of your stand-offish ways. After a year, they will greet you by name and you will ask them about their kids. Take a minute to talk to the chatty lady next to you who's got the battle scars of a tough cancer road. Let her encourage you. In a year, you'll be the one telling someone that they're in good hands and they'll be just fine.
And don't be too hard on yourself. This year you will be tempted to handle your cancer and your obstacles better than anyone else ever has. You're going to be crabby and short with your kids. Your house is going to get messy and the laundry will pile up. Go to bed early when you need it. Just for the record there is no special prize for being the best at handling tough days. The gift is getting through them and getting a new one each morning.
You know how your brother once told you that he liked to climb mountains because he wanted to see how hard he could push himself. It's going to be that kind of year. This year will force you to dig deep and figure out where your strength comes from. You will learn to love, love, love the verse, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." You will feel weak, but you will also feel God's power. Your roots will be growing deep even when your leaves are scattered on the cold ground.
Last but not least. You will laugh. Read that again because you're not going to believe it today, but you will laugh often. You will feel joy, real joy. Soak in those times and use them to get you through the days where laughter doesn't come as easily. Remember when the kids were little and everyone was crabby and Eric would say at the dinner table, "I don't think we've had a good laugh today yet" and we would force ourselves to laugh until it kicked in and we were all really laughing. Do that. A lot.
So in closing, hang in there. When you're sad be really sad and when you're happy don't apologize for it.
And not to spoil the ending, but everything's going to be alright.
Love,
Dawn
PS. You're going to love your new boobs and cute bras are definitely in your future.
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