GOODBYES

Last month, I visited the Cancer Center for my regular monthly appointment and saw my oncologist of eight years for the last time. Dr. Saker has been my doctor since my initial cancer diagnosis in October 2016, but he is retiring at the end of this month. Saying goodbye was really tough.

 

When I first met Dr. Saker, I was a complete wreck. I had so many questions swirling in my head, and some I was too scared to ask because I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the answers. Thoughts about cancer, chemotherapy, surgery, and even death weighed heavily on me.

After having in-depth conversations with both Dr. Saker and Dr. Quill, the now-retired surgeon who performed my mastectomy, I began to feel much more reassured and hopeful about my future. Both doctors were everything I could have hoped for in my cancer treatment.

MORE GOODBYES

Yesterday was my final visit to the Lawrenceville office, where I have received my treatments since the beginning of this journey.

It was an emotional moment for me as I had to say goodbye to two amazing individuals who have played a significant role in my experience: Wan Yang, PA-C, and Lisa. Over the years, Wan has provided me with invaluable medical expertise, genuine concern, and kindness. It will take at least three or four people to fill his shoes at SHO!

When you walk into the Infusion Suite, the first person you see is Lisa. She is always there with a smile and a warm hug! I’m not even sure what her official job title is, but I genuinely believe that her smile and kind heart have the power to cure many ailments. Lisa is also a breast cancer survivor herself. Since I'll be getting treatments at a new location, I won't see Lisa regularly, which makes me sad.

However, I will definitely visit her whenever I’m in the area!

Lisa and Pam

I’ll miss many people at Suburban Hematology Oncology in Lawrenceville, GA, but saying goodbye to Dr. Saker, Wan, and Lisa really hits differently.

After a very emotional morning filled with tears, I decided that a bit of whipped cream on my coffee in the Survivor mug was just what the doctor ordered!

Tom Brady Retired

Okay, so I knew there was a very real possibility Tom Brady would soon retire....again. But I was still really sad to hear the news this morning. 

I love Tom Brady, AKA My Tommy, but man....it's like he's just trying to ruin my Birthday...AGAIN?! My BD is February 4th...like he couldn't wait a few more days to make me sad???

I'm sure this will sound silly to many of you, but I credit Tom Brady for helping me through some tough times since I was first diagnosed with breast cancer.

I grew up in GA but was never a fan of NFL football. Ray and I attended one Atlanta Falcons game in the early 80s when we were given free tickets for the Falcons Clubhouse, complete with unlimited free drinks and food! Fuzzy Navels made the evening fun, but I don't think I watched a single play of the actual game! 

Even though my son played football from the age of 6 until he graduated college, and I attended the games, I never learned the rules of the game and didn't know what was going on most of the time. When asked what position Nick played, I would say, "I don't know, but he looks adorable in his uniform!" LOL

While living in CT, my family became New England Patriots fans, and I would occasionally sit and watch a Pats game with them. I did enjoy watching Brady, Gronk, Edelman, and a few other players. Still, I usually found something more interesting to do!

EMBRACING FOOTBALL AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

Then, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and started my chemo treatments in early October 2016, just when football season was heating up.

I was housebound most of that time because chemo treatments left me so immunocompromised, and I would get pretty bored while Ray and Conor watched football all day on Sunday. And along with the boredom came too much time to think and stress over breast cancer!

So, one Sunday afternoon, I was just so bored that I decided to join the guys in watching a Patriots game, and it was actually pretty exciting!

I actually started to look forward to gamedays! Pretty soon, I even understood the game! And I was becoming a big Patriots fan!

WEARING MY PATS HAT ON CHEMO DAY

It didn't take me long to become a rabid Tom Brady fan! I learned that Tom's Mom was also undergoing breast cancer treatments then. He often spoke about his Mom with such love and concern during that time, making me like him even more.

OLD??

I kept hearing people talk about how Tom was just SOOOO old, and they constantly speculated on how long he could continue to play at his "advanced old age?" Man, that really pissed me off! Good grief! If he was old...what the heck did that make me??

I've never known what it feels like to be a real athlete, but I used to run (and I use the term 'run' very loosely) marathons. 

Once when discussing my running with a doctor, he looked at me and said, "Let's say you are an old used car with limited mileage left. Would you want to use those miles up by running marathons??" WTH?? Did he just call me an old used car?? Every time I crossed a finish line after that conversation, I would yell, "F U stupid doctor!" 

So no, I don't know what it feels like to be an athlete, especially one who is the GOAT! But I know what it feels like to be told you should give up doing something you love simply because of your age. 

At some point, my mantra became...."We, old guys, are gonna keep going! We are gonna keep winning! We are not done yet! We have a lot more left to do! We've GOT THIS!"

At the end of each season, I say, "C'mon, Tom, you HAVE to keep fighting, playing, and winning! I  need you to come back for another season!" 

So, I guess Tom's hanging in there with football, and my hanging in there with my breast cancer treatments possibly became a bit entangled in my head! But what can I say? It was an emotional time! 

BRADY FAN FOREVER

I loved Brady when he played for the Patriots, and I continued to support him when he moved to Tampa Bay. Heck, I named my puppy Brady! 
I am still a Patriots fan, but first and foremost, no matter which jersey he wears, I am a Brady fan!

    
 
BUCKET LIST EVENT
 
I never thought I would see Brady play a game in person, but Ray and I were able to attend a Bucs vs. Falcons game in Atlanta last year! It was definitely a huge bucket list event for me! We had great seats and just a wonderful time all around!


                          

Brady and Gronk

                                                            

My Selfie With TB12!

So, I was sad to hear the retirement announcement, and I will miss seeing Brady on the football field.
 
I was talking to my BBF Deb this morning about the announcement and how important watching Tom play became to me during such a difficult time. I told her, "It's almost as if  God sent me comfort when I needed it most....in the form of Tom Brady and football!" Yeah, weird, I know, but God works in mysterious ways!

PS. Dear, Tom-You can always change your mind. Again! PLEASE????!!