“You have cancer,” the nurse said to me over the phone that day.
I started crying, my legs got weak, and I barely heard what she was telling me.
Then she says, “Are you okay?”
Am I okay? Really! I was home alone. I had just walked through the door after getting home from work. I was petting my cat and scared that I was going to get “the call” at any moment. I was afraid this illness was going to kill me.
Several months before this, my doctor had taken me off the medicine that was controlling my cancer. She ignored me when I told her about the nodules just because she couldn’t feel them. Instead of sending me to the specialist then, she ignored me and removed the medicine from my list. That was a huge mistake because they grew back and grew back fast. To shine a light on this, when I had first been diagnosed with thyroid disease in 1999, I had only two suspicious nodules. By the time I was seen by the specialist in early 2007, I had 11, two of which were cancerous.
That day I finally had confirmation that I wasn’t lazy or fat for no reason. I get why they called instead of having me come into their office, but her words were still so thoughtless and devastating. She had just handed me what I thought would be a death sentence and asking me, “Are you okay?” No, I wasn’t okay! I was overwhelmed with fear. I don’t know how I kept it together long enough to get through the call.
I remember calling my dad after hanging up with her and sobbing so incoherently that he brought my mom home from work. He didn’t know what was going on and couldn’t understand me. They were home in minutes.
Moms are the best. They know what you need to bring you the comfort you need to make it through any crisis, even when they don’t know what to do themselves. I needed my mom at that moment. She was my saving grace that day. I’ve told my story of why I relay on my blog before so you can check out the full story there, but I just wanted to remind people that when you’re helping someone through a crisis, mind your words. You never know how they’ll affect someone or what trials they are going through.
This pic reminds me of a lazy spring day where all of your problems disappear for a few hours. I wish I had a place like this in my backyard… It’s amazing! Have a good day, Adventurites! Laters! ~LA
See on Flickr.
Credits:
The Little Branch – Forest Pansy Tree v2{Animated} 4 Seasons Pack – Cosmopolitan
The Little Branch – Moon Flower Tree{Animated}MultiFlowers Pack – Equal10
Sahi Designs – Lavinia Library – Oversized Wall Clock – SL Home & Garden Expo – Hope 2
Sugarfish – Heart Mobile – SL Home & Garden – Hope 4
Darkmatter – Washtub Dish Planter – H&G Hope 4
Butterfly Trellis – SL Home & Garden – Hope 4
Spiral Bell Chime – SL Home & Garden – Hope 4
Dreamin’ Leaf Studios – Atelier Chalkboard Sketches – SL Home & Garden – Hope 4
Atelier Canvas Rack – SL Home & Garden – Hope 4
Game Room: Backgammon Set – SL Home & Garden – Hope 4
Widdershins – Triquetra Coffee Table – SL Home & Garden – Hope 4
Little 2 Large – French Quarter Serving Cart – SL Home & Garden – Hope 8
French Quarter Wall Decor, Multi Flowers – SL Home & Garden – Hope 8
French Quarter Tiled Planter – SL Home & Garden – Hope 8
French Quarter Set – Chair, Regular – SL Home & Garden – Hope 8
French Quarter Set – Table, Regular – SL Home & Garden – Hope 8
[SURPLUS MOTORS] Fellbach Turbo – SL Home & Garden – Hope 9
Raindale – Twinklespark – single candle
Anc Ltd. – Garden by anc dotty wild grass {colorful} 1prim ring
What Next – Lucia Summer House (with lights)
What Next – Sunflowers Bicycle Decor
Flowers & Things – Log Planter with Blue & WhiteLobelia
Flowers & Things – Log Planter with Fuchsias & Ferns
Keke – summer party flowers . blush