20 October 2015

Learning to Fly

 First off, I want to say thank you everyone for your outpouring support, prayers, and love. It is just so wonderful and I am humbled by the generosity and love from people all over the world. I am reminded once again what an amazing community I have around me, both near and far. I am one lucky person. If I don't get to your messages right away, I apologize, this has just kind of been a lot on my family and myself.

   Yesterday I had posted that I would be going to Baylor for treatments. That has changed for now. I leave Sunday for Tulsa, OK to go to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America for my initial evaluation, diagnostic testing, and a treatment plan. This first visit will cost nothing. I also get to take my children with me. They have family guest rooms just like at a hotel, they offer a game room, and board games for all of the kids and KB and I to do together. I will be there for approximately 3-5 days.

   As for how I am feeling...well, I am in a lot of pain and my emotions are all over the place.

   I am so ready to fight. I know I am strong, and I know I can make it through this. I feel really, really sad that my family has to go through this mess. It is especially hard for my mother and my eighteen year old son. Poor KB has had to take me to the Emergency Room more times than I can count. Nobody should ever have to experience any of this.

   I am totally dumbfounded that this is happening, and I wish I could point to a cause. There is a part of me, deep down, that is absolutely, completely, paralyzingly terrified. Terrified of possible outcomes that I don't even want to give a voice to. Terrified of walking into hell, but at least my eyes are wide open with the knowledge of just how dark this road can actually be.

   Is it better to know?

   I walk willingly through any fire....just please let me live. 

  I am reminded of a Tom Petty song called "Learning to Fly". 

Well I started out down a dirty road
Started out all alone
And the sun went down as I crossed the hill
And the town lit up, the world got still

[Chorus:]
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing

Well the good ol' days may not return
And the rocks might melt and the sea may burn

[Chorus]

Well some say life will beat you down
Break your heart, steal your crown
So I've started out for God knows where
I guess I'll know when I get there

I'm learning to fly, around the clouds
But what goes up must come down

   So as you can see, I think every cancer patient can relate.. We all have started down a dirty road and thought we were alone. We have to relearn how to live, a different way. "But the good ol' days, may not return", means our lives have been changed forever.We don't necessarily have the same opportunities we used to, but we don't have to stay down. We can "learn to fly, around the clouds". We can learn to live with this illness we have, and still be happy. 

   "Well some say life will beat you down, Break your heart, steal your crown".  No kidding!  This song to me is about losing a life we can never get back.   But we learn to deal with it.   We get back up, and we keep going.  It's about acceptance of our situation, no matter what it is.  I think Tom Petty is pretty much a genius, regardless of what the original meaning of the song is.  It's one of my all time favorites.  Just had to share.  I hope we can all Learn to Fly, even if we don't have wings...








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