Carol

In June my sister Carol celebrated her 11th anniversary as a survivor of stage III breast cancer! I remember one morning after she was diagnosed and had started chemo she called me and said, “I just can’t die from this cancer, I was doing laundry and realized, Carl (her husband) can’t do laundry - I have to survive!”

We had a nice chuckle which made us both feel a little better! So today she continues to do laundry and all the other tasks we do daily, but she says “ I do them with a totally different attitude, I am just happy to be here today, healthy and happy.”

As we were talking about her cancer recently and she said to me: “I learned so much from this experience; it made me a different person. I worry a lot less about things today and I really am thankful every morning when I wake up.

Cancer makes you understand what is important and what isn’t. Cancer changed my life that is for sure, I never realized I could be so tired and still get out of bed and teach school. I always knew Carl (her husband) loved me, but when he told me I was beautiful even with my bald head and no breast, I realized how lucky I was. Friends and family that stayed with me through the long journey are special gifts that I no longer take for granted. Cancer is a journey I never want to take again, but a journey I will never forget.”

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