Illness Becomes Them

I think we are one of two groups of people.  We're either the ones who learn they have an illness, follow medical advice to get well, and go about living OR, we learn of an illness and we succumb to 'living sick.'  And although I can understand the latter happening, illness is just not within my nature to embrace.

Having already been hit with that cancer bus, I admit to being shocked and feeling physically and emotionally awful.  It took me time to learn again to feel well -- yes learn.  It was a cognizant decision on my part to accept wellness and although it took about six weeks before feeling physically almost normal, I strove to do so.  I refused to become fragile, sick, helpless.  It wouldn't have helped, anyway.  At one point the week after surgery, my husband was traveling and both girls were staying with me.  They asked if I wanted anything special to eat.  I did.  I craved cherry Jello.  They looked at each other blankly.  Neither 'knew' how to 'make' Jello.  What comfort that the half a million dollars spent in college educations for the two of them resulted in such genius!

But I digress... I credit the people around me -- mostly my mother and daughters with this 'healthy' attitude.  (While my husband was supportive and caring and loving, he was scared).  My mom (although frightened, too) continued to remind me that I heal quickly and as simple as this seems, it affected me.  My girls adamantly insisted that I had cancer (past tense), my doctor told me to get out of bed and walk a little each day because  for every day I spent immobile, it would take two more to regain my strength.  The attitude, the strength seeped through.