The past few months have been good and bad. On a personal level, everything is great. I am working with my trainers, Ben & Phil, 3 times per week since February and I am starting to feel the effects of the work that I am doing. Nobody told me that shaking my money maker would be so difficult. It is all worth it though.

I first met Kim the very first time she walked through the doors of Innovative Fitness. It was an afternoon of firsts. It was probably the first time she had set foot in a gym. It was most definitely the first time she had ever actually thought of joining one. It was my first time delivering a consultation to a cancer survivor. So, plenty of firsts all around.

March 2015.

Life is starting to return to normal. Physically, I look like I am back to my old self. My hair has grown in and I feel pretty good. The naturopathic treatments have done wonders in getting me back to my old self. They have restored my body back to almost normal. 

Kim’s made it through surgery, chemo and radiation. A massive feat.  Every day was a countdown … one bit closer to the finish line. And she did it.

“I am cancer free.”  I smile and nod but inside my heart sinks.  

April 2013.

It may seem weird to think that one would actually enjoy having an IV treatment twice a week, but this process has become extremely therapeutic. My new treatment plan is sooo different from chemo and radiation. This time I truly feel like I am putting good stuff into my body. 

Finding Kelly and Dr. Sanjay has been a wonderful blessing. Gradually, my fear begins to subside. They both have the most calming affect on all of the patients that come through the clinic. 

September 2012

During the week, I have a look at the Kelly’s Clinic website. I read her story of being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 38, undergoing surgery and chemo that wasn’t working, and then heading to Germany for alternative options. 

This little bird has been set free from The Agency. I should be really happy that “the journey” as they call it, is over. Yet I can’t help but feel that there is something more. This cannot be it. Cancer free? How do we know for sure?

September 2001. It’s a Monday. It’s also a Pro-D day. My youngest brother needs a new backpack. The last couple of months all of our focus had been on Mom, and any back-to-school shopping had been benched.

September 2012. This is my new normal. The journey, as they call it, has ended. Now what? I spent 9 months checking in at The Agency on a weekly basis. Now that it is complete, what happens next? 

April 2012. I made it! I literally moon-walked my way out of my last chemo treatment. I consider myself pretty resilient but seriously, the last four months nearly took me down. 

March 2012. Kim is a champion. Before starting chemo, we have an appointment at The Agency, where Carl and I get the Coles notes version of how to give her this daily injection she needs.

March 2012. I have successfully made it to the second half of my chemo plan. It is late March and I am about to start the second drug in my protocol – Taxol. Taxol is bright red, ‘the red devil’ as I like to call it. 

February 2012. Round Two. I am looking forward to getting this one done. I measure this process in time and percentages. After today, I will be 25% of the way through. Amazing!

March - June 2001. It’s official.  Mom has colon cancer.  Stage Four.  Here’s an interesting note.  Unless you have had a family history of colon cancer, you don’t qualify for a colonoscopy - hmmm.  

January 2012.  I am scheduled to start chemotherapy on January 30th. I grew up in a family of women filled with fear. We are pretty much afraid of EVERYTHING.

December 2011. I always love starting a new year. It feels like you’re shedding all of the bad stuff and leaping forward with a fresh new start.

December 2011. It has been three weeks since I found out that I have cancer. Too soon to tell the stage or grade of it. They will know more when they remove my breast.

November 2011. Kim and I’d only been working together for a couple of months when she got news that she had an aneurism and was having surgery.  I remember her telling me - she was so calm and collected.  I thought, an aneurism! That’s a BIG deal.

March 2001. Life is changing.  Chapters are closing and new ones beginning, and in between there’s a little space for some freedom.

June 2011. It’s June and my pain is back. It’s a deep-inside pain that stops me in my tracks and makes it hard to breathe. Sometimes it brings me to my knees.