Beyond the fact that I had a conference in Dublin, Ireland, there was a second and much more powerful reason why my wife accompanied me on this trip. You see, it was two years ago on May 16th when a doctor told us that Lori had cancer.
It was in July 2011 when she had her surgery and it was shortly after that when they told us she had invasive cancer and would need chemo and much more... but the date of May 16 will be forever remembered by us as the day that everything changed.
To say that it's been two years of hell would be a mild understatement - and I've written about much of the trials of the first year as well as the subsequent treatment with Herceptin.
At this stage, the treatment continues - she has four more years of daily Tamoxifen pills with all the glorious fun of chemically-induced menopause, joint pain, ongoing fatigue and all the other side effects. As a spouse of someone going through it all, it's very tough to watch all that she is going through - all with the hope that it will be enough to keep her cancer away.
So on May 16th, we left my conference in Dublin behind and set out to explore Ireland and see what we could see... no plans, no schedules and not even any hotel rooms. Just the two of us and a rental car.
Each day we continue to seek out "the new normal", whatever that is, and to learn to live with this very unwelcome guest in our lives. This trip was our way to celebrate a dark anniversary and say in our own way that we will not let cancer win.
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Beautiful post, Dan. It's wonderful that you and Lori are taking this trip. I sincerely hope that the cancer is forever tamed.
Posted by: DonnaPapacosta | 05/19/2013 at 12:22 PM
Hard to believe its been two years already. My best to your both - you continue to be an inspiration for many and I congratulate you for sharing your journey. It is true that it's becoming far too common a story, but hearing about yours helps people keep cancer and its treatment in perspective. Have a great trip - you've earned it.
Posted by: Dave Traynor | 05/19/2013 at 02:54 PM