The Road to Radiation...Hitting the Storm

So on my treatment road, we have finally hit the storm. The side effects have kicked in. I’m so glad they decided to wait until after the holidays to start. :) On Tuesday, after my sixth radiation treatment, I took my first nap because I was so tired. It usually hits me around 2 or 3 in the afternoon, so this should be interesting when I start work again on Monday. It is the kind of tired where your eyes are heavy and you just need to shut them. That must be the sign that your body is telling you to rest so that it can rebuild itself. The other side effect is my sore throat. I first started to notice it when I tried to swallow a bite of hamburger and it felt like I was trying to swallow the whole hamburger! My throat feels like the hole is the size of a dime instead of a half dollar and just feels dry and raw. For the first time, I am drinking hot lemon water and honey and chewing more gum to keep my throat moist. Other than that, I can still eat pretty much anything, just not comfortably.

Things are starting to slow down again, the parties are all done and my decorations are coming down. Although I did keep one thing up. I bought a little 4 ft. lit up evergreen tree this year with some Christmas money to keep up throughout the winter months in an attempt to keep that holiday spirit somewhat alive. But that wasn't the only reason. This year was hard, obviously, and although my body was weaker than ever this year, I found out how strong I was on so many different levels...both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And this little tree reminds me of the The Oak Tree poem given to me by someone at my dad’s work…those Apollo people are so supportive and are more of a blessing then they know.

The Oak Tree
by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr

A mighty wind blew night and day
It stole the oak tree's leaves away
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark

But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around
The weary wind gave up and spoke.
How can you still be standing Oak?

The oak tree said, I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two
Carry every leaf away
Shake my limbs, and make me sway

But I have roots stretched in the earth
Growing stronger since my birth
You'll never touch them, for you see
They are the deepest part of me

Until today, I wasn't sure
Of just how much I could endure
But now I've found, with thanks to you
I'm stronger than I ever knew

Cancer showed me just how strong I, Laura Elizabeth, really am.

In a way, thank you cancer, for showing me my strength and how deeply rooted I really am.