Victory,
or,
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Edit: This is me after my first brain surgery; a craniotomy. This was followed by cancer, a 98 car pileup, and a second brain surgery. Life isn’t just strange it is down-right surreal and as I lie here recovering from steroid shots around the spinal cord that allow me to walk fairly well I realize it also is what we make of what we have left and it can be damn good if you work hard enough.
dunelight 
Thank you for sharing your truly inspirational story. Wishing you good health!
Thank you. 🙂
Wow, Wow, Wow! I had no idea. You certainly have not let any of these challenges stand in your way. You are so active I would have never known! I too am a cancer survivor (breast) and started my Pacific crossing as soon as I was able post my fourth surgery. Ya only live once.
The only way to move is forward! The brain surgeries, back surgeries, surgery surgeries were hard, I was very, very lucky with the Cancer. I had the easiest but was in denial for..what..10 years or more. Every time the doctor would mention it I would look him in the eye and say, “Nope, no God would be so mean as to give a person cancer after making them trek through cerebral hemorrhage and brain surgery.” I denied it for years so he called it my throat lumps.
The wry truth is that that is exactly the kind of stuff God finds hilarious. We get through it and make our own joy. :p I have had to let go of things I love, careers I loved, but just now I am really enjoying learning sailing and the life I’m carving out by the shore. No one knew my handicaps when I started. I’ve proved myself. It’s great when the helmsmen buys you beer after cussing you out for being such a noob. 🙂 And now I am on race committee..there will always be a boat for me.
…you’ve certainly risen to the challenges bestowed upon you and are enjoying a great life as a result. UNSTOPPABLE!
Oh man, you have been through the mill. Obviously you were destined for loads more time on this amazing planet. I’m a survivor too, makes you truly appreciate what you have. Sending you healing hugs..
Survivors…we have had our loves taken and our dreams shattered, our human dignity compromised while our very bodies betrayed us and we keep moving forward. We make our own joy and have a great deal of compassion for others who aren’t even from our own ‘tribe’. The contrary side to this is that we have little patience for the untested all-knowing.
Lake Michigan is roaring today. I’ll give myself one more day of rest under my quilt while I listen to the storm. I hope you have a great day down under.
Wow. Impressive victory !
Thank you, purposefully living happy in today’s world is a victory. 😀
I had no idea you had survived all that — you are so strong!! and the world is a better place because you’re in it.
your admirer, Lauren ♥
Thank you.
Thank you for this post. Your resilience is inspiring and I agree with your comment that life can be surreal.
My word..how did I miss this comment. WordPress has changed the layout and this eluded me. I apologize for being late.
No worries :))