Never Underestimate the Power of a Kind Word

I don’t like to post when I don’t have answers. And I’m not looking for sympathy while I wait. But, Friday was a tough day. I had my brain CT on Wednesday. I read the report on Thursday when it was posted. And I knew what was next. Some areas of concern in my brain. And something grew. .4 cm. But still grew. Not what they treated but the surrounding area. Maybe treatment related. But still of concern. So now we wait for an MRI to be scheduled. Under anesthesia because I’m claustrophobic. and then waiting for results. So more weeks of worry. I realized on Friday after I saw my doctor that my life may consist of three month increments forever.

What really kicked me in the ass was when I went back and read the CT scan results again after I met with my doctor. I saw something I hadn’t noticed before. And no one mentioned it. I didn’t understand what “Chronic right caudate infarction”meant. So I sent a message and my doctor called me. Apparently at some point I’ve had a stroke. So. 12 Ironmans, 26 marathons and living a fairly healthy lifestyle and this is where I’m at. I guess if I wasn’t I’d be dead by now.

I’m sorry but on Friday I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. I didn’t share how I felt with anyone. I actually cried a bit after I met with my doctor. A kind of “why me” scenario.

And then, some really random messages came in. First up – my dear friend Lizzie sent me this text: “Your ears must have been burning today and last night. Up here in Lake Placid with DMoss and Celeste. …We have been talking so much abt all we learned in our LP trips with you! 🙃

Next I saw a post in our Fxck Cancer Endurance Club group from my friend Marci. “Thank you for turning this runner into a triathlete turned cyclist. I think of you every time I clip in and start riding.”

Then there was Grayden – a 4 year old at our club the other night. I held the door for him and his pregnant mom. He looked up at me and said, from the bottom of his heart, “thank you old lady”. Two days later and I’m still laughing,

So we haven’t solved my stressors but — Lizzie, Diane, Celeste, Marci, Melissa, Ran and Grayden —thank you from the bottom of my heart 😘😘😘. And the moral to my story is, if you have something nice to say to someone then say it. You never know how much it might mean.