With Gratitude

Well, here it is the day before my surgery, April 2 2023. I have asked Emily to post this tomorrow for me, so that while you are sending your prayers and best wishes you will know that I am also thinking of you .

It’s hard to believe that I was diagnosed last Feb 8 2022 so almost 14 months ago and the surgery date is finally here after many delays and complications. I have been in hospital just shy of 7 months,  jeez almost long enough to grow a live baby ! Thank goodness that is not the case lol! 

I want to say how grateful I am for many things and many people. I am grateful to be living in Canada and to have had easy and prompt access to health care, and that it has not cost me an arm and a leg. I am grateful for the marvels of medical science and the human body itself and it’s ability to heal. I am also grateful that for the most part, I have had lovely caring people look after me and I know looking after an old, type A, control freak nurse would be challenging many days. 

I appreciate that I have lived a good life. I had parents who loved me and who provided me a wonderful caring atmosphere to grow up in. 

My Dad taught me by example that if you worked hard, kept your nose to the grindstone, your eye on the prize anything was possible. That you will never get what you don’t ask for and above all to always act with integrity, that means do what you say you are going to do. He also taught me practical things like riding a bike and how to keep your fingernails clean! 

My Mom taught me about unconditional love. She loved my Dad, me, Robin and John like no one else could. I always felt safe in her arms, she dried tears, wiped hot foreheads and kissed many a bruised knee.

My Mom and Dad collected many friends through out their lives and my Mom still is in touch with old neighbours from every street she ever lived on. They both know the value of friendship and passed that on to me as well . 

Thank you Mom for the visits, the flowers, the cards with messages of hope and love and for phoning me just about every single day to check in and say I Love you, I love you too Mom.

My parents gave me the ultimate gift and that was a loving sister Robin and kind brother John. 

My baby sister Robin was my best buddy growing up. We spent hours together. We would set up our basement into various scenarios – a store one day, a house the next or our favourite a school. As we grew up our bond only strengthened. I can’t thank her enough for the support she has given me through this cancer journey. She has called me faithfully, sent numerous floral arrangements, came from NS twice to visit with Mom and the biggest help was taking Brooklynn and Rhiannon for the summer last year.

Honourable mention to her husband David for being such a fantastic guy! Robin and David I love you both! Also thanks to Madeline and Bella for coming from NS for reading week when  I am sure they had better offers and for the supportive messages. You girls are both so special and I love you both so much xx

My baby brother John has been a rock for me He took me for scans I thought if the cancer didn’t kill me his driving might lol! He was an advocate for me in hospital, always somehow getting me the best bed possible. It seemed for quite awhile whenever I opened my eyes he was sitting in a chair at the foot of my bed often holding a bouquet of yellow roses, Dads favourite. When work made it so he could not visit he would call or text, just a few words or a joke. I love you John and appreciate you so much xx

Thanks also to my sister in law Kim despite how crazy busy her life is she was a frequent visitor and texter and I knew she was just a phone call away. She arrived in the ER my first night with a big care package including a pillow and blanket which I have used everyday. Thank you Kim I love and appreciate you.

Their kids Alyssa and Greg have also been really good about calling, texting visiting and donating blood. Thank you kids I love you both  xx 

Thank you also to Beth. I hit the jackpot for sister in laws when I got Ken’s baby sister . She has been lovely, providing meals, flowers and support, especially for Ken . She calls and texts every couple of days and I always know she is there for whatever I need her for. Beth I love you ! 

Also thanks to Roland, Dana  and Ashley for all your kind wishes and messages . 

A big thank you soooo much to Nikita and Jodie for helping us so much with Brooklynn and Rhiannon. They love to come to your house and play with ‘them boys ‘. Nikita, also thanks for your frequent texts they mean so much . I love you all xx.

Thank you as well to Steve and Tammy for visits, meals, angels and calls I really appreciate your thoughtfulness and love you both .

I have had visits, calls, texts, flowers, gift cards and meals delivered from so many people. I will just say I received a beautiful hand made lap quilt from my high school best friend Barb, we graduated in 1976 and are still friends. 

Friends from St Joseph’s – Janet, Donna, Pam, Robin, Bonnie, Lisa, Elaine, Cara, Cec and Diana .

I have also been blessed with so many mini reunions from my old NICU friends . It was nice seeing or hearing from you KarenW . Karen M,  Angie, Donna, Ann, Sielkke, Lorraine, Sarah, Fern, Melda, Lynett, Maureen and Johnny . 

I am sorry I feel like I am missing a few . I shall blame it on chemo therapy lol! 

I am grateful for my extended family, I have received so much support from Aunts  and cousins that I am overwhelmed.

Special thanks to my Kamloops ‘sisters’ Donna and Anne, I love you both ! 

To my bestie Pat ,I cannot even begin to thank you . You have done so much for me and Ken and the big girls and little kids. You are truly a very special human being, everyone that meets you says that. I feel so blessed that you are best friend! We have many more adventures ahead that I am anxious to get in with life.

I am grateful for my daughters. Sarah, you have been wonderful . Visiting often and being my text support person and your Dads lol! Not an easy task. I am proud of the woman you have become. Thanks to Cassie and Connor for visits and for Connors advise for me to always be on the lookout for an opportunity to escape! I love you Sarah, Cassie and Connor.

Katie, I know you are doing your best and in the end that is all I ask. I love you Katie. 

Emily, you have been a God send. Thank you so much for putting your life, work and friendships on hold to fly home and stay for months. Thanks for putting up with my whining and refusing to participate in juicing lol I did appreciate it . Sorry I wasn’t a better match maker for you with the chemo nurse – wink wink! Seriously Emily, you are so special. Dad and the kids also really appreciated you, I love you very much. 

Andrew, Brooklynn and Rhiannon, thank you for your cards and visits and text messages. Also thank you for being so well behaved for Grampy – he really needed help and you gave it to him. I love you all so much xx

Finally thanks to Ken, my hubby, partner and all around ‘go-to guy“. He has been stellar. He really took his vow of in sickness and health very seriously. I don’t think he missed visiting a single day. He put up with me not wanting to talk at all some days to total micromanaging him others. I know it has not been easy. I love you so much Ken and truly am thankful for you xx

So you see I have a lot of people rooting for me and I am feeling confident as I head into surgery that all will be okay. I have a lot to live for and I am fighting as hard as I can. 

But, if things don’t go okay I have faith that I will be waiting for you all and watching over you with Dad and Bradley and Grammie and Grampy Yorke and all the others that have passed on.

I won’t be coming back as a cardinal or dimes scattered here and there – think of me instead when you see a rainbow. Jeez I better not go anywhere I am still trying to control things lol! 

Take care and be kind to each other. 

Don’t sweat or collect the small stuff, Love is the only thing you can take with you. 

LOVE

Susan 

xoxo