Dear Self,
Well now you blew it. You should have gotten extra life insurance before you had the lump looked at. Are you nuts? Who thinks of stuff like that when someone tells you that you have cancer? I guess I am nuts. I think of stuff like that. And also I am thinking that I am not going to be a very good patient. Why couldn't I break my arm? Why does it have to be breast cancer? Like there is a better kind? You are losing it, lady.
Love,
Patti
Dear Kids,
Well I guess I have to have surgery. And probably a little radiation. Just like grandma. She did great when she had hers. She barely slowed down. It will be okay, I promise. Fingers crossed, it will be okay.
Love you.
Mom
Dear Elizabeth,
Yes you should go back to school. I can't take off Friday to move you in, but dad will go with you. I will come on Sunday to see your room and bring another load. I will call you on Tuesday after surgery. You need to be with your friends and your team.
Love you,
Mom
Dear Mr. Principal,
Sorry I had to give you the bad news. And I know you care about me more than you care about the work that I do, but I also know that this is going to mess up your school year. And mine. And thank you for not saying that, or even hinting at it. You are the best.
Fondly,
Your integrationist
Dear Staff,
I know that Mr. Principal told you that I have cancer. Can you believe the timing? I know you all care. I can see the sadness in your eyes. It's okay to talk about it. You know I process best when I can talk it out. But after we hash it out a little, work is where I get to be normal for a couple of weeks. Let me work. Let me be normal as long as I can. And yes, you can bring me some meals. Just not yet.
Love you all,
Patti
Dear Surgeon,
Okay, when I talk to you today I am bringing my nurse friend and my hubby in case I don't get it. Please give me the best bad news you can. I'd like a lumpectomy please, outpatient if possible. What? Mastectomy? Are you sure? Calcifications and big lump and small size equals not what I want to hear. Who signed me up for this? Okay, breathe deep. You can upgrade if you want. Shop for a better pair. There has to be something good about this. I'll get back to you.
No lumpectomy for me.
Patti
Dear God,
Thanks for the second opinion. I trust that you know best. I liked the surgeon, too. It's not his fault that this has to happen. I'm glad to know that you agree with my decision to go ahead. I really don't want to drive out of town to meet with more doctors. Thanks again for letting me know that I am on the right path.
Love,
Patti
Dear Volunteer Check in Lady,
You are as sweet as can be, but you may want to volunteer in the gift shop or get new hearing aids. I really didn't want to shout my name, or the reason I am here. I am sorry you can't find my name on the sign in sheet and YES, I AM HERE AT THE RIGHT TIME. Can I say it any louder? Jeez, everyone in the waiting room now knows that I am here to have a SENTINEL NODE BIOPSY AND A MASTECTOMY. Thank you for making me say it three times. I think everyone in the waiting room knows.
Patti
Dear Nurse with the special name,
Oh, I am so glad to see you before the sentinel node biopsy. This test terrifies me. Scientists can put a man on the moon, but I had to go to the pharmacy, get a tube of numbing medicine and put it on myself at home. I have saran wrap covering it! Are you kidding me? I am going to have a body part chopped off today and this is my warm up? You don't think you could spare me the humiliation of this one little test and do it while I was asleep? No, that would be too good to be true. So I am so glad you are here to hold my hand and spray the cold spray so that it doesn't hurt. And guess what? It didn't hurt at all. Thank you for being there with me.
Your new friend,
Patti
My new goals! Pain and nausea control were my top priorities! |
I am sorry to say that I am not very happy you chose to leave the breast and mess around with my lymph nodes. That wasn't very nice of you, so I am going to have to retaliate. Not sure how yet, but get ready. I'm coming after you. There is nowhere to hide!
Your enemy,
Patti
Dear Mr. Principal,
Thanks for sending me the picture text. It is awesome that the whole staff wore pink today to support me. I can feel the love. It will help. It already has because I am smiling!
Wish I were at school,
Patti
Dear Cancer,
Why me?
Patti
Dear Caitlin,
The salt and pepper shakers my daughter brought me following my mastectomy! |
Love,
Mom
Dear Self,
Well, now that you are home you are going to have to deal with these drains. I thought that might be really sickening, but it isn't too bad. Remember when people stop by, you can throw a dish towel over your shoulder and then no one will really notice you are missing a body part. Yeah, that'll work. For a while.
Patti
September 2012
Dear Chemo Patients,
Every time I checked in, I got one of these bracelets. |
Patti
Dear Oncologist,
Nice to meet you. Not really. I'd rather meet anyone but you. I heard you weren't very friendly, but you seem pretty smart. Right now I don't need any new friends, but I sure could use someone to help me get rid of cancer. I would like a little radiation please. I can probably fit it in after school. What? Chemo? Four rounds of the really powerful stuff and then 12 weeks of a follow-up knockout punch? Can't think of a better way to spend the next 5 months. Sure, I can get a port put in by next week. How the heck do I do that? Remember, this is my first time at the rodeo. You may have to say things twice or a little slower. I am new at this. And here is just one last question. Will I be able to teach?
Patti
Dear God,
Did you hear that? Chemo? I'm not sure I can handle that. Will you please give me better hair the second time around? I hear the stuff I have now won't be hanging around.
Patti
One of the many beautiful flowers that friends and family sent. |
I bet you've noticed that I've been getting a lot of cards and deliveries lately. Do you ever wonder why? Do you make guesses about what is going on in the houses you visit? I have a feeling I will be getting a lot of bright colored envelopes designed to cheer me up. You will be my link to the world I used to know. I'm counting on you.
Watching for you,
Patti
Dear Self,
Yeah, getting the port put in the day before chemo probably wasn't a good idea. Who knew you shouldn't go into chemo dehydrated? How could that be avoided when you couldn't eat or drink before a 4 o'clock surgery? Shouldn't that be in a manual somewhere? Maybe I will have to write it.
Love,
Patti
Dear 11/29/59
That is you now. Your birthday seems to be awfully important to these folks. Good thing it has a flow to it. Looks like you are going to be getting a lot of these bracelets. Too bad they don't come in colors. Welcome to Club Cancer. Chemo is the way out. Right this way, please.
Patti