Creating a Party from Cancer! | Thursday, September 30, 2010
Diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma, Traci J. wasn't going to let cancer steal her joy, nor her love of a good celebration. After a dramatic and unexplained weight loss, Traci was found to have a tumor in her intestines and was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma after being sick for almost 18 months. She speaks of the need to find just the "right Doctor for you... someone you can feel comfortable with, trust and that will treat you like a person." Somehow, facing this grim diagnosis, she invited 14 women to accompany her to the wig shop for a celebration... she relates a story much like Olympic judging, complete with her friends voting on wigs they liked and didn't like! They had dinner and drinks and she ended up buying two wigs... "a me wig and a sassy wig!" Seeing her without her wig, she has a tiny elfin appearance, with the cutest little smile and accompanied by someone who obviously loves her, with or without wig, with or without cancer... her devoted and attentive husband. They have so much love between them, it's palpable.... and enough to share with a daughter they welcomed into their home from Guatemala. When she learned about her mother's cancer, she asked if she was going to die. Traci's ever positive comment was, "I can't promise I won't die, but I do promise I'll FIGHT." She has found that journaling has helped her and has started her own blog, as have many cancer patients, at caringbridge.org. Her 'helper' during chemo has been her iPod and the music she loves..."I have to find the laughter in the process."
Can we find laughter in our days and our situations? I'm sure that no matter what we each might face today, it's not cancer and it's not threatening our lives. Traci manages to find humor and laughter in her situation, can't we? Look carefully today at how you react to comments, news and others around us... there's probably a lot to laugh at if we look with Traci's eyes.
Labels: bald woman, bald women, Be Bold Feel Beautiful, breast cancer, breast cancer awareness, Non-profit, Terri Shaver, The Oldham Project
All Images Copyrighted ©
The Oldham Project. All Rights Reserved.
CONTACT | DONATE | BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER | BY RIZZI DESIGNS
2 Comments :
Isn't my daughter beautiful! She is also bold in her determination and strength to fight cancer. She is indeed my hero!
Traci, you look so beautiful, as you always do. Being positive is the key in helping you fight your way threw this. You are such an amazing person. Your daughter will look up to you as her Hero.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home