Normal is Extraordinary

I am just under a week removed from my last chemo treatment - round 19.  Over the past week I have waged what has become the routine battle against fatigue, slight nausea, upset stomach, foggy thinking and a general paralyzation of my life for a few days.  Today I am a day or two away from feeling relatively "normal".  I was reading back through my journal (yes, I have a some semblance of a journal - it's weird) and found this entry from a day following a previous treatment:

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"2/13/14

coming out of the haze of the last chemo.  so good to feel "normal" again.  I have this amazing appreciation for normal!  feeling "normal" is my opportunity to do everything.  to work, to play, to create, to think, to move.....chemo takes so much of that.   when i feel "normal" I get to do it again.  I am so thankful for that opportunity and don't want to waste any of it.  I want to do it all!

we are all typically normal - and all have so much opportunity with every moment of every day!

"god must love ordinary people because he made so many of us.....everyday ordinary people do extraordinary things"

- I will win
- I will beat cancer
- I will survive!
- I will be the miracle!"

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Not all of my "journaling" is that preachy (most of it's just random thoughts, ideas, dreams, goals) but that's what I wrote that day.  

Coincidentally, I heard the above quote in one of the Jim Valvano speeches I posted the other day - check it.

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/2213141



-Jamie Schou



I just learned today that a friend, whom I met while receiving chemo treatment at Stanford in 2012, has relapsed for a 3rd time I believe.  She is quite down about the situation as she just started a high dose ifosfimide treatment on tuesday.  In the chemo world this is known to be one of the most difficult regimens (which I can attest to).  The treatment consists of 7 days in the hospital 24/7, getting pumped with super nauseating drugs and then given 2 weeks off (barely enough time to recover) and back again.   She has been prescribed 6 cycles which will certainly be......well, it will just suck.  

Maybe we can do something extraordinary for her?!  (I'm not even sure if anyone actually reads this)....
Or what to do?  She will be at the Stanford Cancer Center - F Ground - until next tuesday the 11th (then back again on 25th and so on).  Some words of encouragement are always helpful.   Shit, I don't know.  From experience I know she just wants it all to be over......she just doesn't want to do it anymore.  She wants her life back.

Well, I'll start with a note of encouragement.  If you have any ideas please let me know and I'll send you her name.

jamieschou1@gmail.com

Jimmy V

He's been an inspiration for me since long before I was diagnosed with cancer.  Jimmy V told it like it was and before his death created a foundation that has since given over $100 million dollars to cancer research.





If you have the time this is a good one as well - "Cutting Down the Nets".





.......And check out ESPN's 30 for 30 episode called "Survive and Advance"


"Don't give up, don't ever give up!"