If you've read any of my posts in the past year (please say yes!) then you know that last August I began walking 3-5 miles, 3 times a week with my friend, Sara. She had had cancer surgery and walking was something I could actually do for her! So we started off slow at first then added distance and intensity little by little! We have continued our walks for the last 13 months-rain or shine, hot or cold! Last fall during a routine scan when they found blood clots in her lungs, the doctor told her that the walking is probably what saved her life! Wow! Many times over the last year Sara has said she feels the healthiest ever! So...if you're waiting for me to stop harping on the walking thing-it's probably NOT gonna happen!!
But...this past August's scan revealed cancerous tumors in her liver :( She recently underwent a procedure called chemoembolization. Being the friend that I am, I gave her a few days off to feel crappy-and then off we went – hitting the pavement again!! Side note: This time when the cancer reappeared, in addition to our “walk therapy” I started an online fundraiser for her.
Cancer is stupid and expensive! (If you want to know more about Sara and her fight against cholangiocarcinoma go to:
https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/wv23/saras-cancer-fund
Oh, and feel free to donate!)
A real score for her side as she battles this disease, the doctors have told her that with the exception of the cancer, she is exceptionally healthy! That's even weird to write. If someone thinks this post may be even remotely about me being a good friend, then they probably haven't experienced that totally helpless feeling when a loved one has cancer and there is nothing you can do! At the very least I can be there for her and I so appreciate our time spent walking and talking.
Now it’s about me :) Lately I've been thinking how we take for granted that our bodies will always do what we want them to do. We expect our bodies to act the way we want on demand. A healthy functioning body is not a "given". At any time, we can be diagnosed with a serious illness, or have a horrible accident and life as we know it changes in a heartbeat.
So why aren't we taking better care of ourselves? Why aren't we doing what it takes to eliminate whatever "diseases" that we do have some control over? Not sure why… Diabetes, heart disease, hypertension; can be managed, if not eliminated, with healthy eating and moderate exercise. There are routine medical tests that, in many cases, can be treated and often, cured due to early detection.
November 2011 I had an eye-opener when I came down with a virus in the lining around my heart (pericarditis) and it kicked my butt! For months, I had a hard time breathing, suffered constant chest pain and, probably the toughest for me, was extremely fatigued. I would just cry because I was so tired and so frustrated because I couldn't make myself do what I wanted to do. Did that make sense? (I’m sure my husband was crying because I tried to make him do what I wanted, too - haha) After a few months of doing nothing, I was able to add some physical activity, but for a long time the result was exhaustion the rest of the day-or the next two! Needless, to say, my fitness and energy level were not what they used to be and I felt like I would never feel like "me" again. All this time I kept thinking "What if I had not been in good health to begin with?" Many people end up have chronic serious issues to deal with. It took me 16 long months (Apr 2012) to be symptom free, and then at least 6 more months to get back in shape. It honestly seems like I've only recently I’ve realized how good it feels to feel good again! Well, besides my arthritic thumbs-haha!!
There are so many things in our lives that we have no control over, but to me it makes sense to take control of our health so we are prepared when the uncontrollable, unexpected health crisis hits you? Like I said-prepare yourself to get sick :)
