Archive of a Breast Cancer Survivor
06.19.05
Even at the Park
Today I met a young woman with thyroid cancer. I was at the park with Darren
and the dogs, and a small dachshund named Betsy ran to us floppy-eared, sweet.
Betsy was more concerned with dog socializing than being a therapy dog to her
owner, Heather, at least that is what Heather said. With a scar across the
base of her throat she explained she had thyroid cancer, had two operations
to remove lymph nodes and had been through radiation. The last 1.5 years of
her life have been nothing but this. And with deep knowledge and understanding
of Heather’s tired life, I nodded. She called us sisters. Sisters of
Cancer. And I felt touched because it was true. We were sisters, two strangers
who had met to have an exchange of experiences, to shake hands and acknowledge
each other. It was no coincidence we met. It was simply a positive confirmation
of our lives, accumulated and bright like the green grass gathered moist and
soft under the shade of
a lovely tree.