A Day in the Life

9:00 a.m.: A noise wakes me up. I blearily look around my bedroom and see the noise came from my cat brushing against the wind-chime in the window when she jumped up on the dresser in front of it. Crawling out from under the warm covers I take hold of my walker, and head for the bathroom. My morning routine has begun.

As I get a cup of coffee and muffin, I stop for a moment to analyze a pain in one of my legs. Do I have another spot where my cancer has erupted? Or is it just a twinge from starting to move around?

9:30 a.m.: I’ve finished my breakfast. Now it’s time for my morning pills and then get dressed. Yesterday was busy so not too sure I’ll have enough energy to do what I’d like to today.

12 Noon: I managed to work on my new project for a while. Emptied the dishwasher and reloaded it. Read an article on the internet about a new medicine for women whose breast cancer has metastasized like mine. Printed it out so I can ask my oncologist about it. A phone call from a friend turned into a half-hour chat. Lunch time. Sandwiches and chips are on the menu because they are quick and easy to make.

1 p.m.: There’s more I should do but I’m feeling tired so I know it’s time for a nap. An hour of sleep should let me continue.

2 p.m.: Just can’t fall asleep. Maybe if I read for awhile I’ll doze off.

3:15 p.m.: The phone ringing wakes me up. Wouldn’t you know it? A person was conducting a survey on health insurance companies. There goes the rest of my nap. I need to do some uninterrupted walking since I haven’t been out today. So I walk around the house for about 10 minutes.

3:25 p.m.: Finished walking. I feel like I can work on my project for a while. My thoughts keep drifting here and there about new treatments, has my cancer advanced, is my hip healing properly, is the treatment I’m on now working, why do the numbers keep jumping up and down.

5:00 p.m: Decisions, decisions, decisions. Chicken corn chowder or chicken noodle soup for supper? No desire for potatoes so guess it’s chicken noodle, crackers, and a glass of milk.

6:00 p.m.: Supper’s over and kitchen put in order. Time for two of my favorite television shows. Maybe I’ll crochet while watching.

7:00 p.m.: Unable to sit still. Need to do something. Getting out of my recliner, I get my walker and go put away a load of laundry.

7:30 p.m.: Back to my recliner and crocheting. See if I can add a few more rows to the afghan I’m making.

8:00 p.m.: Restless again. Think I’ll walk around the house for a little bit. Supposed to walk as much as possible to get my strength back.

8:20 p.m.: Pill box has to be refilled. Doesn’t seem like I should have to do that again. Not sure where the last two weeks went. Will there ever come a time when I don’t have to take pills every day? Some of the pills are to help get rid of my cancer. What else are they doing to my body?

9:00 p.m.: Time for night pills. At least it’s not like morning when there are 10 pills to take. Night pills only amount to four.

9:30 p.m.: Ready for bed. Doubt I’ll get to sleep much before 11 so I turn on my tablet and watch an episode of a television show I like.

11:30 p.m.: Getting drowsy. See how long I can sleep. If I’m lucky I’ll get in a couple of hours.

2:00 a.m.: Awake and have nighttime hungries. Banana, small dish of ice cream, couple of cookies. And a bottle of cold water.

3:30 a.m.: Still wide awake. I need to get some sleep.

4:00 a.m.: Not sure what worked, but I’m starting to nod off. Maybe later today I will feel like doing more or even go out to have lunch with a friend.

9:30 a.m.: The sun is up and my cat is nudging me awake. Another day has started.

Always at the back of their mind are questions. Is their treatment working? What will their next checkup show? If the pills they are on quit working, what is their next option? Are they going to be around to watch their children and/or grandchildren grow up, begin their own lives? How will their spouse manage without them if they have to be hospitalized or worse, lose their fight?

Day after day a survivor fights to stay alive, to try and have as normal a life as possible. To do the things they enjoy. Support from their family and friends keeps a smile on their face. Hope keeps them going.