We started a new Christmas tradition without even knowing it.
To this day I’m still amazed how things worked out. God’s handprints were in the details (that is likely why I’m still here to share my story).
The chemo schedule worked out once again such that I only missed 2 days of work for my treatment. Working at a school district certainly had its advantages. My December treatment was scheduled for the 18th. That meant that the next two weeks I was off of work – yes, even administrators get the 2 weeks off at Christmas.
Having had no complications for the first 2 treatments, I was feeling confident that things were going to go well. My husband, as he always did, went with me to the infusion. Afterward, we decided to treat ourselves to a nice meal out and a little Christmas shopping while the girls were still in school. We went to Johnny Carino’s and had some really good Italian food.
All was well. We got home and settled in to watch Thursday night TV. Then Friday morning came. And it hit me. Sorry Johnny, but I haven’t been back since that day. I know it had nothing to do with the food itself, but the richness got to me on top of the chemo. I will spare you the gory details, but that was the only time I ever got sick during my treatments. (I’m sure that if I hadn’t changed my diet to gluten-free, I would have made it back to the restaurant at some point).
My girls were 8 and 5 and did not understand truly what was going on. They knew mommy was sick and they were so sweet to snuggle with me on the couch. We had 2 weeks ahead of us to enjoy as a family.
When you are undergoing treatment for cancer, it is easier to see the real meaning of Christmas. It is not about the lights on the house and the perfect decorations. It is about sharing time with your family and making memories.
We started a new tradition that year at Christmas that we still enjoy to this day. Each of us received a new movie in our stockings. Stockings in our family are a huge deal. We love discovering all of the fun things that are in them. Finding a new movie was a huge hit.
The couch, the TV, popcorn and movies. It is the way we have spent Christmas day ever since. I can count on my kids (I keep calling them kids, but they are now 20 and 17, they will always be my kids) to let me know the DVD’s that are coming out around Christmas so that the stockings are filled with movies that will be enjoyed for days and years to come.
My favorite holiday movie is The Holiday. What is yours?
This is beautiful ?
My mom went through chemo. Seeing what she went through really opened my eyes to the important things in life. Making memories are at the top of my list too!