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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cIt sounds strange, but I wouldn\u2019t change it for anything.\u201d This, from a woman who had just returned from the hospital hours before. She\u2019d discovered that her cancer had returned \u2013the scans hadn\u2019t come back clean and it\u2019s time once again to plan her way forward. We discussed her treatment options \u2013 more surgery? more chemo? radiation on already thinning bones? \u2013 and talked through what\u2019s important to her. She was honest about her pain, but despite the shattering news, reflected not on her losses, but what cancer has added to her life. \u201cIt\u2019s given me a chance to right my wrongs. It\u2019s helped me to know how loved I am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou guys have sure been through a lot lately.\u201d This, from a volunteer who is struggling with her metastasized cancer and the latest treatments she\u2019s using to fight it. From someone who counts time out of the hospital as a victory and celebrates just being close enough to the beach that she can feel salt air. Instead of focusing on her struggle to go to work or talking about the latest excruciating treatment she\u2019s completed, she asked about my family, cared about our small victories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the face of this graciousness, hearing this strength from these remarkable women, I\u2019m reminded that a rough year isn\u2019t a reason to give up. A bad day is a challenge to find what\u2019s salvageable and move forward. To keep caring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n