The Track

Three years ago today I received confirmation from my doctor that I did indeed have breast cancer.  Not exactly an anniversary of celebration that’s for sure, but a date that I feel I need to recognize nevertheless. It was the day my life changed and nothing has been the same since.  The past three years have been a topsy-turvy whirlwind of a ride, full of some not-so-welcome surprises.

As I continue to recover from breast cancer and the accompanying horrific treatment (recovery is a multi-year process that I am only about halfway through), I am thankful for my returning strength, energy and stamina.  It will likely never be what it once was but it is definitely much improved from even six months ago. And I need all the strength and energy I can muster now more than ever.

With Dave’s continuing deterioration from interstitial lung disease, we are in the regrettable position of having to move from our beautiful heritage home in the country to something closer to our family in London, Ontario. The bonus is that we will be closer to our little granddaughters and have the support we need when we need it, but so very unfortunate that we have to leave the home that we have loved so much for over 19 years.  And because Dave cannot do much in the way of physical labour (much to his ever-growing frustration), it leaves me to pick up the slack and do the (literal) heavy lifting. However, I figure that if my grandmother can move boulders, shovel gravel and manage a household solo after having a mastectomy at the age of 90+, then I can do it too.  But perhaps her generation was made of sterner stuff.

Three years ago, I never anticipated that this is where we would be at this stage of our lives. Instead of preparing for a peaceful and secure retirement, we are both battling our health demons and our plans for the future have been completely thrown out the window. Dave will not be able to work for much longer, which will be a significant financial hit for us. Seems a bit unfair, but we are never given more than we can handle. Good thing I have broad shoulders.

In terms of an update for Dave – his lung biopsy is scheduled for August 28.  He will be in the hospital overnight but that could easily become a longer stay as his risk of complications is about 20%.  It is so very hard, not to mention stressful, to watch your husband decline just a little bit every single day and the biopsy could cause significant growth of the scar tissue in his lungs.  However, without the biopsy, we do not know what flavour of ILD he has. There is hope that the biopsy will shed some light on the type and cause of his ILD, and a treatment plan can be put in place that will give him some relief and slow down the progression. Fingers crossed that there is some light at the end of this very dark tunnel and that the track smooths out soon.