Too Much on Our Plait: Like Mother

Like Mother - 05

I really wanted to post yesterday; but I was struggling with a migraine, and unfortunately cannot take any Advil because of being within 5 days of surgery (gulp!), and I wasn’t feeling as joyful as I wanted to feel.

I spent Christmas Eve morning with my sister, Anna Marie, at her screening ultrasound. I expect that the folks at the radiology facility will become well acquainted with many of my family members over the upcoming months. She has some thyroid nodules (at this point no surprise), and I razzed her about it being my cancer, not hers, and I am not willing to share. I mean why shouldn’t I get all of the attention? We laughed, and got on with some very last minute Christmas shopping.

Truth be told, I think there are just some people who are too good for cancer. My sister Anna Marie would be one of them. She’s the matriarch of the family and the glue that holds us siblings together. I think my sister Grace and I secretly compete for her attention, sort of like being the “favorite” among a mother’s children. But there are no favorites with Anna Marie. She spreads her love equally and unconditionally because she wouldn’t know how to love any other way. She’s a beautiful soul, inside and out.

I’m appreciative of the fact that this thyroid thing has awakened my family to wanting to be screened. One reason being that I want them to live a long and healthy life, and the other is the fact that it’s helped to take the focus off of me. The more fuss about my cancer and upcoming surgery, the more nervous I get about it actually. I’d like to slip in and out of the hospital like it’s just any old day, and then get on with my life.

Today being Christmas day, I’m filled with hope that all will go well. I'm well-armed with countless hugs, kisses, and well-wishes from family at last night’s Christmas party. Watching my children and grandson excitedly open their presents this morning was enough to make anyone forget their troubles.

The days are going by so quickly, as will my surgery, like it’s just any old day, exactly the way I want.

A Merry Christmas To All!

Read More 1 Comment | Posted by Adelina and Dori |

1 Comment

Becky on December 26, 2009 at 1:05 AM

I just read about Janina too. Has Gracie been scanned yet? Yall are an amazingly strong family. God bless you, your in my prayers. Love ya Becky

Post a Comment

Like Daughter, Like Mother: Our Thyroid Cancer Journey

Behind the Blog

Adelina is a full-time wife, mother, practice manager, and medical transcriptionist. After receiving an ultrasound and countless biopsies, she was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer on December 11, 2009. She successfully underwent surgery on December 29, 2009, and had her first radioactive iodine treatment in February 2010. Following treatment, Adelina now sees her doctor once a year for follow-up. She has been doing well, and refuses to let cancer slow her down.

Dori is 26 years old. She was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer at the age of 17 on June 1, 2006, just three days prior to her high school graduation. Dori endured two radioactive iodine treatments and two surgeries to remove her complete thyroid and 39 total lymph nodes from her neck. She is now under close watch by her doctors, and only time will tell if the cancer stays at bay.