Kim Alix
 I am Kim
Alix, daughter, wife, mother, and absolute survivor of breast cancer!
I was diagnosed July14, 2004, stage 2,
ductile carcinoma with lymph node involvement. 48 years old
with no history of this disease in my family.
It began
with a routine mammogram, then a call back, finally the diagnostic
mammogram/ultrasound. There was no doubt, it was breast
cancer. I left the radiologist’s office, alone, disoriented,
uncontrollable tremors. I stared at the names of the three surgeons penciled on
the small, white piece of paper I was holding. “Call
each one right away and take the first available appointment!” the woman’s
words echoing in my head. On automatic pilot, I drove towards
the pool to pick up our 7-year-old daughter. “Call
your husband, call your husband, oh my Gosh, call him!”
He’ll know what to do!”
some inner voice telling me. “Call
your Mom and Dad, they’ll help you think this through, make arrangements for
Isabella! Now!! Breathe! Breathe! slowly,
in and out,
in and out,
in and out, in and out.”
The days
and months that accrued after that July 14th are a blur. I took a year’s leave
of absence from teaching so I would not be exposed to the plethora of germs that
would compete with the chemo for my cancers attention. Family,
doctors, friends, and strangers, banded together, we planned our attack, each
one, playing a strategic role in the Alix Family Army. The
design unfolded as we stepped into the emotional vortex that any cancer brings.
In the
year that followed, I underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
I didn’t realize it then, but that July 14th, I began
the first day of
my new life. I learned to
embrace the gifts that having
cancer brings - the extraordinary closeness with family and friends. A new found
faith, knowing I would come out of this experience a better daughter, wife,
mother, and friend. In retrospect, for me, the most fearful
parts of the journey were the surgeries, biopsies, and seemingly endless days
waiting for results. Chemotherapy was no picnic, but it was
survivable. After the first two weeks of chemo, I knew which days I would be up
and which I would be down. There were no surprises after my
initial infusion. Life was predictable, manageable, I felt in
control again. Radiation treatment made me so very tired that
I spent much of my time sleeping. Not the prickly, fitful
sleep that accompanied my chemotherapy, but a gentle lulling type of sleep that
seemed to nourish my body. Before I knew it, spring was here,
new life budding all around me. Life I saw with much clearer
eyes now. I continue to remind myself of those long, hard
days. The months I spent unwrapping the gift that cancer
brought…. a brand new me!
Some of
the things that made my journey with cancer easier; I hope they will be of help
to you.
-
Make a spiritual connection.
-
Make time to tend your soul.
-
Educate yourself, but also trust in the professionals you
have chosen.
-
Control what is in your power to manage, let the extraneous
go.
-
Be honest with yourself and those around you, it will make
the journey easier.
-
Do whatever necessary to maintain a positive attitude.
Stay far away from anything or anyone who cannot help you promote
this.
-
Own your feelings, give yourself permission to do what is
best for you and those you love.
-
Listen to your body; it will guide you, telling you when it
needs rest or recharging.
-
Make amends with the guilt having cancer brings.
-
Let others reach out and help you. Giving
comfort to you can bring comfort to others. Often this
will help your family and friends feel as though they are not helpless as
they walk this journey with you.
embrace each second of every
day….
you now know how precious they are…..
Celebrate Life!
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