Elephants and Tea - March 2023 - 39

HOW FAR I HAVE COME New Perspective
what I needed during that time of my life,
an opportunity to heal and live stress-free.
We returned to Houston, Texas, in the
summer of 2020.
Post cancer care is part of my breast cancer
journey that I did not blog much about.
It is now November 2022, and I am driving
to MD Anderson (MDA) Cancer Center for
an appointment. I notice the stillness of the
world around me and the darkness of the
sky. There is no traffic (which is rare for
Houston) and it reminds me of the many
early morning drives to radiation therapy.
As soon as I walk into MDA to check-in, I
hear the sweet sound of a patient playing
the piano. I have not heard anyone play
the piano since before the pandemic. As I
wait for my appointment, I look around the
room and I can immediately tell who the
new patients are. The new patients ask the
people working at the front desk many questions
while checking in and walk around
in circles trying to figure out where to go. I
" The morning bell ringing after my
final radiation treatment was a
joyous celebration. My support
system was present and in full force
in the radiation waiting room. "
remember getting lost many times and feeling
overwhelmed as to what appointment
I was going to next. I am now a " seasoned "
patient, and I think of how far I have come.
I also think about the task at hand, " the
unseen challenges of survivorship. . . " I
have a nice smelling candle lit while listening
to Dave Matthews, and I am drinking
sparkling water. I have not written on my
blog in a very long time. I felt that I wasn't
in the right mindset to sit down and pour
out my thoughts and feelings.
My mind is racing with many, many
thoughts. I think about other breast cancer
surgeries that I have had, and the recovery
times involved. After every surgery, I felt
like I had to start over again and build up
my strength to what it was prior to the surgery.
I had to learn how to navigate other
life changing health obstacles. Survivorship
is lonely, and I think about the many times
that I felt " lost " and tired. I also think about
the countless hours I have spent driving to
and from appointments, waiting in the waiting
room, waiting for the doctor, waiting for test results, etc. I think
about the awkwardness of telling people that I had breast cancer or
if it is necessary to tell them. In some cases, for people that did now
know me in the past, I need to tell them for work-related reasons.
I think about my body, brain, and mental health and all that I
have been through in the past five years. The five years that mark
my survivorship. I am now looking forward to helping others in a
different capacity; helping women thrive and survive while utilizing
my professional counselor license in the state of Texas. As I am
finishing up typing, I look down at my wrist and see the bracelet
that reads BRAVE. It is tarnished and scratched, and so am I, but
that is OK, it reminds me of how far I have come and how much
further I will go. l
JENNIFER WILSON LEARNED ABOUT THE POWERFUL TOOL OF WRITING THROUGH
HER BLOG CALLED ANCHORED IN HOPE. HER BLOG DOCUMENTS HER BREAST
CANCER JOURNEY AS AN ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT (AYA) CANCER
PATIENT THROUGH LETTERS TO HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.
JENNIFER UTILIZES WRITING AS A FORM OF THERAPY FROM HER DIAGNOSIS
TO SURVIVORSHIP. SHE IS A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR AND
BELIEVES THAT THOSE FACED WITH A LIFE-ALTERING HEALTH DIAGNOSIS
OFTEN GRIEVE THE PERSON THEY ONCE WERE BEFORE THEIR DIAGNOSIS. IN
ADDITION, JENNIFER ALSO COLLABORATED WITH FELLOW BREAST CANCER
SISTERS AND WROTE A BOOK CALLED MY STORY ISN'T OVER-SIXTEEN
REMARKABLE STORIES OF BREAST CANCER SURVIVAL, WHICH FOCUSES ON
AYA CANCER PATIENTS SHARING THEIR PERSONAL STORIES. WHEN JENNIFER
IS NOT WRITING OR HELPING OTHERS, SHE ENJOYS EXERCISING, SPENDING TIME
WITH HER HUSBAND, AND WALKING HER DOGS.
ELEPHANTSANDTEA.COM
MARCH 2023
39

https://anchoredinhope.blog/ https://www.griefrecoveryhouston.com/jennifer-wilson/ https://anchoredinhope.blog/2020/08/16/my-story-isnt-over-sixteen-remarkable-stories-of-breast-cancer-survival/ https://anchoredinhope.blog/2020/08/16/my-story-isnt-over-sixteen-remarkable-stories-of-breast-cancer-survival/ http://www.ELEPHANTSANDTEA.COM

Elephants and Tea - March 2023

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