Day Two

I’m energized and so touched by all of yesterday’s stories, I even got up in front of a room full of “new normal” participants. The room was mostly filled with post-surgery attendees, but there was a handful of people that included those who were watch and wait (they have known about their tumor for a while, and are not yet “needing” to take action) and those recently diagnosed.  One gentleman found out about his tumor THIS WEEK!!.

The panel talked about their facial palsys, their cognitive issues, their debilitating headaches, their depression, their fatigue, their endless and continuing dizziness… I know it’s important to know many possibilities that are ahead, but what about ALL of the possibilities? There was not one person on that panel who retained their hearing, had no facial compromise, and regained their balance completely. I wanted for the newbies in the room to hear that the new normal included appreciation for friends and family. I wanted for the newbies in the room to hear that the new normal included setting boundaries against situations that did not fulfill or inspire the panelist.

I know these people are out there. I was lucky that I met someone who did before I had my surgery, and that was the story I held on to as I entered the operating room. “I’ll be just like that.”

Maybe next time.

I hope that my getting up helped calm the nerves of the people there who were pre-surgery, to let them know that sometimes there are no debilitating side-effects to “get over.”

Today is a new day.

Today I’ll be recording my story on video for the ANA archive.  So that when newbies go looking for information on the internet, maybe someone will find mine and have hope..