Nate sharing an apple with bunny
Ever wonder what happens after cancer treatment ends? Nope? Me neither! But, I’m finding out, so you can too.
On a good day, hanging out with the lovely MM.
For a little while, I was feeling great. In my last post, I wrote about how great it was to be able to do lots of everyday tasks (the dishes, grocery shopping, laundry, bathtime with Nate etc), and how wonderful it felt. Unfortunately, those things have become hard again. I am so very tired. And I am very impatient about this fatigue. I am SO READY to feel better, I don’t know what to do with myself. My doctor assures me that the fatigue is normal, and not to be too concerned by it. This is how that conversation went:
Doctor: So, you are feeling tired?
Me: Yes, SO SO tired. Exhausted!
Doctor: And you just defended your dissertation?
Me: yes.
D: And you just started a new job?
M: yes
D: And you just walked 32km for charity? And raised over $32,000!
M: yes
D: and you have a toddler at home?
M: yes
D: And you finished treatment just two months ago…So, you are tired….
M: yes. I see your point, doctor.
Basically, she told me to try to rest as much as I could, and to try to be patient. She said, “you have just finished the fight of your life, for your life. Let yourself be tired.”
Then, she also said this: And thank you, for walking in the Walk to End Women’s Cancers, and raising all that money.
You know what’s awesome? Being thanked by the doctor that saved your life! So, of course, I responded: No, thank you! And, friends and family, THANK YOU, for your words of support, for walking with me, and your generous donations! You made this amazing moment possible.
It rained all day, but we did it! Yay team. I love you forever.
In general, things are okay. I am just SO READY to feel better that I am a bit frustrated. I keep thinking back to how life was before I got sick, and I really miss those days. I’m trying to figure out whether I should expect that I’ll ever feel like that again or just work on accepting that things will never be the same, and that that’s okay too.
Also, these two cakes happened, so how bad can things be?
Nough said.
On a cake = it’s official!
Everybody Hearts 
Hi lovely. This latest blog is wonderful! Congratulations for obtaining your doctoral. Congratulations for walking in the Weekend to End Cancer and raising all that money. I share your concerns about the way you feel as I am too feeling that way. I am trying to accept the new “ME” after reconstruction, after cancer, after treatment, just basically “AFTER” THE FACT! My advice to you Naomi would be to take baby steps and like your doctor said, let your self be tired, give yourself time and in time, things will hopefully get back to normal. It will be your NEW NORMAL. Nate is a cutie. You look amazing. I hope to catch up with you soon! Hugs, Andrea
You make me laugh, you make me cry,, good and bad, you are amazing!
I think there is a comma missing on the first cake :). Love you, be strong, and I will be seeing you soon.
Congratulations, Naomi! So proud of you for getting your PhD. Wowee!! And of course, very proud of you for the courage you’ve shown and continue to show everyday. You are amazing.
Oh yes, a cake definitely makes it official! Especially when it’s a DQ cake from your bestie. That’s the real deal.
Mmmmm those cakes look delightful.
You are incredible. Congrats on the PhD too!
I have written and deleted this like six times, so I’ll try for real, no-delete-back-space-ys. Things will never be *the same* again, because this experience has forever marked your body and your mind, but it’s going to be *ok* again. And by “ok” I mean that you’ll look back on this as something that shaped you but doesn’t define you, and it will become stored in your mental basement instead of being the first thing you see when you walk into your mental living room. Also, when I say that things will be “ok” again, what I really want to say is that things sound awfully fabulous right now, Dr. Angel. đŸ˜‰
Let them eat cake indeed. I want some of that cake, and I want to eat it with you, and then give you a big hug. And then I want us to take a nap together because I’m tired too, so I can only imagine how tired you must be. Let’s make a future date for cake, naps, babies, families, laughs, cries and lots of hugs, and maybe another nap. Sounds like a dream. And maybe it will happen in Iceland. I love you guys.
Congrats on doing so very much! I found some personal training helped move the fatigue along. Maybe give it a try? ~Catherine
Naomi, congrats on the walk! Very impressive.
Sorry to hear that you are very tired but i suspect it is very normal especially considering all you are doing these days.
All is well here in Calgary.
Look forward to a catch up over the phone very soon.
Say hi to the fam and take good care,
Duff
Congratulations Dr. Angel. I’m tired just listening to all you do. Much love to all. Arlene Hubscher