Hope During Breast Cancer

Yearly health exams are my birthday treat

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. So, the only thing to really be afraid of is if you don’t go get your mammograms.”

– Cynthia Nixon

Or if your cancer doesn’t show up on a mammogram!

Dear readers, we all need to care for ourselves. This story is not an article geared towards women only or all about health.

My birthday gift to myself for years has always been to schedule my yearly routine exams with my doctors in February. The year I found out I had cancer; I had postponed my appointment until July instead of going in February due to denial.

We usually have a gut feeling when something is wrong. Regardless, I’m alive and living large.

I’m thankful for the present moment to reflect on my horrific ordeal. I guess my birthday is flaring up these feelings.

I write for both Thank You Notes and Hope, Healing, and Humour Publications.

Both of their weekly prompts are to share stories about pets or animals. It’s not something I would typically write about. So, I’ve decided to challenge myself with these articles. You can read the other story here at Thank You Notes.

Gidget

Although I do have a cat named Bambino, I want to share with you my mom’s dog, Gidget, in this story. She’s my bestie and indeed my shadow.

Gidget is close to turning fourteen in March. My mom brought her home shortly after my sister-in-law passed away suddenly.

I think Gidget could sense my grief from the very beginning of our relationship. Gidget has been a companion like no other. My mom lives in a duplex with my family, which is joined by sliding doors through the laundry room.

Whenever our cat, Bambino, and Gidget are together they are usually up to trouble. Of course, they’ve both learned to slide those doors open with their cute little adorable noses without hesitation.

“Cats are smarter than dogs. You can’t get eight cats to pull a sled through snow.”

– Unknown author

All kidding aside, cats and dogs both make wonderful pets. As for who’s more intelligent, I love them both, and they both make the best fury friends.

Bonding

When I found out I had cancer in twenty nineteen, Gidget became a Velcro strip. She has never left my side since.

If I’m sitting in my favorite chair, there she is.

Cooking

When I’m cooking, there she is.

Babysitting

When I’m caring for my grandson, there she is.

Playing

And when we are playing outside, so is she.

Loving

Gidget is a Yorkie Bichon; when my mom went to pick her out from the litter, she told me Gidget picked her instead.

My mom shared how Gidget kept snuggling up to her neck and wouldn’t let her put her down.

“Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us. And they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day.”

– John Grogan

Waiting

Don’t worry; she’s sleeping! I’m thankful for our special bond. We are always together, and when I’m not home, she waits for me, listening for the garage door to open.

I’m excited to share Ellie Jacobson’s story about her day to herself at the zoo:

I could relate to many parts of Ellie’s story. Taking time to ourselves is so vital, yet pets are nice too. Do you have a pet, or are you thinking about getting one?

Even taking a stroll around the zoo is always lovely, but watch out, so a monkey doesn’t follow you home, or they will insist on making banana bread their way:

My other pet story published in Thank You Notes: