Raise a glass!

This weekend I'd like to raise a glass of Reed's extra-strong ginger ale to a whole lot of people who helped me get through a very difficult time. Ten years ago tomorrow I was diagnosed with stage 3 endometrial cancer with a bleak prognosis, and if I tried to list all the wonderful people who contributed to my recovery, we'd be here all day: the physician's assistant who told me I didn't have to live with pain and sent me to a specialist; the surgeon who found the cancer and the doctors and nurses and other medical professionals who treated me aggressively for six months and then watched and waited to see whether the cancer would return; the colleagues, friends, and family members who gave me colorful scarves to cover my baldness, drove me to the cancer center for chemotherapy, sat with me while I was drugged and loopy without laughing too hard, cheered me with cards, covered my classes, listened to my complaints, and encouraged me in a thousand different ways. I've never been able to personally thank the person who anonymously sent a case of Reed's extra-strong ginger ale to my office, but I'll toast that person tomorrow with the drink that always reminds me of how much we depend upon the kindness of strangers. There's nothing like suffering to remind us of how much we need each other, and I wish I could throw a big party to thank every single person involved in my recovery.

If you want to celebrate with me, raise a glass tomorrow and consider supporting my son's Velosano bike ride to raise funds for cancer research (click here). All together now: To life!