On this day last year, I stood with Matt on a terrace at the Waterside Sheraton in Norfolk watching fireworks explode over the Elizabeth River. It was a perfect conclusion to his graduation banquet and our time in Portsmouth. As I squeezed his hand and marveled at the brightly popping colors, I remember a feeling of tingling anticipation. The long days (and nights) of residency life were over, and we were getting ready to embark on an international adventure together with Christopher.
Looking back, I can't believe how many unique and exciting experiences we packed into one year. Twelve months, eight countries, dozens of new friends, and countless new memories later, it sometimes seems like a dream. So many times, I would look around - at the Sicilian countryside, at some amazing baroque architecture - and think "I can't believe what an incredibly blessed life we are living." It has truly been a whirlwind.
Today, I am feeling a different type of anticipation. In the morning, I will begin seven weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatments to eliminate cancer from my neck. Six weeks ago, at a routine check-up, my primary care physician found a mass in my throat. After consulting specialists in Sicily and Naples, we returned to Portsmouth a month ago and received the diagnosis. In the ensuing weeks, I have had surgery to remove the mass as well as appointments with an assortment of specialists to prepare me for the upcoming treatment.
As this process progressed, it became very clear that we would not be returning to Sicily. I was heartbroken to leave our home there without a sense of closure. We did not have the opportunity to say goodbye to our friends or Christopher's beloved nanny, Rosa. I was looking forward to the year ahead serving as the president of Protestant Women of the Chapel (an organization that had blessed me greatly in our first year) and going on more adventures across our island home and the continent beyond. The whirlwind was over.
The past several weeks have been overwhelming at times, but they have not been without blessings. In fact, there have been several times that I have still stopped and thought "I can't believe what a blessed life we are living." Our friends in Sicily have bridged the distance with their encouragement and assistance, truly proving that it is never goodbye in the Navy. It is a great blessing that we returned to Portsmouth. I can't imagine going through any of this without the comfort of the familiar faces of our friends and family. Even though it wasn't the homecoming I had wanted, they welcomed us with open arms and have embraced us with love and support.
My medical team and Matt's colleagues have gone above and beyond to make sure that we know they will help us in every way possible. I am very thankful that Matt can remain with us throughout my treatment and that he will be transferred back to the hospital here. I also feel blessed that I have access to wonderful medical care and treatments that will help heal my body.
I haven't decided if I am going to blog about any of this experience in the next few months. Although I greatly admire many of the people who share their stories, we've been feeling pretty close and private. My focus is on Matt and Christopher and getting better. If you would like to contact me, or comment on this post, please do so in a private message or email. I wanted to share this information with the people who read my blog, but I would prefer to keep the information off of Facebook and other social media.
