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In the face of loss...

Today was the in-house departmental memorial for our professor. (See 10-10-12 Post)

 It was tough. First "funeral" I've been to since my diagnosis. I've wondered more concretely in the past couple years what my funeral would be like. I really hope it's moving as Dr. Peterson's. Chris was the kind of person who not only accomplished a lot, he did the most important thing: deeply impacted the people around him in a very haphazard way. He just stopped by, listened, CARED, and made people laugh. Yes he was incredibly intelligent and accomplished individual, but he was a humble, loving and well-loved individual, which is the part that every person in that room claimed is the part he would be remembered for. 

 I'm incredibly proud/thankful for my education and accomplishments, but I do consider my relationships to be the best thing about me. The night before my surgery I wasn't afraid at all, because I faced down death KNOWING I was well-loved. Not everyone is that lucky, or able to be that sure. Even now, I still have plenty of time to enjoy those relationships and build others. One less thing to worry about!

 The most difficult part for me, was when his bestfriend, professional counterpart, love of his life spoke, last. To look right into the eyes of the person who has just lost the most important person in the world to them, to watch them struggle to speak and convey a message their loved-one would want translated out to the world after they passed... I cry at pretty much any sappy movie, I never met the guy and after 90 minutes of hearing people speak about how much he meant to them, and then to listen to her, I was a mess! I don't know ANYONE who could sit through that stone-faced. I'm tearing up now just remembering it. 

 Pray for Nansook Park, she is a fantastic woman, who is heartbroken and could use a little extra love passed her way as she copes with this loss...

 There, needed to get that out. Thanks for reading! =)

 Random update: I gave my boss my cold I had for two weeks and he probably hates me now. I would hate me, that cold was phlemalicious! He was out yesterday, and only came in for the memorial for our beloved professor today, then back out. 

Poor guy, he never saw it coming: "Hi, boss, here's that stack of paperwork you wanted, "cough cough", yup, now you're infected MWAHAHAHAHAH! Revenge! Errr... I mean, I'm SO sorry! =)"

Today= first Doc appointment at the GINORMOUS 7-Story cancer center here at UofM Hospital! Talk about all the latest and greatest! Good thing I was a student-volunteer in the pediatric unit there way back when, or else I would have totally gotten lost!

My new Doc reminds me of an Associate VP I worked with at Albany, AWESOME guy! He also trained at Sloan-Kettering like my previous Albany Doc, and he knows her, so that's comforting. Made me feel like I'm in good hands, similar, if not better expertise!

Downside= I got my blood drawn AND a flu shot within 15 minutes of each other. Needles EVERYWHERE! LOL! Talk about TIRED! 

Good thing it's friday. Between a funeral, getting attacked by a vampire with a lab coat, and then injected with a "cure", I'm gonna need the weekend to recover physically and emotionally.

Next scan= Oct 23, keep your fingers crossed for me!




The Good Life


"Luna" my kitten who will be joining me next month when I finally get into my Ann Arbor Apartment!

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