Woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend... Just when I thought life could not get any better I heard a knock on my door, it was Cancer.
It changed everything but not for the worse. I choose Life and Hope .
BACK OFF CANCER is what I say!

The beginning of this journey...shaving my head

The beginning of this journey...shaving my head
Me, Francesca, on April 1st 2007, the day I shaved my head....

Friday, March 21, 2008

What doesn't Kill you, makes you Stronger




One year ago my life changed forever. I often question what day what "the day".. or like my friend Amy calls is , "My Canniversary"... the anniversary of the cancer.

Today was the day that my silly stomach ache was a little stronger and , with some resistance, I listened to my dear friend Barbara, and drove with her to the ER.

What was I thinking during that car drive? I can guarantee you that it was nothing serious or scary. I had left my house , Carsten and Leonardo and was wearing yoga pants and birkenstocks. I was 100% that I was going to be back in a couple of hours after some doctor had given me some painkillers and assured me that that stomach ache was just stress related....

OH WAS I WRONG....

I never left the ER that evening.... I left that Hospital 15 days later.

I left that Hospital with a shaved head.

I left that Hospital a Cancer Patient and already with one round of chemo under my belt.

Yes, that day was ONE YEAR AGO...

In this one year I learn a lot.... I faced my mortality and embraced life... priorities were shifted and relationships were put to the ultimate test... I was lucky, very lucky, to have experience the very best of human kind, ...I experienced unconditional love and friendship.... I have experienced scary fears and amazing hope.... I have cried .. both sad and happy tears.... I have felt sick and energized.... I found courage when sometimes I wanted to curl up and cry....

Immense gratitudes are due... and you all know who you are and the very important role in my healing you have.... every day of my life I will think of you as angels that have helped me and my family make this difficult year bearable.... THANK YOU

A special thank you to Barbara , who with her determined stubberness MADE me go to the ER... I owe her my life... as we later learned that I didn't have much longer if the beast had not been treated and dealt with....

So... as someone once said: " What doesn't kill you, make you Stronger"....

many kisses....

5 comments:

Cecilia said...

and you are indeed strong! and I am also glad your friend Barbara is stubborn! :)
Kisses, C and Ale

Anonymous said...

Frannie,
I often look at your page, have keep in touch for a year eventhough you don't know it. I am so thrilled for you and Carsten and the baby. I admire you so very much, and when you come to NYC you need to stop in at the St. Regis. Love Maria

Unknown said...

Frannie, may you have at least 60 more wonderful BEAST FREE years!

Vampdaddy said...

Here's to many more years of cancer-free living!

Anonymous said...

FG - How is it that you always bring tears to my eyes when I read your blog. Amazing that a year has gone by- I remember sitting in your backyard on that gorgeous spring day soon after the big c walked into your life....crazy that that was a year ago. You continue to be an inspiration to us all, Can't wait to see you when you're in NY. xoxksa