August 26, 2023.
When you think about your birthday and how you might celebrate, you don’t envision chemotherapy as the cocktail of the day. Cycle 11, Day 8 was, in fact, my 71st birthday.
I was hopeful that the universe might take my birthday into account and make the day as smooth as possible. But, no. Instead there were delays that turned what could have been a 3-1/2 hour day into a 5-1/2 hour day, getting us home at 8p rather than 530p.
But it wasn’t all bad.
The funny thing about having your birthday on infusion day, is that all the nurses and caregivers wish you a happy birthday. How do they know it’s your birthday? Because every time you check in, get vitals taken, have bloodwork done, get premeds or get infused, they say, “Tell me your name and your date of birth.” So, of course they knew, if only in that moment. The second time I heard, with surprise in their voice, “Oh, happy birthday!” I looked the nurse straight in the eye and said questioningly, “Is it?” Surprisingly she replied, “You’re still here.” And she was right. Still being here is worth all the happy birthday wishes I welcomed from that point on.
We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. —Thornton Wilder
lana has cancer 