ADDICTED TO HOPE—FOREVER—I HOPE!

I received permission to post the Email below received from a friend—

Annie,

​Your most recent health update poetically touched on issues those of us who have had cancer relate to.  What is the right protocol – hopefully one that kills cancer without destroying a body part. 

​For 3 months I was treated for a rash my oncologist said unequivocally was not caused by chemo - it disappeared after chemo. After chemo I had shortness of breath and was afraid chemo had affected my heart. Again the doctor said this side effect was a ‘mystery’, indicating it was all in my mind.

​Often doctors don’t agree, which adds to the stress. In one day at 10:00 a.m. I was told, “Michael has a rare lymphoma tumor—no surgery”.

​At 1:00 p.m. “Michael has a glioblastoma tumor, which will be removed surgically.”  This doctor was so inarticulate I told the head nurse, “either he is on drugs or he is autistic”  She admitted he is autistic (but has a great mind). 

​At 5:00 p.m. a radiologist, “we will eradicate with radiation”.

​At 7:00 p.m. an oncologist, “we will eradicate with chemo’”.   I told this doctor I would not let him treat my cat.  Of course, I’ve had to eat my words since this doctor’s protocol saved Michael!

​There was a beautiful article in today’s Republic by Gerda Klein.  She was asked what saved her life during the Holocaust. She replied, “Hope”. Annie, your update is full of hope.  You go girl! 

Xoxo

Barb

Hi Barb

Emotion expressed in your email has touched my heart with tenderness born of empathetic truth suggesting the voice of one soul clearly identifying with the soulful need of another ...

And so, all four of us have struggled with cancer along with the imperfections inherent within the ‘practice’ of medicine.  And just as we experience both sides of most everything offered up during our lifetimes—we four have experienced the imperfect practice of medicine amidst the miracles of highly trained, medical magicians.

You know the heart-stirring song—I Will Survive—?

Well in the case of we four, the title needs changing to—

I Will Thrive!  Being that surviving vs thriving is
A matter of attitude, which is a personal choice

Thank you so much for making my day!

Once this pandemic stops gnawing and biting

Let’s plan to enjoy dinner, together, again!

Warmest hugs to you and Mike!

🙋🏻‍♀️❤️😍🌈🌻Annie

PS

Several years back

My therapist concluded that

I’m addicted to hope

Thank God, she’s right!😄

PSS
Gerta Klein, whose memoir
(became an academy award
Winning documentary produced by
Steven Spielberg) is titled
ALL BUT MY LIFE
Gerta is the mother of one of
My dear friends—whenever
Gerta speaks of her life
Not a dry eye is to be seen
Here, there, anywhere
Over many years
Will has felt honored to
Have Gerta as his patient
On the day when
A young, emaciated woman named
Gerta was freed from the camps
A young American G.I.
Held open a door for her to
Walk through toward freedom
Gerta stopped in her tracks so
He could go first
When he indicated that
She should precede him
Gerta whispered
But I am a Jew
The young G.I. replied
So am I
The name of the young G.I.
Was Kurt Klein
(May he Rest In Peace)
Kurt Klein, Gerta’s
Beloved husband
Fathered my dear friend ...
Each time an addiction to
Hope intertwines with Love
Good overcomes evil
And, yet again, do we find that
It’s a small, small world ...