Do what you love and healing will follow: Christine’s update
- Christine is definitely a walking miracle!
Before I dive into my post, I wanted to make you aware of a new feature on the site. You can now sign up for an e-mail subscription. Just enter your e-mail address in the field above the “subscribe” button, hit “subscribe,” and you’ll receive a handy-dandy e-mail with a link to your site in your inbox every time there is a post. Also, when you do this, I can let you know when exciting things happen with the book and speaking engagements. Enough said!
I wanted to share some exciting news about Miracle Survivor Christine Dittmann (see Oct. 2 and Sept. 15 posts). Christine, who has been living with Stage IV ovarian cancer for four years, e-mailed me yesterday to tell me she had good scans and will not need to be on chemo for the rest of the year. This is amazing news, since she has active cancer and has been off chemo for several months now. Her secret? Living life fully, taking care of herself and loving those around her. Here’s what she had to say:
Because my last chemo in July was such a terrible experience, I know I needed a break if I was going to continue to coexist with my cancer. So, with the full support of my family, friends, and health care team, I decided to take off Aug., Sept., and Oct. I told myself then I wasn’t going to waste any time. If I only had three months left, then dammit these months were going to be my greatest yet.
So, I did what I love to do–I visited my sister in Milwaukee, my best friends in San Francisco and Michigan and, for the most part, gave up watching television in the daytime. Our family joined a gym, and I started exercising 3-4 days a week. I started taking free yoga classes offered by our local cancer services in conjunction with another organization offers free yoga. I’ve attended most of my son Drake’s soccer games, discovered intimacy again with my husband, and enjoyed an occasional beer and glass of wine.
I was also able to get off most of my pain medicine and anxiety medicine.
This break has given me a chance to refocus and refuel my mind, body and soul. I know my prognosis may not have changed, but once again I have been given the wonderful opportunity to live life, love my family and enjoy myself.
I am thrilled for Christine and feel this is another piece of proof there is more to healing than medicine. Christine says she will probably need to go back on chemo in January, but who knows? Maybe she’s found the secret to staying well. Your thoughts?
