The Nugget Newspaper's Focus on Health 2025 // 2025-02-05
Sisters Dental
When we have a dental issue, we want it taken care of quickly. Nobody wants to make repeat visits to the dentist office if they can avoid it. Sisters Dental has taken a big step in eliminating those multiple visits. They have brought lab services on site that make it possible for them to deliver same-day dental crowns.
That’s great news for everybody — patients and staff alike. Same day crowns eliminate the need for temporaries, and eliminates the need to use the gooey impression material that everybody hates to have in their mouth. Same day crowns make the use of both patients’ and staff’s time much more efficiently. And doing the work in-house enables better quality control and accurate fitting.
For Dr. Trevor Frideres, the new service makes for better care for patients. There are fewer injections, and less anxiety for the patient — and being able to offer same day service means that Sisters Dental can serve folks who are in the community temporarily. A Pacific Crest Trail hiker who has a dental emergency, or someone visiting relatives in Sisters, can get a crown when they need it, immediately, without having to alter their travel plans or wait till they get home to take care of the issue.
FOCUS on Health
Hamsa Healing Arts
Jeri Teresa pulls together a variety of different modalities to help her clients overcome limitations they may be experiencing around the connection of their self and their body. Sometimes we find ourselves stuck because our mind and spirit and our bodies seem to be in conflict with each other. We want to get in shape, but our bodies resist getting going. We want to get out and be more social and have more friends, but we can’t seem to get out and connect with people.
Hamsa Healing Arts offers massage to quiet and relax the nervous system. Tarot reading offers insight into where we are in our journey and what may be impeding our path; somatic coaching helps us get in touch with the wisdom of the body, understanding how our bodies relate to our emotions and behaviors. She also works with clients to establish and maintain boundaries.
“All of their wisdom is inside of their bodies,” Jeri says.
Together, the modalities at Hamsa Healing Arts can help people find greater self-awareness, reduce their stress and anxiety, become more confident and get out of their own way in achieving a true sense of health and well-being.
Partners In Care
Volunteers are critical to the mission of Partners In Care, the largest provider of home health, palliative care, and hospice services in Central Oregon.
Volunteer Coordinator Glenda Lantis notes that 200 active volunteers work across a wide range of Partners In Care’s services.
Some volunteers work in the hospice program, visiting patients in their homes; others visit to provide respite for family caregivers. A crew of volunteers does light yard work and clean-up for hospice patients who can’t do it themselves or afford to have it done commercially.
Some work in Hospice House — including musicians who play quiet music and singers who offer therapeutic singing at the bedside. Others serve as greeters or a friendly ear when a family member just needs to talk.
Transitions volunteers deliver medications and supplies.
“We find the volunteers who come to us, they come with a real sense of purpose and a feeling of wanting to give back at the end of life,” Lantis says.
Volunteers find the work deeply rewarding and many have been in place for many years.
Trevor Frideres, D M D Kellie Kawasaki, D.M.D.
THE DANGERS OF SLEEP AIDS
By Ashlee Francis
The other night, I got into bed feeling completely exhausted. My entire body was drained, and I could barely keep my eyes open. Unfortunately, the moment my head hit the pillow, I was sleepless...
Nothing I did helped me sleep. This went on for days before I decided to use the assistance of a sleep aid. I did this for several days, but it stopped helping, so I sought out the help of a doctor and walked away with a prescription for something stronger. This medication provided temporary relief, but the long-term use would not be beneficial, and could have been detrimental to my health.
Sleep disorders affect many individuals, leading to increased reliance on sleep aids. Are these helping us sleep more soundly or are we just doing more damage to our sleep hygiene?
One of the primary concerns with sleep aids is they alter the natural sleep cycle, affecting sleep quality. While they help individuals fall asleep faster, they can disrupt REM (rapid eye movement) and deep sleep stages, crucial for restorative sleep. This disruption can lead to feelings of grogginess and fatigue upon waking, as the body has not undergone a full restorative sleep cycle. The REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep is crucial for cognitive function, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. Here’s how sleep
aids impact REM sleep:
• Reduction in REM Sleep Duration: Many sleep aids, particularly benzodiazepines and certain over-the-counter medications, tend to suppress REM sleep. This suppression can lead to a shorter duration of REM periods throughout the night, which can impair memory consolidation and emotional processing.
• Alteration of Sleep Architecture: A healthy sleep cycle includes multiple stages, with REM sleep occurring approximately every 90 minutes. Sleep aids may alter this cycle, leading to fragmented sleep and less time spent in REM.
• Potential Long-term Consequences: Prolonged use of sleep aids that affect REM sleep can lead to cognitive deficits, mood disturbances, and decreased overall sleep quality. This can create a cycle where individuals feel the need to rely on sleep aids even more, further disrupting their natural sleep patterns.
Many sleep medications come with various side effects, including dizziness, confusion, and impaired
coordination. These side effects pose risks, especially for older adults, who may be more susceptible to falls and accidents. Additionally, some sleep aids can cause next-day drowsiness, impacting daily functioning and productivity.
Relying on sleep aids can mask underlying issues contributing to sleep disturbances, such as anxiety, depression, or poor lifestyle habits. Addressing these root causes through therapy, lifestyle changes, or natural remedies may provide more sustainable and effective solutions for improving sleep.
In summary, while sleep aids may provide immediate relief from insomnia, their impact on REM sleep can have significant negative consequences for mental and emotional health. It’s essential to consider these factors when using sleep aids and explore alternative methods for achieving restorative sleep.
Next week, we will discover ways of creating your own bedtime routine for ultimate sleep hygiene.
FOCUS on Health
Shibui Spa
People in Sisters have come to recognize that time spent at the spa is not an indulgence — it is a vital link on a healthy way of life. For decades now, Shibui Spa has been a leader in the community in encouraging locals and visitors alike to invest in their health and well-being.
Massage treatment relieves the stress that can be so deleterious to health, promotes muscle relaxation and improves circulation. Time in an indoor hot tub is restorative, rejuvenating body and mind. Even treatments that we think of as aesthetic have health benefits, improving skin condition and enriching with nutrients — while making us feel better about ourselves. That’s not an insignificant aspect of well-being: when you look your best, you tend to feel your best.
Shibui recommends facials every four to six weeks, and a massage a month to “reset.”
Treatments promote detoxification and natural healing balance that comes from within.
Shibui offers a range of quality products to take home, from massage rubs to foot creams, to help you maintain yourself between visits to this healing headquarters of well-being in Sisters.
• Wellness Lounge with Infrared Saunas, Water Massage, Compression Boots, Red L ight Therapy
• Salt Water Lap Pool & Hot Tub
• 38 Classes Per Week
• Or thopedic Physical Therapy
• Board-Certified, Fellowship Trained
• Specializing in complex cases
• Get back to your active life
Uhan Performance
Joe Uhan thinks of himself as a family practice orthopedic practitioner. A family practice doctor gets to know clients over time, to know their individual needs, their sensitivity, their history — and that’s what Uhan does with his clients.
“I get to know their bodies, their history — they have low-back history, so they don’t like this certain thing, they need to do that thing,” he says.
As a family practice orthopedic practitioner, Uhan can act as a go-to resource for someone who is fine but suffers a fall or a low-back sprain. Not only can they get in quickly, they’re also seeing someone who really knows them and their needs and history.
Uhan is committed to constantly refining his clinical practice with continual education and training. He is a Board -Certified Orthopedic Specialist and a Certified Functional Manual Therapist. He is also fellowship-trained.
Continual education at an elite level is part of Uhan’s commitment to excellence, a commitment to providing elitelevel care right here in Sisters — for everyone, from youths to seniors and everyone in between.
SISTERS ATHLE TIC CLUB
Sisters hletic Club
Make 2025 the year you prioritize your well-being. Sister Athletic Club is here to support your mental and physical health.
Whether you’re looking for the camaraderie of an exercise class or the quiet solitude of swimming laps, the Club has something for everyone. Work with a certified personal trainer to reach your goals. Find mindfulness in a yoga or meditation class, unwind in our Wellness Lounge, or reward yourself with a relaxing soak in the hot tub and steam room. And afterward, enjoy a cup of coffee and conversation with friends in our Cafe.
We understand that everyone has different fitness goals, preferences, and budgets, so we’ve created Wellness Your Way membership options. Whether you’re interested in swimming, or fitness classes, or a combination of both, we have a membership that’s right for you. We even have a mid-day, lower priced option.
There are certified and degreed personal trainers on staff to help you determine and meet your fitness goals. Sisters Athletic Club truly offers something for everyone — your way.
This is the year to prioritize your overall health and well-being. You deserve it.
Dog Biscuits
Buckaroo Trail, Sisters
By Matt Van Slyke
A new pediatric therapy clinic is starting an equine therapy program at Pole Creek Ranch. Treehouse Therapies held an open house on January 31 to show what they provide Sisters families.
“At our Pole Creek location, we offer occupational therapy (OT) and behavioral health therapy. Within the next few months, we plan to add physical therapy as well,” said Christen Eby, a pediatric physical therapist and founder and executive director of Treehouse Therapies.
The nonprofit has branched out since opening in Bend in 2013. It counts 25 therapists among a staff of 33 across two clinics in Bend and one each in Redmond, Warm Springs, and Sisters.
“We provide therapy for all kids based on what they need, regardless of insurance or financial limitations,” Eby said.
OT supports children facing challenges in self-care, motor skills, and visual skills. In the main space at Pole Creek, sensory swings hang from the rafters, and soft mats and brightly colored devices promoting balance and gross motor skills dot the rubberized floor. OT also helps with self-regulation and social interactions, which were on Ginger Kretschmer’s mind.
“As a parent, I think I need more resources to suit my son’s wiggly needs. Something local is great, and anything with animals for kids is a nice way for them to connect. I’m trying to help him and myself find peaceful ways to cope with big emotions,” Kretschmer said at the open house.
On Friday, Eby slid open a barn door in the back of the OT room to reveal a horse riding arena.
“Out here, we will do something that we call hippotherapy, which is occupational, physical, speech, or behavioral health therapy using the horse as a treatment. It’s done on horseback. We have the indoor arena here, and we’ll
EQUINE THERAPY coming to Pole Creek Ranch
use the outdoor spaces for that as well,” Eby said.
In the ranch’s stables stood DeeDee, a mustang, and Penny Campell, cofounder and executive director of StirrUp Purpose, partnering to provide the equine experiences beginning in March.
“In hippotherapy, the movement of the horse is the tool of the treatment,” said Campbell, “but we also need volunteers to make it happen.”
Campbell, Eby, and their teams are looking for a few good hippotherapy sidewalkers. They help clients mount and dismount, and walk beside the horse and client during therapy sessions.
“Every single session that we do for hippotherapy requires at least one volunteer, so we are hoping that Sisters will come out strong with volunteers for us,” Eby said.
To volunteer, call StirrUp Purpose at 541-410-0164 or visit stirruppurpose.org.
Those interested in Treehouse Therapies can get started at www. treehousetherapies.com.
is a key TO A HEALTHY WAY OF LIFE
By Jim Cornelius
We all know that it’s eat right, get plenty of sleep and hydration, and exercise regularly in order to maintain optimal health. But the healthiest and fittest among us are still vulnerable to injury or sudden illness. Being prepared is an integral part of a healthand-wellness-oriented way of life.
Many folks in Sisters enjoy getting outside to hike, ski, snowshoe, ride a bike, or play sports. Along with the fun come inevitable spills, scrapes — and sometimes worse. Everyone should have a good first aid kit at home, in their vehicle, and in their pack or on their person when they venture out into field and forest.
Tracy Trotter of Northwest Precision Medical Teams has a background in emergency medical training. He offers some recommendations for a good first aid kit.
“Not all first aid kits are the same,” Trotter says. “You have to think about what purpose this kit is going to serve. Is it an IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) for yourself as you’re hiking, or is this kit going to need to serve a large group?”
Here is a basic breakdown of what every first aid kit should have:
TRAUMA:
• Gauze — roller gauze and 4-by-4-inch.
• Coban (also known as vet wrap).
• Tape — vinyl or cloth.
• Band-aids of assorted sizes.
• Gloves.
• Antiseptic wipes.
• Hand sanitizer.
MEDICAL:
• Bacitracin antibiotic ointment.
• Saline.
• Scissors.
• Heat/ Cold Packs.
• Emergency Blanket.
• Pocket mask.
• Medications such as ibuprofen, Tylenol, Benadryl.
FOR LARGER KITS such as backpacking, motorcycles, vehicles, or anytime you are going to be far from professional help, also include:
• Sam Splint.
• Triangular bandage.
• Tourniquet.
• Combat gauze.
• Zip Strips (wound closure for deep wounds).
“Many people assume all first aid kits are the same, but that’s far from the case,” Trotter says. “It’s crucial to know what’s in your kit and how to use it effectively.
“Simply owning a first aid kit isn’t enough—knowing how to properly use it is essential. A lot of people purchase one but aren’t familiar with the correct application of its contents. Training is vital for being prepared; it not only helps you understand what to do, but also enables you to recognize when an emergency is unfolding before it escalates. This is where proper training can be the difference between a trip to the ER and something far more tragic.”
Spring Focus…
Through March 31
Bo tox: $12 PER UNIT
C hemical Peel Packages: $50 OFF
Injectables: $100 OFF 2ND SYRINGE
FOCUS on Health
Book your appointment with Darlene Zettergren, APRN Call or text 860-951-5351
392 Main Ave., Ste. 3B, Sisters
Newport Aesthetics
How you see yourself is important to both your mental health and your physical well-being. How you present to the world is not just an aesthetic consideration — it’s part of your overall wellness. Maintaining ourselves as we age is vital to both our psychological and physical well-being.
Newport Aesthetics offers services that help Sisters residents of all ages look and feel their best. Newport Aesthetics offers Botox and other treatments beneficial to both men and women, and younger people value it as much as older clients.
Darlene Zettergren does medical peels for various skin types and conditions. Peels promote cellular turnover and even skin tones. She recommends Skin Medica skin-care products to maintain the treatment benefits and cell rejuvenation.
Zettergren works by appointment and offers individualized treatments.
She builds relationships with her clients (she still has clients in Newport, Rhode Island), knowing their lives, their families, what their needs and issues are.
For Zettergren “her people” are never a number — and she is always striving to stay abreast of new developments in the field that enhance their well-being.
YO U ’RE IN THE RIGHT HANDS !
Green Ridge Physical Therapy & Wellness
Jason Gulley has become one of fewer than 100 worldwide Level 1 Certified Counterstrain Practitioners, joining Greg Zadow in bringing the cutting-edge manual therapy to bear in improving the lives of Sisters clients. Gulley passed a grueling, three-day exam demonstrating mastery of the skill.
Fascial Counterstrain is a gentle, handson technique that works with the connective tissue that holds all the structures in the body together. Fascial Counterstrain can help clients with gastrointestinal issues, nervous system dysfunctions, and chronic pain. It can also work to release inflammation.
Expertise in this technique opens up a range of treatments and the ability to care for patients. Sometimes treatment can be one and done; more typically it can be worked out in 2–5 visits, depending on complexity.
Jason has a strong background in athletics and enjoys the kind of active Central Oregon lifestyle that is important to his clients. He is also certified by the American Physical Therapy Association as a certified orthopedic specialist. He believes that integrating his knowledge of orthopedics with manual therapy has allowed his patients to attain lifelong improvements in health.
Radiant Day Spa
A “spa day” at Radiant Day Spa holds out the promise of the immediate benefits of self-care — improved physical well-being, stress relief, enhanced mindfulness — all wrapped up in one experience. The spa is a warm, welcoming, intimate environment — clean and calm, a refuge from the daily grind and a resource for wellness.
The whole experience is built around centering on the individual. A visit to Radiant Day Spa is a personalized experience.
The range of services is extensive — from several different modalities of massage that can be therapeutic or simply soothing, to a wide range of facial and body treatments to nail care, waxing and sugaring. A full menu of services can be viewed on the website.
Radiant Day Spa also specializes in highest-quality Éminence skin care products. Then staff listens closely to the needs of clients and consults with them on their needs. It’s never about selling a product — it’s always about creating an experience that promotes good health, a centered and confident sense of self, and an overall sense of well-being.
For the LOVE of
running
It’s hard to put your finger, or toe for that matter, onto what factors combine to make the practice of distance running a unique athletic and lifestyle experience, but after conversing with a number of veteran runners, some truths emerged.
A lifelong friend of mine, Mike Bauer, 77, began running in his teens, and is one of the founding members of the Stayton Road Runners in Stayton, Oregon, established in the late 1970’s. Bauer began inviting people to join him for runs Monday-Friday at 6:05 a.m. from the community swimming pool in Stayton that continued for nearly 50 years because of his own love for running.
“Simply put, I can think of no better way to start the day, whether it is on your own or with friends,” he said. “I have friends for life from running together.”
Bauer is a legend in the Stayton area for building community, often with running and walking as a centerpiece.
A local runner who helped establish the Sisters Country Running Club in 2022, Amy Margolis, described her love of running, some of which echoes Bauer.
“I didn’t always love running,” she said. “It was something that gradually grew on me, and over time, it’s become an essential part of who I am. But why do I love it so much? For me, one of the biggest reasons is the people it’s brought into my life.
For non-runners the idea of putting in miles on the trail or the road would in no way conjure up feelings of joy. Those people who have been at the running game for extended periods commonly communicate clear cut experiences of joy, peace, contentment, and happiness from running.
Running has opened up a world of friend-
ships — friendships that I know will last a lifetime. These are the kind of friends who stand by you through your highs and lows, who share in both your happiest moments and your toughest ones. They are there, without question, through it all.
“Running has also given me the chance to explore places I might not have seen otherwise. It’s a unique way to discover the world, one step at a time. But perhaps what I appreciate most is the solitude it offers. In a world that never slows down, running gives me precious time for reflection — time to clear my mind and reconnect with myself. It’s an escape, a break from the hustle, and a way to recharge.
“Running isn’t just a hobby for me anymore; it’s a way of life,” she concluded.
In a time of wireless earbuds becoming virtually a part of the human anatomy, some experts urge people to take to the trail unencumbered with podcasts and music, and instead take in the sights and sounds around you, and let your mind relax and wander as you go through the paces of a run.
“For me, running provides me with the 45 minutes to unplug from everything else and I find myself sort of resetting my mind and settling my soul,” said one runner. “I also notice that I end up having creative
ideas and do some problem solving and decision making when I let go for a while on a run. Sort of active meditation.”
For competitive runners, like former Outlaws running star Iris Powell, who I coached and who is now 36 and running faster than ever in Portland, there is nothing like a hard workout.
“In regards to how running affects my mental well-being, nothing feels better than setting a goal for myself, working hard, and then accomplishing the goal,” she said.
“For instance, my weekly track sessions are really hard. I’ve picked a goal (the new goal is currently a sub-18-minute 5k), and without anyone pushing me, training with me, or coaching me, I go to the track presunrise and spill my guts! The suffering is tough, but man oh man, there’s nothing better than that feeling of accomplishment! My early morning track sessions keep me motivated to make good choices, I feel that sense of accomplishment once I’ve finished and I am just a happier person in general.”
The act of distance running has many positive health benefits. The body and mind together. Gaining confidence, feeling you can do anything. Self-care that really works. Serenity. Spirituality. Creativity. Physical fitness. Adventure. Community.
FOCUS on Health
Gilmore Dental
Gilmore Dental is passionate about encouraging folks in Sisters to prioritize our dental health. Too often, we let things go — from cleaning to nagging problems — and pay the price later. We simply don’t put as much urgency on our dental health as we should, because we just don’t want to make the investment.
Dr. Richard Gilmore can tell you that dentistry isn’t expensive; neglect is.
Regular cleaning and addressing any problems early prevents more extensive work down the line, improving health and saving money in the long run. Feeling good about our teeth makes us more confident.
Dr. Gilmore urges people in Sisters to act, just as they would if other aspects of their life needed attending.
If your TV blows up, you are going to get a new one. If you get a nail in your tire, you’re going to fix it. If your medical doctor says you have a disease, you’re going to treat it. That’s the way you should act with your dental health.
Dr. Gilmore urges people to overcome the “dental disconnect” and be proactive about taking good care of their teeth. You’ll be healthier — and everybody benefits from the transformative value of a healthy smile.
Mosaic
Community Health
Mosaic Community Health operates seven pediatric locations in Central Oregon. Six of these sites are school-based health centers (SBHC), including Sisters SBHC (535 N. Reed St.) which opened fall of 2023. SBHCs are independent pediatric healthcare clinics located on or near school grounds. Anyone age 0-18 can be seen at an SBHC: Patients do not need to be students at the school, health insurance is not required, and health care can be established with a different provider. SBHCs offer convenient, accessible healthcare near schools to increase student attendance and help families take less time off work to get children to appointments. And SBHCs collaborate with schools to improve student wellness. In addition to medical and behavioral health care, providers at Mosaic SBHCs emphasize prevention, early intervention, risk reduction, and the development of healthy habits with their young patients.
Mosaic accepts most private or commercial insurance and all local OHP (Medicaid). They offer reduced rates based on a sliding scale to all Mosaic established patients.
Sisters Wellness Collective
“My work is to empower and support you in caring for yourself,” says Dr. Sarah Schantz, founder of Sisters Wellness Collective, where highly experienced professionals in the healing arts serve clients seeking out its welcoming environment and exceptional level of care and compassion.
Acupuncture, lymphatic care, and Pilates are offered, along with physical therapy, Ashiatsu massage, and herbal medicine.
“I had a vision of excellence in each practice when I started Sisters Wellness Collective,” Schantz explains, “and of a beautiful healing space that would feel great for us practitioners — and for the community to experience.”
Providing decongestive therapy for lymphedema and post-operative care, Dr. Schantz is a LANA-Certified Lymphatic Therapist and Doctor of Physical Therapy.
General clients come to Dr. Schantz to support their overall health and wellness with lymphatic massage and drainage.
Other practitioners include acupuncture and Chinese medicine specialist Dr. Kevin Pett, certified Pilates teacher Ivy Castella, and licensed massage therapist Alexis Mutchler.
Staying strong when illness comes calling
By Katy Yoder
Hearing a scary prognosis or coming down with a debilitating condition that impedes mobility and independence, knocks the breath right out of you. What you do next, who you talk to, and how you respond to bad news will either improve your quality of life or make the situation even harder.
I’m no poster child for always choosing optimism over martyrdom; but I’ve learned when I focus on what’s going right, the bumps and barriers are a little easier to navigate.
Now almost midway through my sixth decade, I’ve had the honor to support loved ones going through tough times. In most cases, they showed me how to handle health challenges — and even dying — with fortitude, and grace, with a deep well of strength that astounds me.
Before I heard my own cancer diagnosis, my grandfather, grandmother, father, uncle, brother-in-law, and cousin all died from the disease. In every case, after accepting the diagnosis and shifting into a get-well gear, they took every advantage of special times with family and friends.
My grandfather was a quiet man, who let my grandmother do most of the talking. Even though I grew up with him, I knew very little about his early years and his side of the family. When he neared the end of his life, he began telling stories, opening up and giving us a chance to know him more fully. For as long as he could, he also kept sailing his beloved boat Symfony with my grandmother
There are some things in life that demand strength, force growth, and will change your perspective about what’s important in life. Starting a family is one. Another is getting seriously ill or injured. In both cases, suddenly the world expands with all kinds of new challenges, worries, and opportunities.
and two dogs, spent time talking to our horses and relaxing in the sunshine.
Later, my father was diagnosed and underwent painful and disfiguring surgery to treat his cancer. Always a dynamo and consummate teacher, Dad continued teaching golf course architecture classes at Harvard and doing design projects for his beloved Black Butte Ranch. He went to the golf course in deep snow with a walker and a determination to finish the redesign of the driving range until he could no longer get around. He kept a positive attitude, ignored the burned skin on his sagging face, and spent time talking with loved ones. Dad didn’t let feeling self-conscious stop him from doing what he loved.
A dear friend, Pat Swift, needed to go to Good Samaritan for surgery and had no one to go with her. I volunteered to be her patient advocate and stayed with her for two weeks until she could come home to Powell Butte. Pat was a rancher who raised Black Angus cattle with her husband Dennis. She was a mentor to me when I rode Morgan horses for show and ranch work. She taught me life lessons when I was a teenager, but in my thirties, she taught me how to handle excruciating pain, breathe through it, and always find the silver lining in every dark cloud. The nurses and doctors loved her stories of wild and woolly antics on the ranch in Oregon and Point Reyes. She shifted her fear and pain into occasional laughter and fond memories from life before her illness.
Most recently my Aunt Annie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She knew it was time to bow out gracefully, and not fight what lay ahead. My mom and I spent weeks at a time with her as the disease slowly took its toll. Through the pain, uncertainty, and eventual ending, she spent time reminiscing with family, playing her ukulele when she was able, and always worrying about how all her caregivers were doing. She accepted her illness with an understanding that she’d lived a blessed life and was ready to meet her God. With her daughter’s help, she always looked beautiful, ate from her best serving plates, and entertained her guests with her usual flair.
Hearing that I had cancer filled me with images of family members and their experiences. The dread hit my stomach with a punch that had me feeling dizzy and overwhelmed. The doctor who called me with the news thought she was being funny when she said, “Well, I have some bad news and some good news. The good news is you’re going to get a boob job, the bad news is, you have breast cancer.” I remember sitting on our couch listening and not believing how or what I was being told.
Getting a call like that threw me into fast, white water with no boat. Suddenly I had little control over what came next. During a writing meditation, I envisioned myself in the cold, quick water trying not to hit sharp rocks or go under and drown. Then I imagined all the friends and family I had to
guide and support me. I saw them standing along the river’s edge cheering me on, giving me directions and throwing things to hold onto. When I was on a gurney heading to my second lumpectomy with bright lights flashing overhead and the sound of the wheels squeaking down the hallway, I remembered that vision of loved ones. When I did chemotherapy, my sister Victoria or my husband Gary came with me. I found strength in their love and support as I felt the metallic taste in my mouth and knew the chemo drugs were flowing into my veins. When I ended treatment with radiation, a dear friend, David Hiller, volunteered to drive me to radiation when my husband or sister couldn’t. His smile, easy conversation, and compassion filled me up and kept me going to the end of the treatment marathon.
and two dogs, spent time talk- Most recently my Aunt Annie guide and support me. I saw
Now when my back goes out, or I have a case of vertigo, a sore neck, or painful TMJ, I compare it all to what’s come before and remember how grateful I am to be alive. I mention this often, but it’s important to repeat the words of a kind, wise man, Jeff Lake. “When you’re going through the hardest things, watch for the blessings.” That’s what I do, and I think that’s what my family members did too. There are always angels around us… yes, there are also idiots, but why focus on them? While there’s breath in my body, I’ll do all I can to see what’s good in every situation. That includes praying for guidance, asking for help and always remembering to say, “Thank you.”
