All about Kathy
A little background on columnist
Hey there …. it’s me Kathy How was your week? Mine had its ups and downs as usual.
I figure it’s time that I updated my column for the people that didn’t get the start of it almost three years ago now.
I was born in the Polish area of Glace Bay. They called it the Holy Cross area because every area had a church in it. So the church in my area was called Holy Cross. Yes, I’m a Polish Cape Bretoner. I loved growing up there and I still have friends there. Geraldine Metcalf and I have been in touch for 54 years and we still call each other every other night. We are going to be 60 this year but she will be the first to tell you that I will be the one that turns 60 first. I hear that every year.
I can’t believe I will be 60 this December 21, the shortest day of the year. I was 46 when I was told I had breast cancer. I had surgery, the breast was taken off and the lymph taken out. I went through all the treatments then five years later it came back in the sternum. So then I went through all the treatments again.
I was doing good, well as good as I could be, then three years later, it decided it was going into my bones. I was lucky it didn’t go into the marrow but hooked on the inside of the bones so that meant more treatments. I have taken more cancer chemo drugs than I can remember. I have done trial drugs and I will have to take chemo until I die or until my body can’t take it any more. But that’s OK, as long as they have more drugs to give me, it keeps my dreams and hopes alive.
I live in Westville, have a lot of friends, great neighbors and the best doctors and nurses that anyone could hope for.
Most of them have been with me since this all started.
My father and Janet and my brothers are always there for me. I have the greatest family a person can ask for. My friends Mary, Vicky, and Susan are there for me even with their busy lives. Wayne is there for me and drives me wherever I have to go and if there is anything to be done, he can fix anything.
Being sick can also be lonely because really no one understands what you are going through. I can’t do a lot of the things that I always liked to do any more. If I try I really pay for it over the next couple days. I did have a good day this week and I raked the front yard. I’m sure glad it’s a small front yard but I’m still paying for it with the pain.
I had a meltdown this week. I called the hospital and they told me to take more pain breakthrough pills so I did and I settled down. I cried so much and so long my face was red as a beet.
My friend Sheri came over and talked to me and she said I deserved to have a good cry and a breakdown from what I have been going through the last 13 and a half years. She’s right - no matter how many people are around, this sickness is one that you go through on your own. I am feeling better now. I needed a pep talk. On the bright side, a good cry clears all your sinuses.
Thank you for all letters and gifts - it means so much to me
Happy Birthday to my friend Jack. Have a great birthday
Happy Birthday to my granddaughter Emma. She will be four years old. These years just flew by. Happy birthday, Nanny’s little cupcake.
Happy Birthday Dad, have a great birthday to the best father I could ever have or want.
Weight-wise I’m up two pounds - I don’t know how that happened.
Not doing so good with the sugar but getting better with the water. George brought me these drops from the health store in Truro to try and they really help the water taste better – at least something worked.
Have a great week folks, enjoy the nice weather even if it’s a bit breezy. That’s because love is in the air so open your eyes wider and you will find it.