Wednesday, March 28, 2012

"...sweetest in the crushing places..."


"Joy is like wine — it can run sweetest in the crushing places. " Ann Voskamp

I've been concerned about how this week would transpire.  Its another arena of new for me.  With the stable nature of my disease throughout last year, we worked within some well developed boundaries, knowing what to expect.  Coming off of the trial, has shuffled me back into the regular system and I am trying to re-learn how to navigate.  

This is the radiation suite where the Novalis radiosurgery machine sits.  I had the targeted 1 time treatment to my brain in this suite last Wednesday.  On Monday I started treatment to the spot in my spine, in the same room. The first day took about 15 minutes or so.  But by yesterday I was out in under 10 minutes.  The photos are fuzzy, but I didn't want to tie up the machine too long so I snapped three quick shots before I had to have my treatment.

My counts were good enough for chemo this week!  So I had chemo first and then finished exactly at the time I needed to go for radiation.  I sat down and they took me right back.  So easy.


The machine moves around me and the table adjusts me when necessary.  I stare up at the ceiling and immerse myself in the nature photo. 



My legs go over the blue cushion, and my head rests up in the mold at the top of the table.  Then I just lay there as the machine moves around me shooting radiation to the targeted spot in my spine.  


3 treatments down, 7 to go.  


*********************************************************************

She has been my best friend since high school.  Its just over 30 years now that we've sustained a friendship that has seen us through everything from boys, to cars, to college, then law school for her, grad school for me, to weddings, and then the birth of our kids.  We've ridden the high times together and forged through the tough times together.  We haven't lived in close proximity for years, but we've always stayed in touch.  

As I've battled through breast cancer, my friend, Kristi, has suffered through pneumonia on 3 different occasions this past year, including one lengthy hospitalization.  I haven't seen her in almost a year.  But we chat often and know the time will come when we will get to hang out together again soon.

So I was so surprised to have this arrive on my doorstep Sunday night.  There are so many details in it, its hard to capture them all.  But this beautiful quilt was hand made by my talented friend, Kristi!   


She even stitched "hope" into the top-stitching all around the quilt.


She personalized this square for me on the back.  


I even found us in the "best friend" phrase scattered throughout the quilt.



She wrote to tell me she hoped I felt  "hope and hugs."  But what I felt most of all, is all the love coming through.  I know this took hours upon hours of her precious time, and tons of talent and knowledge in piecing and quilting and stitching it all together. 

Its gorgeous!

Its left me feeling like the luckiest "best friend"out there.  

20 comments:

  1. Kristi sounds like an amazing friend; one who shows up exactly when you need them most!

    You (as always) sound like the most amazing woman. So strong.So brave.

    Thoughts and prayers with you and with Kristi, too!
    xo!

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  2. WOW.. that's so beautiful, what a treasure to have, Vicky. Your friends is truly special. I hope a year from now you are both looking back on these days together, saying Thank the Lord that's behind us. Better days ahead.

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  3. Dearest Vicky,
    What a dear and precious friend you have...Her quilt is beautiful and filled with such love.
    I have been praying for you nightly ever since Robin (Heart and Home) posted asking for prayer for you. God has layed you on my heart faithfully.
    You are loved, dear!
    Lovingly,
    Carolynn...grammycarolynn...flickr

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  4. oh, the gift of friends! perhaps one of God's best ideas.

    i've been wearing your bracelet daily, which has reminded me to pray for you. it has also been a not-so-subtle reminder (when it gets wet and rubs a bit) that my troubles are really irritations, light and momentary. it's good attitude-adjustment jewelry.

    my customer friend linda asked about you today, so i shared about the radiation and chemo simultaneously. we're cheering for you, dearie!

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  5. Thinking of you and praying you recover soon. You've been exceptionally strong through everything. Just a wee bit longer and you'll be cancer free. God bless you abundantly!

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  6. What a way to be embraced with the warmth and love of friendship! Praying that all goes well.

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  7. That is VERY sweet indeed!

    Praying for you Vicky; believing this week will bring you healing and more love!

    xoTiffany

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  8. Love can take so many forms and this beautiful quilt is one of them. Love is also showing throughout her stitching. Sending healing thoughts your way, Vicky. I keep praying :-)

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  9. I love the quilt, what a beautiful and thoughtful gift. I had a friend do something similar for me and I treasure it still.

    Also, what is it with the fake nature lights in the radiation rooms? mine had them too and always made me laugh!!

    continuing to pray for strength for you for this intense week of treatment for you.

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  10. Hey Sweetie,

    what a wonderfull work from your lovely friend!!! I am speakless!

    Bussal
    Mimi

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  11. Hey Vicky: I miss you! And of course I think of you daily. I may not be in touch all the time, but you and your family are always on my mind. :)

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  12. Oh what a lovely and thoughtful gift, Vicky! It is beautiful! What a special friend Kristi is and what a blessing that you been friends for so long!

    Eileen xxoo

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  13. Wow ! How wonderful of your friend She is a real treasure :)

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  14. Sometimes we are carried on the wings of our angel friends.

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  15. Goosebumps! Let me know when you would like some company so my best friend and I can stop over with some beauty tips...not that you need it. When you are feeling up to it. I have some things for you too. :) xoxo

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  16. Hi sweet Vicky~
    You sure handle your treatments well. Glad things went smoothly with the chemo and radiation the other day.

    That quilt is wonderful. What a special thing for your friend to do. How awesome!

    On a totally different note, I got asked yet again where I am from yesterday! It cracks me up that people here in Vegas get a kick out of my North Dakota accent. I think I said the word "about" or "you betcha"! I made the person guess where I was from, and first they said Canada, then they said North Dakota! It cracks me up. :)

    I hope you have a nice weekend. Sending hugs!

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  17. It is a gorgeous and breathtaking quilt. Sending love to you my amazing friend :) I think of you and your family always and pray for you each day.

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  18. Hi Vicki, it's a long time since I blogged and I decided to come and visit the blogs I used to visit some time ago.

    I caught up on 12 months worth of your posts last night and I am so terribly sorry you are in this fight at the moment. Your writing is beautiful as always and you really are brave and strong and will perservere.

    You are the second blogger I have read tonight that has the same fight. A month ago I got diagnosed with skin cancer as well.

    I know from reading your posts that you are surrounded by so much love and support and this will keep lifting you. And you are an inspiration to those around you. so very gracious. I will keep you in my prayers.

    I just wanted to tell you about my grandmother because I always use her story to hang onto no matter what trouble or challenges I face. She has helped me out of some bad stuff believe me. When my grandmother was 40 she was told her cancer had spread and nothing could be done. She was stubborn, so stubborn always. She refused to accept the diganosis. She lived till she was 94. I don't know how or why but she did. She told me over and over in her later years about the power of mind over matter. She just never gave up, ever. She also had tremendous faith always.

    And, I know from reading your blog, that you are no quitter either. I don't know where the following came from but I have always kept it close to me,

    "When faced with a mountain, I will not quit!
    I will keep on striving until I climb over,
    find a pass through, tunnel underneath,
    or simply stay...and turn the mountain around."

    So continue to move mountains my dear. Better days are definitely coming, they really are. Much love and light to you and all your precious boys.

    And that quilt is simply amazing, just so beautiful. Wrap yourself in that love and hold tight.

    Lilly xx

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  19. I love, love, love the stitched hope - so beautiful! I, too, have a quilt that I adore - made by friends who all sent in a favorite swatch of fabric.

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  20. Nothing is so comforting as those who know us best and love us the most. You deserve friends like this and Kristi deserves you. Just beautiful and what a gift from her own place of trial. Love to you both.

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I welcome what you have to say. Thanks for taking the time to grace me with your thoughts and words!

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