Dear Friends,
I took my first infusion chemo treat today at the Corvallis Good Samaritan Infusion Center. Thanks to Dianne, my infusion nurse, for her kindnesses. I finished the treatment at 1:20 p.m. and it is 8:20 p.m. and so far I have had no negative reactions or side effects. Thanks as well to Dr. Matt Taylor and Dr. Vicky Lee for making this happen so that I would have a chance to give my lectures at Drury University, Elmhurst College, and Iowa State over the next 10 days. My next treatment will be in three weeks. Gratitude and thanks be to God, my friends with all their prayers and thoughts, and the medical team for helping me negotiate the early steps of this journey. I want to particularly thank Dan Ahern and Tim Hennessy for friendship above and beyond the call of duty. Thanks as well to Kathy, a survivor, and Monsignor Silva for sage like advice and prayer. Rudy's visit meant a lot as well. You have all been so great to me. I have always told others that the joy is in giving, and no one gets to give unless someone receives. Many, many of you have told me this is my time to receive. I am so much more comfortable giving than receiving. I will never feel worthy of the love you have given me, but given time, I will pass it on as mightily as I can. You all have shown me what real love is and what true friendship looks like. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you1
Reading your post this evening, I am reminded how easy it is for those of us in some sort of helping profession to reassure others that there is no shame in receiving the generosity of others, yet how painfully awkward we feel when presented with the opportunity to be on the receiving end. Then I think of a plaque on a former colleague's desk that read: "Take my advice. I'm not using it." May you have the wisdom to take the advice you have so freely given others for so long!
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