Dear Reader:
Fall, unofficially, fell for us yesterday…we woke up to temps in the high sixties and most of the morning and early afternoon stayed in the low seventies…it felt so good to be alive yesterday. There was hope in the air that fall couldn’t be too far away. I could feel it in every fiber of my being.
I was so excited to meet Jo and Colby at McAlisters for lunch! I feel like I am Colby’s Aunt Becky when I am around her…watching her grow up…with every visit over the past few years….remembering this picture a few days ago…now and then.
On the left Colby was either finishing up elementary school or just starting middle school…and now Colby is a senior about to graduate this year….the one thing that hasn’t changed is the strong grandmother-granddaughter bond between the two of them..the love is palpable.
They surprised me with all kinds of adorable mementos …including a beautiful crystal rabbit for me to remember the first day of each month! I put it on the ledge above my computer and it catches the light…especially the morning light…like a lighthouse beacon. Beautiful!
As soon as I sat down I gave Jo one of Honey’s flower vase turtles…I knew Honey would love her favorite teacher getting one of her new designs.
Suddenly Jo mentioned that Colby was just back from Texas…it was the second trip…and I immediately wondered if Colby might be considering a school in Texas for college next year.
Wrong. Both trips had been to the MD Anderson Cancer Center. I sat quietly and waited for the story to follow. Colby had been feeling tired all summer…she also suffered from heat melt-down to the point that she couldn’t swim or even get out in the hot sun.
They went to MUSC first and there they suspected a thyroid problem…examined her but thought it was something that would probably take care of itself and would be watched….it didn’t go away. Colby felt worse and now her senior year was upon her…more tests to see why the thyroid numbers were continually getting worse.
Donna, Colby’s mom, decided to take Colby to MD Anderson Cancer Center since they could get her in faster than MUSC…they initially didn’t think it was malignant either…but Colby continued feeling weaker and weaker.
More tests followed at both institutions and now MD Anderson wanted to do the surgery on the thyroid. They ended up taking half of the thyroid off last week. Currently they are running tests on the tissue to see if they took care of the problem or if it is still going to need more attention.. So this will be a tough wait this week….but you wouldn’t know it from our adorable Colby.
She is all smiles and ready to get her senior year going…she sings in several groups at school and she just wants to get back with the activities she loves. Resilience is a strong asset of Colby.
I asked Colby how she felt about her story being shared and she said it would be good…Colby believes in the power of prayer too…and would appreciate any and all prayers as they await the latest findings. *And y’all dear readers are the best prayer warriors!
What we want to hear is what the logo signs says at MD Anderson…scratch out cancer!!!!
I left Jo and Colby… filled with inspiration from this dynamic duo…went to the store…got fixings for “Lucille’s homemade soup” (mom) and went to work putting all the ingredients together…letting it simmer until I had made a big pot of it….filled up a large container…made cheese bread to go with it…put two rose buds in another of Honey’s flower vases along with a card and headed to Coach and Mrs. McKissick’s house.
Coach is home from rehab and we all had the best time catching up and laughing at memories from the football days and all the fun we had …trips, parties.
I then called Vickie and told her I was bringing her a bowl of soup and cheese bread….Fuzz, her cat followed me home…While talking with Tommy, my son, on the phone I kept hearing Fuzz meowing and there she was …on my window ledge listening to the conversation…I went out on the porch and we just sat quietly together…thinking about the wonderful day I had.
But my day still wasn’t over…I went to check my box and there was a package from Beverly Parkinson….the cutest handmade birthday card…with everything I love in my garden…moon flowers, basket flowers, dragonfly, butterflies, bumblebees…and decorated in orange…my favorite color! You are SOOOO TALENTED Beverly…you amaze me! Thank you so much…I love my card!
So until tomorrow….What a glorious day…a day that reminds me that life is always worth fighting for…because days like yesterday will come again…and it will be worth the wait!
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
Happy Birthday Lassie! Aren’t we the luckiest people to have a birthday in September… especially when it surprises us…and brings cool weather ….the best gift of all…right?
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
Hey Becky, Love reading your story every day. I had the best little visit with Brooke and Ted. We caught up on life and we so enjoyed meeting them.
Reading your story today and I remember Jo Dufford from PET training and I taught Donna. I will be praying for Colby.
Your soup sounded delicious with the cooler temperatures. We have spent a week in Nashville . Just needed a get away. Do you remember our trip with Janet to do a presentation? Fun times.
Take care of yourself, sweet friend.
Love, Patty
Oh I had forgotten all about that trip…such fun! Was it in Nashville or was it Norfolk…pulling a blank…all I remember is how much we laughed. Brooke called me and said the same thing about you and Robert…how much fun y’all had just talking and sharing similarities. I miss you dear friend…please holler next time you are in the lowcountry…Oscars awaits us…this time my treat!!!!
Well my goodness…That soup looks like just what the Dr. ordered. I love soup…any time of the year.
I wasn’t sure you would remember stating all of the finds in the pop-up card that can’t pop-up. Was it about a book or journaling. …but I did write it down for such a time as now. Enjoy!
You nailed it…it could have been called “All Boo’s Favorite things”…but the most favorite thing was knowing the time-consuming project this was and what makes it so special and valuable in my heart….what a great long-distance friendship we have Beverly…and you made my birthday with your creativity! Thank you beyond measure!
Good Thursday morning, Becky,
I am so sorry to learn of Colby’s thyroid problems and will definitely put her on my prayer list as well as the prayer list of my women’s group at church (Daughters of the King). Amazing how strong she appears and her resilience – as you said. I’ve enjoyed seeing her “growing” pictures as well. Cannot believe she’s going to be a senior! You’ve been sharing pictures of her for a long time!
As for “fall” – well, I’m a summer person, so am never ever ready to give it up to fall. We had to go to Fremont, NC (about an hour east of Raleigh) for a funeral on Tuesday and the temps were in the high 80s there. It’s been in the high 70s here in the mountains. But, we came back yesterday and the day was rainy and misty and overall cloudy – all the way home. Temps late yesterday were only in the low 60s. This morning, there is most definitely the feeling of fall – temp outside is only 56! Of course all my neighbors have their pumpkins and colored leaves and “Welcome Fall” hangings out – but I’m the lone holdout. I guess today’s weather is going to push me into accepting the inevitable! Ha! Sigh. I just love the warmth that summer brings.
But, time marches on, as the saying goes. So, I guess I need to accept it. Fall down in the Lowcountry is a good thing for y’all. I just need to “go with the flow.”
I go to see the radiology oncologist on Oct. 1st to get the mapping done and set the schedule for the radiation treatments. I am so very thankful to you and your dedicated readers who have pledged their support via their prayers. I will most definitely pay it all forward by praying for your sweet Colby.
Blessings and love – and early Happy Birthday!! (In case I forget next week.)
Sis
There is a lot of “passing it along” or “paying it forward” today and every day…life really is about stopping and reaching back to pull the person behind you up…it is the only way we all get through life…knowing when to push and knowing when to pull. Keep us informed of your schedule….I never had any reactions…even pink skin…from radiation…that was my easiest treatment I think and you will become very close to the technicians…more bonding..more friends.