What a Gift to Be Cancer-Free

I felt compelled to write tonight for a couple of reasons. St. Patrick's day has always been one of my favorite holiday's-This Irish celebration holds even greater significance for me since a cancer diagnosis in 2004.

I have a bit of Irish in me have enjoyed celebrating on this day since I was young. Usually my twin sister and her two kids and I, go to a cute little home-town parade in Hopkins. The people in town always joke about how quick and small the parade is and say, "If you blink you'll miss it." It's true-it really is that fast and small but it means a lot to all of us as a community. Many of the local store owners participate in the parade and throw out candy and flyers to advertise their stores. It's a fun way of getting out of the house after a long, cold winter. It has always been tradition to go out for corn beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's day. These days, we eat at the local American Legion after the parade since this is where the parade ends. It's always so much fun to gather after the town parade and enjoy people and delicious, Irish fare.

This holiday means much more to me these days and I will forever celebrate it as my cancer-free anniversary. I was in surgery on St. Patrick's Day of 04. The day they removed a tumor from my middle lobe of my right lung. The family (Laura, Jacob and Ellie)is planning a big celebration for me tomorrow night because I will be six years cancer-free. In February of 2004, I was diagnosed with lung cancer despite the fact that I have Never smoked. It was one of the scariest ordeals I have ever faced. My faith, family and a lot of support got me through it. I know it was really scary for my twin sister Laura. I think she was afraid of the unknown and the fact that cancer might take me. We're so close that neither one of us can imagine life without the other. She is my very best friend in the world.

When Laura got divorced in 04, she kept asking me to move in with her and her kids. I had a really charming apartment in Wayzata and enjoyed my single life. I kept telling her that I would move in eventually, but just not now. She kept asking me everyday-"Linda, are you ready to move in with me and the kids yet?" I kept saying no. Then in March of 2004 when the doctor came in my hospital room and said, "I have bad news, your path report came back and showed that your cancer spread to two of your lymph nodes. You are not a stage 1A like we thought but are stage 3A. You have a 20-25% chance of surviving this within five years." I felt like I was watching a bad movie-Could this really be happening to me? On this day in March when Laura came to visit, I said: (half crying/half laughing) "Laura, can I move in with you and the kids?" Ever since that day, I never looked back and have lived here since. Now I can't imagine not living with them. My life is so rich and wonderful here. I can't ask for more-helping my twin sister raise her children. They give me such purpose! Come midnight, I am six years cancer-free. ! I would love to go tell that doctor I beat the odds.

*Have a Great St. Patrick's Day everyone* May the luck of the Irish be with you...

When Laura got divorced in 04, she kept asking me to move in with her and her kids. I had a really charming apartment in Wayzata and enjoyed my single life. I kept telling her that I would move in eventually, but just not now. She kept asking me everyday-"Linda, are you ready to move in with me and the kids yet?" I kept saying no. Then in March of 2004 when the doctor came in my hospital room and said, "I have bad news, your path report came back and showed that your cancer spread to two of your lymph nodes. You are not a stage 1A like we thought but are stage 3A. You have a 20-25% chance of surviving this within five years." I felt like I was watching a bad movie-Could this really be happening to me? On this day in March when Laura came to visit, I said: (half crying/half laughing) "Laura, can I move in with you and the kids?" Ever since that day, I never looked back and have lived here since. Now I can't imagine not living with them. My life is so rich and wonderful here. I can't ask for more-helping my twin sister raise her children. They give me such purpose! Come midnight, I am six years cancer-free. ! I would love to go tell that doctor I beat the odds.

*Have a Great St. Patrick's Day everyone* May the luck of the Irish be with you...

Definition of lung cancer according to Medical News Today:

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that start off in one or both lungs; usually in the cells that line the air passages. The abnormal cells do not develop into healthy lung tissue, they divide rapidly and form tumors