We are home, Crystal is resting.
As I drove us home this afternoon, I was thinking about how different it feels to not worry about hearing the results of your cancer spreading, or growing. I mean right now she does the treatment, so you worry about how her body takes it but you can’t go to the next step of worry because you are remaining hopeful that this treatment is working. In a strange way, it is nice.
Also on this beautiful day in Rochester, I sat outside of Mayo to take in the sunshine for a bit. There, I met a woman named Judy. We talked for a very long time. I could tell when she sat by me that she needed an ear to listen, to visit with. However, I think God wanted me to hear her story, as she touched my heart, she inspired me.
What started out as a brief conversation of what she could eat and how checking into her appointments was difficult for her at first, I could feel that she had a kind heart by the way she spoke. Judy, a 78 year old petite, confident woman, was traveling by herself from Michigan, for a possible lung transplant in Rochester. Coming from a family of lawyers, listening to her thoughts and her opinions, I smiled. Her history, her stories, were touching. A very smart woman. I told Judy I was so proud of her for traveling alone, still fighting, not giving up. I shared a little of Crystal’s Story with her as we walked to get a water together, and as we part ways I could feel the happiness we both shared. I couldn’t wait to tell Crystal and my mom all about her.
Thank you God for letting me meet her today.
And to everyone, let’s say a prayer for Judy too. I hope that I get to see the age of 78, I hope that I still have that fight in me, that drive that inspires others.
10 Years Ago…
On this sunny day in Iowa, I sent in my kitchen with the sliding glass door open, the sun feels good on my face. I can hear the wind and my chimes outside and I think to myself on what I was doing on this day years ago.
Tonight I will prepare for Easter, very different than what I was doing 10 years ago. This photo of Crystal was taken in our hotel room in Rochester, MN on this day. Crystal wanted to look at her stomach one more time before there was going to be a scar, so we took a photo and then we laughed. Crystal was fighting for her life, we were not even sure she should would make it through the surgery, let alone beat the cancer that was taking over her little body. And here we are 10 years later, still fighting for her life and still smiling. She really is a miracle that she is still with us. That is why we have to believe in them.
I am sorry I have not really updated lately. It has been crazy busy for all of us. As many of you know I have closed the CR Spirits Dance Studio doors after 30 years. We had our sold out Spirit Show, “END of an ERA”, which was an amazing night. Then the team headed to Vegas to perform, a fantastic girl trip. When we got back to Iowa, we immediately began to move out of our Studio in the mall. However, we can’t forget the night that we got to see the Spirits Movie on the Big Screen, needless to say there has been a lot going on. It has been bittersweet. I wanted to go out on a high note, so 30 years was a good number to end on. I think in this last month Crystal and I have hit every emotion possible, which they say that means you have lived a full day when you do that, I would say we lived a full year then.
As for Crystal’s new treatment. It is scary, it is not a fun week afterwards either. She is extremely sick. And then, we will have no idea if it is even working until we get closer to Christmas. So we wait. To top it off, the issues with insurance. This one treatment cost $200,000.00 and she needs four of them, like that doesn’t add stress to our family. One day at a time we tell ourselves, we believe insurance is now on board.
How is Crystal doing? She has been great. She feels and looks good. Has she had a hard time with the Spirits coming to an end, yes. Her tears make me question the step I took, yet I also believe that God has a plan for us both and I trust him. With that being said, Crystal and Gage went on a vacation to Mexico. She made sure the studio was done before she would plan to book it. She has kept herself busy.
Crystal will celebrate Easter with family and then we will head to Mayo very early Monday morning for her second treatment. Next week will be very hard for her. She sure has had some highs, performing, traveling, shopping, and then some lows, sick with treatment, ending the Spirits, dealing with insurance. All in a month. I think acknowledging all those feels, makes you embrace each moment. Maybe that is what God is trying to tell us, to be hopeful, to embrace the moment, to live each day.
I hope you all have a blessed Easter. I hope you all find your true Spirit. And I thank you in advance for your kindness, prayers and support as we head into her second treatment.
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