Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Twyla on Tuesday

January 11th, 2007.  A day that I will never forget.
My best friend was in the hospital undergoing a mastectomy.
Her prognosis was cautious, but hopeful.  The cancer had spread
to her lymph nodes.  She came through the surgery and her surgeon gave us
the report that he did as much as he could, but couldn't get to all the lymph nodes. 


The next day, the 12th, we brought her home to our house because
we were going to take care of her in our home during her recovery period.
The news reports we were hearing were very worrisome.  Ice was reported and
not like the usual weatherman report, but a definite warning, get where you are going
and it would be best to stay there.
Never easy getting released from the hospital, but this time it was excruciatingly long.
Finally able to leave around 2 that afternoon. 
You'd have to know my friend, she's a trooper.
After a stop to pick up her medicine at Sam's we finally made it home.



I am sure she was relieved and exhausted by the time we got home and she
layed down on the couch as we continued to listen to the weather reports and visit.
It was a gray, cold day and it was icing.
About 8:00 that evening our lights flickered.  They came back on.
Then off again.  Our hopes were dashed that it would come back on that night.
We dug out all the blankets, comforters and quilts and planned to stay warm
until the electricity come back on, probably sometime during the night.
It was a cold house I woke up to the next morning.  First thing I did was check
on my friend.  She was fine, but cold and the realization of our situation was
cruelly sinking in.  Over the next four days we literally holed up in the living
room, my friend, Lindsey, my son, my husband and me.  I mostly watched
the fire and warmed canned food in the fireplace.  It is hard to take care of
someone who is recovering from surgery with no amenities to speak of. 
We talked, we laughed, we played games.  We bonded.
It was a week that we will never forget and one that defined us in that
there was 'us' before the ice storm and then there was 'us' after the ice storm.
Today she is fully recovered and cancer free.
When we look back at that time, we remember the fun parts
and honestly don't remember the cold.



May you have a wonderful day!
Twyla

29 comments:

debi said...

What a blessing to have such a beautiful friendship. I'm so glad she is well. Thank you for sharing that story....

RhondaBorelli said...

What a beautiful story!

Nan said...

Oh I love this story and a negative occurance turned into a wonderful memory for all of you.

Pellie / Penny said...

A most beautiful story.

Friends warm our hearts, Lift our spirits and make us glad to be alive even in the darkest times.

Glad to hear that your friend is now Cancer free.

Hugs,
Penny

Pierelantijntjes said...

I'm so touched by this story Twyla. It's so wonderful your friend is all better now. It's so good to take care of eachother.
Have a great day,
hugs Ester

LiLi M. said...

Your friend must be so happy, not only to be cancer free, but also to have such a great friend, well done!

Marta said...

It is a touching story. I see you are very good people, you and your family. Never change, the world needs people like you.
I'm happy your friend finally recovered. It is better to look always forward !
Besos ;O)

BucksCountyFolkArt said...

I'm so relieved and happy to know there was a happy ending to this story!

My mom just finished her last chemo for breast cancer and will soon be starting radiation. Prognosis is good, but can't wait til it's OVER.

Stories like this are true inspirations for those going through it.

Thanks for sharing,
Jill

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

Such a touching and inspiring story.

Victoria xx

Theresa said...

Oh what a touching story! I am so happy that she is doing well and cancer free! I know she is thankful for such wonderful friends to help her thru that trying time! Have a blessed day and thanks for sharing this time with me! HUGS!

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Oh my, Twyla! This is such a beautiful story of friendship. I am so glad to heard that your friend is doing well. Thanks for sharing! Best wishes to one and all, Tammy

Kathy said...

Wow. Sitting here on a dark, grey, Chicago day, this story really brightened it up. Magnificent. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Twyla, I'm so glad for your friend. After this ordeal....
I'm a breast cancer survivor too.
The "sisterhood"....we cheer for one another! Blessings to you and your friend...
Diane

Sherry from Alabama said...

I'm so glad your story has a happy ending. We're snowed in right now in Alabama ~ 2" of snow is snowed in for us. My guys and I have been in the house together for 2 days. I don't know if we're really bonding or just getting a little tired of each other, but I'm praying for a thaw today. :)

Sherry @ A Happy Valentine

Betty said...

I absolutely loved hearing that story...especially the happy ending.

BumbleVee said...

thank goodness for happy endings...I had a tear in my eye by the time I got to the end of it....for I feared something worse... I don't even know what...but, something was sounding ominous.

What a wonderful story....I'm so happy to hear your friend is doing well..

Dogwood said...

Thanks for sharing such a heartfelt story about your friend and her recovery, your family and the weather. Wow, you are all troopers! Kind hearts you have sweet lady...

PinkGranny said...

The love you lavished your friend truly helped make a tough situation better. Imagine if she had to endure that alone, not to mention the ice storm!

We had a terrible ice storm 15 years ago, the only one in my memory. Your description vividly described how it felt all that time ago.

I am so happy your friend is cancer free now it is such a blessing. Your story also reminded me of my own surgery on a cold wet Monday but I was able to come home to a warm home. What a blessed friend to have you as her friend.

Sally Annie Magundy said...

Oh Twyla, my heart was in my throat throughout your whole post, I so feared the saddest of endings. Having lost three friends to cancer this year and my cousin struggling with it, there wasn't a glimmer of hope inside me. I'm like a limp noodle now but so very happy to hear your friend is well! And it warms my heart to read what a dear and caring friend you are.

Happy Twyla Tuesday :)
Sally xo

P.S. I read you were asking about birthdays, I'm a January girl - mine is January 26th.

April C said...

What a beautiful story and I'm glad you're friend is okay and cancer-free! Have a blessed day.

Melinda said...

Best laid plans. At least you all were troopers throught the "fun."
Glad you friend is doing so well and you can look back and laugh about those cold days.

Melinda

Unknown said...

Thank you Twyla for sharing such a special story. You are both blessed to have each other. Elizabeth

Brynwood Needleworks said...

Dear Twyla:
The warmth of your heart and friendship shows through in your story. Your friend was fortunate to have you in her life. I'm so glad to hear she's recovered.

I hope your days are safe and warm as the storms roll through.

Hugs from Florida,
Donna

Unknown said...

This is such a touching story.... with a beautiful ending!!!

Thank you so much for sharing, I'm very glad I came across your blog!

~Ola
okj83 at live dot com
zloe.blogspot.com
(I'm a newbie & would love if you dropped by my blog.... I have a blog candy going on right now)

Unknown said...

This is such a touching story.... with a beautiful ending!!!

Thank you so much for sharing, I'm very glad I came across your blog!

~Ola
okj83 at live dot com
zloe.blogspot.com
(I'm a newbie & would love if you dropped by my blog.... I have a blog candy going on right now)

Coralie Cederna Johnson said...

Hope, Faith, and Prayer! Thanks for sharing this remarkable true story! It is so heartening to know that not all is lost when we hear such devastating news as cancer!
BIG HUGS!
Coralie

Scrap for Joy said...

I had chills while reading this story Twyla. I was so happy to hear that your friend is now cancr free!! Praise God! You spent a harrowing time together in the cold darkness but wasn't it great that you were able to be there for her? And aren't you resourceful cooking over a fireplace fire!
xoxo
Joyce

Unknown said...

Beautiful story, filled with love and hope. True love. A snippet in time all will never forget.

GardenOfDaisies said...

What a wonderful friend you are!!
I remember that ice storm. We stayed inside our freezing cold house (no power for 4 days) listening to the tree branches snap off and fall to the ground.