Friends make life worthwhile

Kristen and I were featured in the Sioux City Journal for our Young Adult Cancer Support Group (our next meeting is Wed, Jan. 27th at 5:30 p.m.)
Kristen and I walked in the Relay for Life in Sioux City (1-year after her treatment, 6-months after mine)
This year we were on the Race for Hope committee and worked well on prize donations. (That's her adorable son Tate, who's 3.)

Everyone has a special friend. Someone who has been there, done that and can relate to the craziness that is life. My special friend is Kristen and we have known each other for almost 3 years. We met the day before I started chemotherapy for Hodgkin's Lymphoma and I don't know what I'd do without her. She has been my rock throughout the ups and downs of a life with cancer and to this day, she answers many of my post-treatment questions. Plus she's a great lunch buddy and is an excellent support group co-facilitator.




But it wasn't until today that I realized how much of a special friend she is. I called Kristen to chat and she told me that she had a scan over the holidays that lit up like a Christmas tree. The doctors said it was very possible she had a new form of Lymphoma and they would not know until surgery. Her surgeon said it could be an infection, but the chances of it being a form of cancer was more likely. So after three years of remission, she was faced with the possibility of more treatment, losing her hair and of course, leaving her children with no mother.




Thankfully, life has another path for Kristen and she was told it was a very nasty infection that was wrecking havoc with her intestinal system. Thank goodness!! I told her she can't go anywhere, because I need her here and that is very true. Everyone needs a special friend to go through life with. My own mother lost her special friend two years ago in a hit and run car accident and at times she said there is a void where Becky used to be. So, I am very thankful Kristen is cancer-free, and please remember that life throws curveballs, but you can recover and it matters who you have at your side.