Overboard, but Not Under Water

Three mammograms, three ultrasounds, three MRIs, a CT scan, a Bone scan, a PET scan and two biopsies.  In the last 50 days, my body has been scrutinized from the top of my head to my knees.  It appears that unless I have cancer in my toes, the nasty beast resides only in my left breast.  Hip, hip horray!

As I look at the above list, I realize how lucky I am to be living at this time and in this place.  Medical advances are occurring every minute.  I live in a country where medical insurance (although hotly debated) is available and affordable to me.  I have the love of family and friends.  But even so early on in this journey, I have become aware of others in my condition who cannot count blessings such as these.

One of my favorite movies is “Overboard,” starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russel.  After she regains her memory and realizes she is not the wife of a poor carpenter but a very wealthy woman, Goldie is given this advice from Roddy McDowall’s character:

“… most of us go through life with blinders on. Knowing only that little station to which we were born. But you madam, have had the… rare privilege of escaping your bonds for just a spell. To see life from an entirely new perspective. How you choose to use that information is entirely up to you.”

That sentiment is pertinent so many times in our lives, as it is to me now.  For the first time in my life, I’m relying on medicine, love and prayers to make me healthy.  I have the advantage of seeing life from “an entirely new perspective.”  I hope I use the experience wisely.  And I hope pointing it out to you gives you the courage to look at your adversities in a new light as well!