The CCC

We have noticed that we are members of the CCC. The CCC is the Crazy Cancer Club. You would truly not believe how many members there are in this club. Yet everywhere we go, we meet another card-carrying member. Now, this really isn't the most exciting or fun club to belong to, but if you are a member, you already know it is a club filled with love and instant friendships. We have associated with a 6-year survivor of breast cancer at a movie theater, 5-year survivor of colon cancer in our neighborhood and a family member who just celebrated his 16th year cancer-free, just to name a small few. The really cool thing about the club is that it is filled with optimistic, loving people who are your supporters, family and cheerleading squad all rolled into one. Something else that we have noticed since being inducted into the CCC....it comes with a CCC Posse. This Posse are all the family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and strangers who support us with food, flowers, jokes, hugs, prayers and anything else we can think of that we might need. I never knew just how big our Posse was, but I know that in the past I have surely taken it for granted...so....to the Posse that I love.....I'm SORRY and THANKS for being here. I need to know that you are behind us and with us on this journey, otherwise it would be too hard to just 'saddle up and ride'. I read a beautiful quote today that I wanted to share. It says "Faith is needed to survive. Life is full of obstacles that make it difficult and sometimes seem meaningless, but faith will help you to find support and meaning....There is a reason God didn't make a perfect world--perfection would make our lives meaningless. We would never have the opportunity to grow and appreciate life's little gifts and miracles if everything were already perfect." So here's to the little miracles we have witnessed since this boat ride began.... 1. We were able to meet a friend that Kelton and I worked with the first year we were married...she works in transcription at the Huntsman Hospital and we ran into her in the elevator. 2. A clinical trial opened up for Shea which allowed her another week to get her body strong and ready for chemotherapy. 3. We have the very best team at the Huntsman (thats what we think anyway) working with Shea. We are grateful for the long hours over several years that they put in to hone their craft...what a group of inspiring men and women that they are! 4. Grape juice was found at the center when there was none to be found....grape juice is an awesome miracle in and of itself when that is all you want. 5. The support of friends old and new who have gathered around us and wrapped us in a protective coating of love, hugs, tears and laughter....we can't be beat when we have a force that strong pulling for us! 6. Food, glorious food....and the loving hands that prepared it. 7. Flowers, gift baskets, cards, notes, smiles....and the list goes on and on. 8. The Center's library where I picked up a book called "Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips"...how cool is that? So...Shea is home for the week. We are planning on 'fattening her up' and getting ready for that marathon she is about to start walking in. Her porta-cath is still tender, but she is getting used to the weirdness of it. The stint is doing it's job and so are the pain killers--yea! We are truly enjoying and noticing life's little gifta and miracles. We feel very blessed to be members of the CCC. The growth we have experienced couldn't happen any other way.