My friend Pat wrote to me "I noticed in my calendar that May 7th marks the one year anniversary of your diagnosis, according to my records.  Can it be?  It seems like a year that has lasted for about 5 since you first shared your news.  How does it feel for you?"

I received the news of my positive result for the CDH1 gene mutation over the telephone, 20 minutes before meeting Pat for coffee and a visit on this day, one year ago.

So, how does it feel for me?  Let me think about it.  All of it.  Research, decisions, website, family reunion, website, surgery, website, media coverage, making connections, website, Ken's surgery (& two weeks caring for my nephews), website, two months in Maui, the birth of my granddaughter Addison, the loss of my brother Greg, Brian's surgery, website, back to the health club, new part time job, oh, did I mention the website?  One single year?  No way.  No WAY.

Now that I'm beginning what seems to be a "new year", I need to take a lesson from my brother Greg.  He lived his life.  I mean he really lived his life.  I don't know if it came naturally to him, or if he had to work at it.  I think I'll have to work at it.  I'm going to try to live my life better.  I think I'll be able to do it, carrying Greg's spirit in my heart to help me along the way.

This is my last journal entry on CaringBridge.

Karen