Hello Friends
“Pressure is a privilege”  – Billie Jean King

I’ve been binging on BreakPoint on Netflix lately because I love tennis. I heard this quote by Billie Jean King, which resonated with me. Right now,  I feel under a lot of pressure and there is the privilege of living with a beautiful family and supportive friends, knowing how to dance with my nervous system, and navigating the medical world. 

This brings me to early June when I was experiencing intense cramping in my abdomen. I immediately went to a clear liquid diet; however, the pain was persistent. Finally, after having a high fever, a friend drove me to ER. 

I was admitted to Boulder Community Hospital and discovered I had a partial small bowel obstruction. I hoped it resulted from scar tissue from several previous operations, but unfortunately, the blockage was a tumor. My operation was precisely five years after being first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2018, and I have been cancer free for four years. But, now it has returned. 

Shit, shit, shit, shit!!!

My body has been guiding me through this process from initially recognizing something was not right, and has been guiding me to what is good, including getting rest, ice, knowing what foods I can digest, the level of pain medicine/Tylenol to take, and what movements would be helpful. I am constantly tuning in, listening to my body, and understanding more than ever that true yoga is no joke. Effort without tension-relaxation without collapse. 

The Buddhist teachings have a morning chant regarding the four reminders: the preciousness of human life, impermanence, karma, and retributions of samsara. Right now, my husband and I are sitting deeply with these reminders, as well as the gratitude for our friends and the tremendous healthcare professionals available here in Colorado.

It takes a village and I have an amazing tribe-I sit in gratitude. 

My future treatment plans are in progress as I wait for testing results,  my recent CT scan gives us clarity we found this early it is small and manageable. My blood work has bounced back beautifully. My deeper tumor testing has no new surprises and I have met with my oncologists and I am grounded in next steps. My doc is scheduling me out for what I like to call healing infusions (formerly known as chemo).

As I go through healing infusions, my primary need will be meals during this time.

We set up this Meal Train for meals for De and her family. Here is the link to sign up:

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/31e0vw

I hope to call on you for support. As I need much rest right now, focusing on my healing, please understand that I will need to conserve energy and my communications might be limited. 

Please hold me in the highest light of healing. 

Shit happens, and while still recovering from my recent surgery, I feel like I will be okay and get through all of this with the great medicine of love!

Love, 

De