Colleen’s Poetry Challenge – Afraid & Grave
The prompt words for Colleen’s Poetry Challenge this week are Afraid and Grave – #SynonymsOnly.
Eleven years ago this time, a drastic decision was made that changed my life. I was diagnosed with melanoma cancer in the female organ. The doctors proposed a treatment plan using a combination of five aggressive drugs. My daughter and I read the descriptions and the side effects of the drugs, I commented, “The drugs may kill me before killing the cancer.”
It was a tough decision to make and I had to make it fast. The caner went from stage II to stage IV in three months. Without the treatment, I would have died sooner. With the treatment, there was a chance to live. I wanted to live for a while longer to enjoy the reunion with my daughter after five years of isolation, seeing her only once during those years. I accepted the six months of harsh chemotherapy, three surgeries and one month of radiation. I’m grateful to be alive.
Not fear of dying
Soft yearning to stay alive
For the family
Note: I was in the fifteenth and final year of this experimental treatment plan. The are new options of cancer treatment developing every six months.
The Showers of Blessings 
Pingback: Colleen’s #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge Recap No. 108, “Afraid & Grave”, #SynonymsOnly | Word Craft ~ Prose & Poetry
I’m so glad the treatment worked. it took courage to make the decision to go ahead with them. I’m glad you’re alive. 🙂
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Yes, I’m grateful, Rob. Being alive to enjoy my family is such a blessing. I do have chronic side effect of lymphedema, just have to wear compression stocking every day and not to run around too much to avoid heavy welling on my leg. 🙂
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Pingback: Colleen’s #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge Recap No. 108, “Afraid & Grave”, #SynonymsOnly – Colleen Chesebro ~ The Faery Whisperer
Thank you!
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What a touching post and the poem is perfect-I am so thankful you came through what must have been an awful time.
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Yes, it was. It almost burned me to death. I came home after each week looked like a purple plum. But they weighed me before each treatment, gave me just the maximum dose without killing me.
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Than God that He protected you through it! We are all glad of it – and that it is behind you! love Michele
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Yes, Michele. We have so much to be thankful about life!!
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Sounds like your daughter was a great motivator … vey glad your treatment was successful 🙂
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I use exactly the same word, she motivates me to live. 🙂
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then she is a very precious friend 🙂
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Yes, she is for sure. 🙂
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Beautiful and poignant, Miriam. I’m so happy you decided to go ahead with the treatment although it read like torture. I’m happy you made it. ❤ xo
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Yes, it was terrible at the time, the drugs burned me and I came home like a purple plum after one week in the hospital. But it’s so distant now. Is your book release on time? ❤ xox
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The release date is on the 9th and I uploaded the final file today, so I think there shouldn’t be any problem. Thanks for asking. ❤ xox
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I happy that everything turned out, Miriam. This was a fabulous poem! ❤
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Thank you so much, Colleen. ❤ ❤
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This is so poignant, Miriam. That is a very fast moving cancer. I am so glad you chose treatment.
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It was scary but I’m glad I did. When this type of treatment stopped and doctors use other types, it takes longer and unsuccessful in several cases with people I know. They suffered five years or longer of treatment but died eventually.
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Such a deeply personal use of Colleen’s challenge. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Thank you so much, Trent! I schedule my book launch on Monday, November 5. I’ll have another big smile. 🙂 🙂
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Yes, a huge smile on the 5th 🙂
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That is for sure. Your book publishing inspires me. 🙂
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Nice to hear. Thanks 🙂
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Yes, that’s how I decided to work on a book. 🙂
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quite a success story – and praise God for your healing – and nice poem
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Thank you so much, Yvette.
I did play with the shadowing of photos and figured out how to do it. I ended up removing them because my book is 6 x 9, the shadow takes up room and mess up the pages. I now learned how to do it. It will be for another project.
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oh no worries and I can see why the non-shadow would fit better.
I hope it comes out great
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Yes, it does. Thank you. I’ll post the link on Monday, you can take a peek.
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