Learning how to live, while trying not to die

A story about my stage 4 colon cancer journey,

growing to trust my inner voice, and how cancer became the best worst thing that ever happened to me

An unexpected stay

Hit me baby, one more time! Per and I have been enjoying the last few days in New York—he arrived late Saturday morning just as my mother...

Dec 9, 20192 min read

Good news! I’m discharged! And I had lunch! We walked there! And it was delicious! I’m feeling good. My biggest worry going into this...

Dec 6, 20191 min read

After years of making Scarpetta’s pasta recipe, I finally took my mom there! She’s here in New York with me, and I am lucky to have her...

Dec 5, 20191 min read

Well, today did not go quite as planned. We’re on our way back to Chicago with two drains still in tow, and having not restarted chemo....

Nov 18, 20191 min read

We’re home! But wow has this surgery (and its recovery) kicked my ass. Nothing is easy. I get winded walking to the bathroom. If I’m...

Nov 4, 20193 min read

We’ve been so caught up dealing with the side effects from Gina’s liver resection, that we were caught off guard when her surgeon came in...

Oct 28, 20191 min read

I’ll start by saying that Gina seems to be doing much better as of this evening, but the past 48 hours have been pretty harrowing. Gina...

Oct 27, 20191 min read

Just a quick update to let you know that Gina has been re-admitted to MSK. She woke up early this morning with sharp pains under her...

Oct 25, 20191 min read

Gina has been discharged!!! The doctors and nurses at MSKCC took such amazing care of her there, it makes it almost not feel totally...

Oct 20, 20191 min read

It’s day three at MSK, and we are set to be discharged tomorrow! Versus my past procedures, I cannot get over how very TIRED I am. If I’m...

Oct 19, 20191 min read

She sat up. She stood up. She walked. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ It was a pretty eventful first day after surgery. Gina’s levels are coming back to normal,...

Oct 17, 20191 min read

They just took Gina back to begin surgery. She was in great spirits, a little loopy from the epidural, and she really really wanted a...

Oct 16, 20191 min read