Today I'd like to keep it light, sharing a funny story during even the worst of times. How does one get through this cancer.....through the pain....through the grief? Every person's journey is their own to be lived and to be followed in their chosen way. I've asked that question myself, and the simple answers for me are tears, prayers and laughter. Yes, even laughter helps heal the soul. In the Meyer Family, almost every element, whether with Chrissy's breast cancer, life or some other awkward moment-----humor was and is a common and necessary element to our world. With all the chaos and stress that goes along with cancer or any life altering disease; there has to be an outlet for survival.
Let me take you back to September of 2007, when Chrissy underwent a double mastectomy after her original diagnosis of breast cancer, Stage IIB.(I think this is accurate) The evening after her surgery or the following day, I found myself in Chrissy's hospital room with my sister, Susie, and my niece, Cassie. Chrissy was in a very light-hearted mood, and you wouldn't have known she just underwent major surgery, such as hers, by her carefree mood. I don't know if she did that for our sake or if she was really concerned. She kept her fears hidden from us for such a long time. After much research and consultation with her doctors, she chose to have the double mastectomy. For each woman or man facing this type of cancer, it should be a private decision and not under the microscope of every friend or family member. Of course, she did ask me, but ultimately I said that the decision was hers, and I would support whatever she decided to do. As much as well meaning friends and family want to help; that decision should be left to the person who has the cancer. She was feeling a bit conflicted, but I told her to go with her gut and original feeling about which course of treatment to take. I knew she was leaning towards the double mastectomy and I agreed.
Our discussion on that particular evening led to what size breasts she would get once she was ready for "replacements." Well, my friends, I would not want to have breast cancer, but if someone said that I could replace these 46 year-old hunks of flesh.....I would do it in a New York second! If you could turn a positive into a negative; new perky breasts were key. Chrissy had a thin, beautiful figure, but she always referred to her breasts after childbirth as "the utters." Chrissy was probably a small/med B-cup size.....and the "utter" comment was not my choice of word, but the word my sister herself had chosen. She continued the discussion to, "Which breast size do I want?" (for herself) Before I knew it, she was requesting to see, in the flesh, right there in the cold hospital room our breasts.
If I may, let me explain something very clearly. I do not like to show my breasts or "down there" to anyone....even my sisters. Imagine me in the high school locker room replacing my catholic school uniform with gym clothes without seeing one ounce of private flesh. It could be done, if you had the necessary skills; it was possible. I did it all through high school so it's very doable. Even as an adult, if I'm trying on clothes in front of someone, they see my back only and the rest is hidden. So you can imagine my expression in this hospital room when they think I should expose these puppies. Another fear was at that very moment, if I were to choose this crazy idea of exposing my breasts, a doctor or nurse could enter the room. Cassie, of course, without question would do anything for her Aunt Chrissy, and besides, what does she have to worry about.....she was about thirty at the time. She did it....quickly, and you heard Chrissy go, "Ohhhhh, nice, what size are you?" My heart was beating faster and faster because I am not going to offer this one up, even for the sister with "the cancer." (Chrissy would say this as a whisper to make light of people not wanting to talk about it....and we would laugh) Next in line was sister, Sue, who swiftly lifted her shirt and bra, as did Cassie, and the response was, "Ohhhhhhh, pretty perky for someone of your age, nice." Okay, now all eyes are on me. I am nodding my head to show them NO. "C'mon, show us your breasts!" (they continued to badger me over and over) "I'm not doing it, haven't you all seen enough??? Aren't you able to make your decision???"
My sweet sister with the cancer says something like, "Oh, c'mon, do it for me, pleassssssse???"
How can you turn down a request like that? Well, my friends, I turned over a new leaf that day. Nothing was sacred anymore.....especially when you face life altering decisions like my sister had. Who was I to say no to her? I was standing directly across from the closed hospital door. "Okay, Sue, guard the door," I hesitantly sighed. Sue blocked the doorway just in case someone entered at the opportune time. Then, ever so quickly, and luckily it was cold in that room, I did it. I did it for my sister. Let me preface by saying that I am the biggest chested woman in the family....not bragging at all, because I'd prefer less, but just keep in mind DD on a short frame. Well, the response was "OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH." Silence fell upon the room, and all Chrissy said was, "That's a bit too much."
Well, as I've said before, my friends, I'm keeping it real.
"The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, serenely, divinely aware"
-Henry Miller
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