My journey - battling lymphoma

Recently I celebrated my 46th birthday. I love celebrating birthdays! Then I participated as a co-captain for our local "Quabog" Relay For Life and the Pack 57 Rocks! Cub Scout Team. This was the time frame that I had discovered an uneasiness in my stomach and growth in my spleen and stomach. After weeks of monitoring, my husband Steve took me to the doctor who felt the lumps and ordered a CT scan. The CT scan showed a massive area, my spleen enlarged to twice its size and an additional growth lower in my stomach. Next was the localized CT guided biopsy and subsequent PET scan. The biopsy showed positive for lymphoma and most likely Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma.

This is my online journal sharing my experience through battling this cancer that has abruptly entered my life for no apparent reason. The story is documented here if you want to start from the beginning, you can check the archives on the side bar.

As a top competitive master athlete this year winning my age group at the Marine Corps Marathon and placing 3rd in the New England Trail Running Championship I have been truly excited with my results of late and am a truly driven athlete. Driven by goals.... my goal right now.... to beat this "thing"!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Nancy Quotes of Inspiration & Hope! :)

Looking through Lance's quotes ---- I began thinking I should come up with my own....

I went for my trail run today and hit my head.  I thought I should write down some of my thoughts and put them in quote form.  Funny how a knock on the head makes you think....   It was a great exercise once I got into it and came up with six great quotes.  


 Always remember to keep your eyes forward, lift your feet up, and duck when you have to..... 
and if you fall... roll with it, stand up and do all you can to keep going, 
because no one is in a better place to help YOU than YOU. 
 - Nancy Cook - on trail running, cancer survivorship and life

 You can believe it that strength & beauty come from within -- 
just imagine yourself completely bald, with heartburn, throwing up 
and thanking God for yet another glorious day of life. 
 - Nancy Cook - on cancer survivorship

Get up in the morning, check the state of your body, choose your attitude, 
put one foot in front of the other and get it done - live life each and every day.  
- Nancy Cook - on running, cancer survivorship, and life

 If you can do it, do it,  If you think you can't, you won't.  
Be strong, set your plan, make the commitment,
because only you have the power to meet your goals 
whatever they may be. 
- Nancy Cook on running, cancer survivorship and life

 No one can hold you back from doing all that you want to do.  
Just keep your goals in sight, listen to your body, and take one day at a time.  
Some days will be better than others -- but every day is blessing,
so make each day the best it can be.
- Nancy Cook on running, cancer survivorship and life

When and if you do get lost, find your center, 
look around and find the highest point, keep it in sight, reach for it each day,  
and don't forget to breathe.  
You will find your way when you have faith.
- Nancy Cook on running, life and cancer survivorship



Trail running is like any obstacle in life- 
you need intense focus and extra push to jump over the rocks, sticks, 
and get through the mud to beat it.  
- Nancy Cook - on trail running, cancer survivorship and life

I hope you like these as much as I do --- Please leave a comment if you stop by.  Here is the photo of the day!  My Mom & sister Laura came to visit from Northern Vermont and they got to see me ski!  It was a glorious day.  I love my life.  :)

Thanks for stopping by!



7 comments:

Unknown said...

Nancy -- you are so inspiring to all of us who are keeping up with your journey. Hope this will be behind you very soon. Great photos.

Unknown said...

Great pics and fun quotes Nancy - keep on smiling.

Ashley Sisk said...

Great quotes, great pictures...you sure do know how to LIVE!

Sasha said...

Love the quotes Nancy..and the pics as well. I can see those as quotes at the beggining of chapters in your book you might write someday ; )

Patty Harrington said...

Nanski,

Truly inspiring, my fav is this one:
When and if you do get lost, find your center,
look around and find the highest point, keep it in sight, reach for it each day,
and don't forget to breathe.
You will find your way when you have faith.

Keep on truckin girl!
Patty H.

KKSQueen said...

Nancy...your attitude and strength is quite inspiring!! I love the quotes...keep it up and remember: Hope is a Good thing :)

Kara

Desparately seeking my sanity said...

Nancy,

If anyone can kick cancer's butt, it will be you. I

'm so glad you've started this blog so that people who love and support you from afar can see how you are doing.

I shed a few tears this morning when I heard the news.- Nancy? But then I know that we will be shedding tears of joy when you get that clean bill of health in the near future!!

Rock on,

Tina