SOAR ON PINK PIGG! :-)

The following is a guest blog by my soul sister and bestest friend Kim (on the right below). Her presence this last week has been a bright light in a grey post recovery winter. And yes things are getting brighter all the time. Here's to a sunny 2011. I love you Kim!

Visits with Stephanie have been a highlight of my "back home again in Indiana" holiday adventures for the fourteen years since I left Indiana and headed west to live in the San Francisco area, but this year was extra special given the valiant fight she's been waging against cancer for the past four months. While I love living on the left coast, it also can be hard being away from family and friends when I wish I could be there for them physically, so I cherished my time with Steph and Randy more than ever this year.

Stephanie's determination, strength, and positive attitude around her Cystic Fibrosis have always been a huge source of inspiration for me, but as I snuggled up with her on her couch this week and we talked about all that she's been through the past several months, her spirit touched me more deeply than ever. So much so that I offered to write this guest blog for her, so I could help take an item off of her to do list...and also so I could attempt to give words to my undying love and respect for her.

Not only was Steph's surgery a success.. (She's now cancer free!)... She's going to be boarding a cruise ship this coming Monday for she and Randy's annual Jam Cruise adventure. Just four short weeks after major surgery and our energizer piggy is fully embracing life as she flies off on another adventure. Amazing!

When I asked Stephanie if there's anything that she wanted me to share in this blog post, she asked me to let those of you who have been reaching out to her via comments on this blog and through her Facebook page, etc. that your support and energy mean a great deal to her. The support and love she's been receiving from her extended community are a huge piece in her ongoing healing process. Even though she isn't able to respond to each of us individually, she reads and appreciates everything that is sent to her, so keep em' coming.

She also shared that her bout with cancer has been way harder than she ever imagined that it would be. She said that for the first time that she can remember she feels like she lost touch with the strong, can-do part of herself that has always been her driving force through her various health challenges. While she's gotten to know the trials that come with CF intimately over her lifetime, cancer presented a whole new set of challenges that threw her for somewhat of a loop.

I definitely understand why Stephanie feels that way given all that she's been through. But I was sure to remind her that even if she she couldn't access those inner resources as easily as usual, that they were definitely right there with her. She's been completely off pain medication for well over a week now. She's adapted to the reality of her new colostomy bag in no time flat. She's regularly walking a mile on her treadmill to help keep her lungs working at their best capacity, and she's preparing to go on a cruise right on the heels of major surgery. If that's not inner strength I don't know what is! :-)


Thankfully, Stephanie's hasn't experienced any infections or complications from her CF throughout her cancer ordeal, which is a huge blessing. While I was there, she started feeling some tightness in her right lung and immediately started an antibiotic regiment with the hope that she could nip in the bud before the cruise adventures. When I last checked in with her, she said that is was feeling noticeably better.


Sounds to me like she's well on her way to some much needed and well deserved fun in the sun. So please join me in wishing bon voyage to Stephanie and Randy...and keep sending them your positive energy and prayers!


Soar on Pink Piggy! :-) You inspire me always and I love you with all of my heart!