Community

Since my last post we have received an outpouring of well wishes, prayers, and support.  It has sustained us through the pity party days which I'm happy to report have been few and are fading away.  We've been caught up in the whirlwind of scans and tests and, so far, all has been good news.  We're in a waiting phase and phone calling phase but expect to proceed in a few days and get this journey behind us.

I'm reminded regularly these days of the importance of community.  Community is important to all of us no matter what circumstances we are going through.  This blog started because of the community developed with my writing family. I learned a long time ago that I cannot work in isolation and there are times in life when it's okay to reach out.  I also learned to surround myself with some pretty amazing people and that's been a Godsend.

Brett's doctors work in community.  We are so fortunate to have incredible care.  His oncologist talks with his dermatologist and they both talk with the radiation oncologist.  The oncologist and dermatologist are in two different cities and they have now formed a mutual admiration and speak regularly.  The seamless communication, the effortless dance of support, is a comfort.  That medical community we've found ourselves in has brought us peace. These doctors are also humans and they understand the less technical side of cancer.  They understand that Brett just needs to talk baseball and his oncologist sat with him yesterday looking up Triple A hats on the internet-shopping for his next indulgence.  They are caught up in a world full of documentation and time constraints and red tape (another blog post as I watch medicine and teaching become less personal every day) yet they take the time for the small things and the laughter and the living in the moment. We are somehow part of their community and we are welcomed.

I just wrapped up a project at work.  I was asked to join a community of educators in the planning and executing of a multi layered teaching and learning adventure.  My main task was working with soon to be sixth graders and college students. I was surrounded by community. The sixth graders and the college buddies built connections and they were fantastic to observe. Young children need these types of role models and they benefit from the positive healthy attention.  I worked directly with three other staff members and we had some times to share a lot of laughs and ideas and thoughts for the future.  Though usually type A and focused, I've found myself lately very unfocused and less than cheerful at times.  My community was understanding and supportive.  They demonstrated support in very tangible ways.  I am surrounded by caring educators and humans and I look forward to the continued work.

I am now moving on to the planning for time with my writing community in July.  I am excited to reconnect with them and spend some time writing, sharing, and planning for the future.  We "lost" a member of our community this past spring as she moved on to a new position and it has left such a void for many of us.  We are going to have to figure out how to do the work and do life without her constant presence.  The sadness we feel is just representative of the strong community we've built along the way.

I've been a caregiver for the better part of the last ten years.  I'm not the patient and I'm not the doctor.  I'd like to be either of those and take the pain or provide the remedy.  Being the caregiver is an interesting role and it's not without its challenges.  The community I've built and the community I've stumbled upon in my life are what keep my feet moving and keep my steps going in a forward motion. If I could offer advice to anyone going through challenges it would be to find that community and open yourself up to the help it can offer.  We can't do life alone.  It was meant to be shared.  I'm so blessed to share it with so many amazing people and I love them all.