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August 10, 2007
The Power of a Positive Attitude
My grandmother was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. They first found a mass in her colon and then another on the head of the pancreas. Her past month has been a whirlwind of doctor's appointments and tests and procedures and more tests and more appointments and then repeat all over again x 5. Then, on the Thursday that O and I left for Steelhead, she underwent major surgery (called a whipple) to remove all the cancer that they could.
Because the majority of the tests and appointments and then the surgery were done at the hospital that I work at I was able to be with my grandmother for much of that whirlwind. It broke my heart a little that I couldn't be there when she actually had the surgery (as we were in Michigan) but of course my other family was there with her and she wouldn't even have me consider the possibilty of not racing!
And the good news is she did just fine. In fact more than fine. She was that super-star patient where everything went well. She was discharged home yesterday, just 7 days after surgery where the average length of stay for a patient of her type is 10 days and I've definitely seen some stay much longer, weeks and even months later.
She won the hearts of everyone on her hospital floor. I actually worked on that very floor for 2 years (I've since changed units) and everyone would gush to me every time I came to visit "your grandmother is the best, she is so sweet, she has such a positive attitude, etc..." Her surgeon, the nurses, even the cleaning lady loved her!
And while I know she has a long road ahead yet (6 months of chemo) I have no doubt that she will make it through just fine.
I thought a lot about my grandmother on the bike in Steelhead. I thought that if I had just 10% of the toughness she had, I would make it through this 1/2 IM just fine. I thought about her dedication to her family and to her church and to her friends. I thought about her faith. I thought about the pain that she was probably feeling from the surgery. I thought about her smile, the one she always has on her face. And I thought about her good sense of humor. She never misses a beat.
But mostly what I thought about was her positive attitude. Her absolutely amazing positive attitude.
Pancreatic cancer is not a good diagnosis. And I was there when the surgeon point blank told her that and then proceeded to tell her how extensive the surgery to have the cancer removed was. He did not mince words. But you know what? My grandmother didn't even blink an eye. So many people give up before they even start fighting. They choose to not even have the surgery. And certainly that is their choice. But my grandmother didn't even consider that as an option. She had her mind made up early - whatever they needed to do, well then lets get on with it because she has lots of life planned ahead.
I simply could not believe as I visited each day after the surgery how positive she was. She was smiling and looking great as ever. When most people complain of the pain and the food and the care and the nurses and everything else you could think of, she did none of that. Instead, she laughed and smiled and had a nice comment for every nurse, doctor, nurse's aid, cleaning person, etc... that came through the door.
These past couple days my grandmother has taught me a lot. I feel like I've learned this lesson before, but that I keep having to relearn it because I'm a little on the slow side. Or maybe forgetful side. Her lesson was simply this - the only thing in this world that we can control is our attitude and the only kind of attitude worth ever having is one that is positive.
I know in my heart that the reason she is doing so well right now is because she choose to believe that she was going to be just fine. She choose to believe that she would make it through the surgery, that she will make it through the chemo and that through it all she will look on the bright side of things. Because that's the only way she lives her life. And I know that's the only way to live mine.
Posted by beth at August 10, 2007 6:16 PM
Comments
I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother's diagnosis, but happy to hear that she's doing well. From what you've said about your grandmother here, it sounds like you're a lot like her! Thanks for the reminder about the importance of having a good attitude, and you set a pretty good example yourself!
Posted by: Alison at August 12, 2007 3:46 PM
I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother's diagnosis. I sort of wish my grandfather had had her "let's get on with it" attitude; he avoided doctors until his own pancreatic cancer was too far along to be helped... then, upon getting the "X months to live" diagnosis, only hung about two more months.
I wouldn't mind following that grandfather in a lot of ways, but that isn't one of them.
Posted by: pjm at August 12, 2007 8:40 PM
glad she is doing better... a good friend had the saying "attitude is everything"... he always had a gerat attituds even when the world was against him...
Posted by: Kranky C Dale at August 13, 2007 11:54 AM