Tomorrow July 28, 2018, Stephen and I will celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary. We have been through a lot these past 16 years. We have grown together as a couple and as a family, raising three beautiful children. We have traveled to various parts of the world, celebrated many occasions together and enjoyed many beautiful moments. At times, the road has not been easy. Similar to my runs, there were hills to climb, some being steeper than others.
As our anniversary drew closer, I started to reflect on the past 16 years with Stephen. I know I always say this but I truly won the jackpot with Stephen.
I was very young when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Our kids were still little. Stephen and I were young parents trying to raise our family. My diagnosis brought up many fears- my body was going to change, I was going to lose my hair, and I was going to get very sick from chemotherapy and radiation. I was afraid that all the parts that identified me as a woman were disappearing. I couldn't imagine what I would look like post surgery, or bald. My future seemed dark and scary. I was unsure of how I would be able to maintain being a mom. Would I be able to work and take care of my family? It was very overwhelming.
Shortly after I started treatment a friend gave me a book. In all fairness, I am not sure she read it before she gave it to me. She saw the breast cancer symbol and thought it would be a nice supportive gesture. In the book a woman describes her breast cancer treatment. I could relate to parts of her story. One point in particular was when she talks about her friends and her family members. She talks about the people that stay vs. the people that disappear when you get sick. Her husband was one of the people that left. She talks about how you find out who your real friends are.
I have heard about a few women who were diagnosed with breast cancer whose family fell apart and in some cases, the husband left. Honestly, this was probably not the best book to read while I was going through treatment but, looking back all these years later, I am truly appreciative of my husband and my family, all of whom stayed by my side.
Jackpot= Stephen.
Stephen was by my side throughout the entire process. He was there with the doctors asking the hard questions, ones I was too scared to ask. He made appointments for me and drove me to the appointments, making notes while the doctors spoke. He spent hours dealing with the insurance company. He took care of the kids. He made sure that I was happy. He made me laugh and smile. He continued to show his love for me on a daily basis throughout the entire journey.
You know your love is true when you can experience a crisis like breast cancer and you still love each other like it was the first year of your marriage.
You know your love is true when your husband says yes when you ask, “Do you want to run a half-marathon with me?" and the farthest he has run is the 5 mile Thanksgiving Day race.
You know your love is true when your husband agrees to run a half-marathon, even when it means he will have to raise funds for said marathon (anyone that knows Stephen knows that he is not the best at fundraising).
You know your love is true when you can tackle life’s hills together, even the steep ones.
Thank you Stephen for always loving me and for being my true love and soulmate! Jackpot!
