The "C" Word and Plans for the Future

I have a fascination with the English language. I love the power of words, in fact in my next life I want to be a writer. Words have the ability to make a good story, great. Some words define lives and some words change lives.
When I woke up on April 15th, my day began similarly to most. My two year old woke up and wanted to watch "Doggies" (101 Dalmatians) my husband got up and went for a bike ride and my 10 year old slept in. I had made plans to stop in to see my doctor that morning then was excited to record "Real Estate From A-Z" with Bill Ashker and Roger Nelson. Contrary to any plan on my part, that morning I was told I needed to start considering a word that I had never imagined would be in my life's story. A very nice Radiologist introduced me to the word, "Carcinoma."

Five days, six procedures, five doctors and an innumerable amount of prayers later, my vocabulary included an unlimited amount of unfamiliar words like Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, calcifications and chemotherapy. In other words, I had cancer.

I have spent the last couple of weeks trying to let that word sink in, although I really don't think you can ever be prepared for or ready to take on that word. Surprised doesn't describe it, shocked doesn't do it justice...numb is only thing I felt.

I kept expecting someone to say it was all a mistake. I am 39, have no familial history of breast cancer or of any cancer, and I have young kids that rely on their mother. This had to be a mistake. Unfortunately as test result upon test result came back, a new word emerged, one that I have worked hard to avoid, and that word is fear.

After some family and a few close friends knew what was happening, I was overwhelmed with the tokens of compassion and love. The commonality of the messages was how strong everyone knew I was and that I would win this battle. I was used to being strong, a fighter...but this was a new arena, new players and new rules. How could I put my kids through this, how will my husband handle it and how would this impact my business and the goals for which I had worked so hard. The fear would not subside.

After I got the ok from the doctors, my husband and I decided to continue as planned and go to New York where I had been asked to present at the Mortgage Bankers Association Loan Production Conference. It would be a chance for me to stop thinking about cancer and focus my efforts on work. It was there that I first got a glimpse of who I knew I was going to have to become. The fear didn't go away, but it was diminished by the thrill of teaching and learning, the compassion of my friends and the love of my husband.

I could not let this get the best of me. I will not be defined by that "C" word. My life is NOT going to be centered around fighting breast cancer. Fighting breast cancer is just going to be another facet of my life.

I have since read that courage is not the absence of fear, but moving forward in spite of fear. I can tell you that in the past, there have been a few "C" words used to describe me...ha ha ha...but if I have my druthers and I am going to be defined by a "C" word, courageous is the word I want used.

So where do I go from here? Johann Wolfgang van Geothe quipped, "He who moves not forward, goes backward." I will move forward.

The best medicine for me is work. I will continue to work for you and your customers. I love what I do and Greg and I have been able to put together a team that works well and we will continue to what we do best...close home loans.

I will also continue to work for our industry and be an advocate for the noble professionals that I have had the privilege to work alongside. I will continue to push for the bar to be raised through the increased education of our colleagues.

Along the way I will continue to fight breast cancer.

I truly hope you will want to move forward with me. I appreciate and look forward to the continued support of your business. I hope you will actively be aware of the issues affecting our industry and continue to fight with me to keep our futures intact.

Finally, I hope you will continue to offer me your prayers of support through my fight with the bad "c" word.

Thank you for your continued support and referrals!
Amy


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Monday, May 16th 2011


9:00 am - 11:00 am
Scottsdale Civic Center Library
3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

RSVP: katie@homeownersfg.com (480) 305-8500
$5.00 to attend
For more information CLICK HERE

Very Proud!
If you are interested in showing your support for cancer research, please read this email from my husband, PJ Harrigan and support his fundraising efforts.

"Over the years that I have been funding raising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society I have been asked many times what is my connection to blood born cancers. Why did I pick this charity to devote my time. I have always been about to say that I am blessed in that cancer has not touched my immediate family.

Well that has changed...


A few weeks ago my wife Amy was complaining of her breast hurting. After hearing this a few times and telling her to make a doctors appointment and her not doing it, I made a doctor's appointment for her. So the next day she had an appointment with our Friend, Dr. Ellsworth, who said there was something there....and that is when it started. It is hard to describe what it felt like when my best friend handed me her phone at the radiologist office and I see she had "Googled" Ductal Carcinoma.....Yes, Amy has breast cancer and as a result, my bike ride around Lake Tahoe and my fund raising has become personal. I now will carry the name of Amy Firth Swaney Harrigan with me as I ride. Not something I ever expected to do.

On on hand it is good that been exposed to all the things I have being part of the Team in Training program. When the doctors say things I can somewhat understand the terms they use and the things they tell us. On the other hand I wish I knew less. In the past two weeks Amy has had two biopsies, a CT Scan, three MRI's, a PET Scan and X-Rays. Up next is a bone scan and surgery to put a port in for Chemo.

However, we are blessed. We are blessed with a strong faith that gives us courage to endure. We are blessed with wonderful family and friends who give us constant encouragement and love. Unfortunately we are blessed with having friends who have also been through this terrible experience themselves and are able to give us sound advice on what to do and how to plan. The out pouring of love we have received is humbling. We are so thankful for our friends and family.

And we are blessed to have friends who supported my fund raising over the years to help find a cure for all cancers. Many of you will remember that I started my fund raising for my friend Allison Bishop, who also had breast cancer. Because of the money you have donated, the knowledge and technology available to treat Amy is so much more advanced today then it was when Allison was diagnosed. The tests and the treatments are all better today because of the advance made possible as a result of the donations you make. My family thanks you for this.


So let me ask one more time, please give to help find a cure for cancer. My ride is June 5th. Our plan is for Amy to attend the event. We will see. She starts Chemo on May 12th. She will have eight cycles of chemo, one every two weeks. Then, after the chemo treatments are done, she will have surgery. I told her there were easier ways to get a her breast redone.....(we have decided that laughter makes this tough task a bit easier). To donate go to:

FIGHT CANCER

Many drugs developed by LLS funded researchers are used to treat breast cancer. So your donations definitely help Amy and all others fighting breast cancer.

To all of you have given, thank you. You generosity is incredible. My family cannot thank you enough.
PJ


PS - Those of you who know Amy know she has beautiful long naturally curly hair. She will be cutting her hair this weekend and will be donating it to Locks of Love. Locks of Love makes wigs for people (mainly children) who are fighting cancer or have Alopecia Areata. Our Nephew, Jackson Odle has Alopecia.


PPS -


To show his support for Amy, our sixteen year old son, Patrick, dyed his hair Pink last week. "


Ha Ha


As seen on a t-shirt:
"Of course they are not real! My real ones tried to kill me!"