Author Archives: Emily

reclaiming complexity

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Emily

Many months ago, around the time of my son’s first birthday, I was prompted by a friend to reflect on my decision to leave my job as a child advocate attorney to become a stay-at-home mother.  I shared my thoughts … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, Family, Life After Cancer, Work | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

a different kind of marathon

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Emily

Today marks my first day of rest since officially embarking on training for the Philadelphia Marathon in November.  I ran five of the last six days, in soul-crushing heat and humidity.  Mercifully, I had a great running companion at my … Continue reading →

Posted in Life After Cancer, Philadelphia, running, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

LUSH LIFE

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Emily

The rain won’t stop.  The spring and early summer have been a seemingly endless stretch of rain-soaked days.  The world has turned relentlessly green.  I’ve heard weather-related griping about commuting into the city on rainy morning after rainy morning; wet … Continue reading →

Posted in gardening, Life After Cancer, Philadelphia | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

LET ME THINK BACK

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Emily

In preparation for an upcoming panel discussion about young adult cancer and social media, I’ve been thinking back on the motivating purpose behind my years’ worth of writing about cancer and its aftermath.  This reflective process began slowly a few … Continue reading →

Posted in fellow fighters, Life After Cancer, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

PERFECTION, or WHAT IS HARD

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Emily

Last weekend, at the First Descents Climb-a-Thon, our belayer was, quite unexpectedly, a 14-year-old boy.  When the day began, I formed a climbing group with another cancer survivor, her brother and his girlfriend.  I liked them immediately.  There was a … Continue reading →

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mid-life young adult cancer crisis

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Emily

Has my license to write about cancer expired?  I’ve been thinking about the countless numbers of young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer since I entered this universe over five years ago.  I’ve mused on the lives lost, the … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, First Descents, Life After Cancer, Philadelphia, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

moments of surrender

Posted on December 2, 2012 by Emily

As it turns out, there is much more to fear in life than the onset of a life-threatening illness.  Fear of weakness, of facing limitations, of inadequacy, of conflict, of vulnerability – over the last five years, these manifestations of … Continue reading →

Posted in First Descents, Life After Cancer, yoga | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

powerless

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Emily

In an ironic twist, the morning that Hurricane Sandy began pounding the East Coast, I was scheduled for my regular oncology check-up, my first exam and round of blood work since my recurrence scare over the summer.  Only three months … Continue reading →

Posted in Life After Cancer | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

our island, at last

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Emily

Summer’s final act has brought unexpected joy, and a chance to reflect. One day last week, it dawned on me: summer is ending, and Earl hasn’t seen the ocean.  I realized further: we hadn’t visited Long Beach Island since before … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, Life After Cancer, Vacation | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

holding it all

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Emily

Life can be extreme.  Our fears can consume us; joy can make us feel like our hearts will burst.  Holding it all, simultaneously, as I was made to do recently, can seem nothing short of defying emotional gravity. There are … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, Family, medicine, running, yoga | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments