Category Archives: medicine

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 →

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the other shoe

Posted on July 15, 2012 by Emily

We survivors possess many unique skills.  Chief among them may be our ability to consciously deny our persistent, nagging fear of The Other Shoe Dropping.  It’s essential, if we want to keep on living in any meaningful, joyful way. Most … Continue reading →

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jet lag: a whirlwind trip to planet cancer

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Emily

Last fall, in the aftermath of my GI scopes, I remember coming home from work one evening and flashing back to the “bite blocker” being shoved between my teeth, and feeling like I was an escapee from some kind of … Continue reading →

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a twisted blessing

Posted on October 26, 2010 by Emily

Two weeks ago, my delicious colonoscopy revealed no evidence suggestive of cancer, but something about my appendix struck my doctor as a bit curious.  In the spirit of hyper-vigilance with which I am now and forever to be monitored – … Continue reading →

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when the hangover strikes

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Emily

During law school, my husband often talked about the hangover that would strike after the extreme stress and pressure of preparing for exams.  You focus, you strain, you concentrate so hard, and once the exams are over, you find yourself … Continue reading →

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these things help

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Emily

I am generally averse to lists.  But on a Friday afternoon, shorthand is useful.  And since I spent last evening processing my pre-scope anxiety in a rather more flowerly fashion than I’d originally intended, let me try to break it … Continue reading →

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dreams, whiplash and pre-scope anxiety (oh my!)

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Emily

It is expected and logical that the eve of two surveillance scopes (lower and upper GI in a delicious one-two punch) would find me in a somewhat heightened state of anxiety. The psychological whiplash goes something like this: Spend an … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, Death, First Descents, Life After Cancer, medicine, running, Work | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

next time, a lollipop

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Emily

“You’ve been through a lot.” Simple words, uttered by an attending internist I met for the first time this morning, but it was exactly the straight-forward recognition that I look for from people – especially doctors – when they first … Continue reading →

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