Mom = Hero.

healthwellnessyogameditationhealingcancerlung cancer

Jan 11

Episode 28- Special Edition.

My mom has always been my Hero. After the past few months, she has officially earned the title SuperHero. When I asked if I could share these words, she said, “I’m an open book.” The first mark of a Superhero- raw vulnerability. So, I’m just going to start with the surreal and shocking diagnosis that she received in September.
Stage 4 metastatic lung cancer.

My mom is stunning. She is healthy and strong, beautiful and vibrant, joyful and loving. A non-smoker who looks at least a decade younger than her age, she was on the golf course the day she found out that she had tumors throughout her body. The c-word is an unraveling. It takes one single moment and magnifies it, divides it, spirals it, shakes it, hollows it, expands it. It then takes a lifetime and does the same- magnifying, dividing, spiraling, shaking, hollowing, expanding…

There is literally no way to describe the following moments, days, and weeks- they included appointments, scans, biopsies, oncologists, research, sleeplessness. All littered with words nobody wants abruptly integrated into their vocabulary- PET scan, malignant, tumor board, metastatic, radiation, prognosis… My Mom has lived every moment of this journey with gracious tenacity of spirit; poised in her warrior strength; complete and full of light and love. This does not mean she hasn’t had moments of fear and worry- this diagnosis is not without the full spectrum of emotion- but through every moment, she has persisted in positivity, vibrancy, and generosity of her heart. She has continued to be my rock, and has also given me the gift of being hers. Through every moment, she has been a best friend, a role model, and a rockstar patient. She built a beautiful home with my stepdad, where they are on constant retreat- an oasis of peace and calm, to meditate, yoga, walk, eat, drink, heal, and live each day in joy. She spends time running around with her grandkids, sisters, friends, and daughters. And she has been taking one little pill a day, a targeted therapy for EGFR mutation NSCLC, called Tagrisso.

Yesterday, 66 days into her treatment, her scans showed all tumors shrinking. An amazing, miraculous report from her team at Dana Farber, led by Dr. Pasi Janne, who has been at the forefront of research for EGFR+ mutation. We are beyond grateful for our connection with him and will continue to support his efforts to further lung cancer research and expand treatment.

It has been exactly four months since my mom learned she was faced with a fight for her life- and she has not wavered in her strength, grace, humor, optimism, hope, courage, and gratitude. I am inspired daily by my Mom, the strongest human I know. And in that strength, we all reside, as her team of love and support. We are all on the team.
If 2020 has showed us all anything, it is that we are not alone. Tell your people you love them; show your people you love them. Love is bigger. Moms are Strength Warriors.

Love,
Jessica