Chapter 73: Books and Breathing
Designed by the incredibly talented Holly Ovenden. https://www.hollyovenden.com/
Happy Friday, blog readers!
This has been a busy, but thoroughly exciting week. This week started for me at 6am on Monday morning with an MRI scan, which I now get every two months. I’ll start this blog with some really good news. My MRI was stable. No new tumor, no tumor progression, nothing to worry about. Thanks to all the gods and to all of my family and friends for your prayers and support!
Following this reassuring scan, I spent a large chunk of time this week setting up an appointment at Duke’s Cancer Center for a second opinion next week. I love my medical team at the University of Minnesota, but I personally feel everyone should have a second opinion. Multiple minds are more powerful than one. As a doctor myself, I am all in favor of my patients getting second opinions if/when they want them. Good doctors realize that they cannot possibly know everything, and hearing the expertise of colleagues can be incredibly helpful for everyone involved in a patient’s care.
I don’t anticipate I’ll learn anything too earth-shattering at Duke given the recent stability of my scans, however, I am interested to hear if they have any new ideas or clinical trials I might qualify for.
On top of an MRI, coordinating a second opinion, and working in my normal job as a chief resident, I felt a little bored, so I also started chemotherapy again this week. Back at it again…Each cycle continues to bring the joys of low appetite, nausea, stomach cramping, fatigue, and a general feeling of blah. On the bright side, this might be my last cycle of chemotherapy for a while since my scans have been so stable. Hooray!
How is everyone doing? I worry about everyone’s mental health right now. In Minnesota at least, it is cold, snowy, and now dark an hour earlier in the evening. I see friends and colleagues struggling to stay optimistic during the seemingly never-ending badness of 2020. COVID numbers are rising at staggering levels, our hospitals are full, our ICU beds are near capacity, and new social restrictions are being put in place (for good reason). I hope you are all taking care of yourself and your loved ones. Continue to distance. Continue to wear a mask. Get your damn flu shot; I beg you!
Check in with your family and friends a little extra these next few weeks if you have the time. Many people are struggling, and I fear we are in for a long, tough, socially-distanced winter.
On a happier note, long, cold, wintery days are really the best kind of days for reading. And despite the absolute brutality of 2020, some good things did happen. For me, one of these good things was that I wrote a complete book! It actually happened. It not only happened as a “maybe” or a “someday,” but it really, truly happened and I honestly still can’t believe it. I’ve been working with Wise Ink Creative Publishing in Minneapolis, MN and an incredibly talented team of editors, marketing experts, and designers. I have to give a shout out to Holly Ovenden, my cover designer, who literally must have jumped into my mind and pulled out the cover design I envisioned. I am in awe of her work and so proud of our collaboration on this book.
The book is still in the printing stage and won’t physically hit shelves until February 2021, but it is available for pre-order if you’re in the holiday shopping mindset :) If you’re reading this blog, you’re only a few clicks away from the pre-order link. First 250 copies get some fun perks, like a signed edition, dorky hand-designed bookmark, and note from yours truly.
Pre-order link for US shoppers: https://www.elephantlotusbraintumor.com/pre-order
Pre-order link for non-US shoppers: https://itascabooks.com/difficult-gifts-a-physicians-journey-to-heal-body-and-mind/
A portion of proceeds from my book sales will go to brain tumor research.
And that’s that, folks. It’s Friday. The world keeps turning. The sun keeps rising. Take a deep breath. Breathing is the easiest and most amazing way to be mindful. Simply breathe in and out and think about it with intension. I share many quotes in my blog from Buddhist teachers I respect and admire, but today, I’ll share with you my own personal favorite mantra. I recite this mantra while focusing on breathing in and out multiple times a day. I focus on this mantra while meditating in every MRI scan, while out on walks with my dog, while washing my dishes, while brushing my teeth. It keeps me grounded and allows me to focus on the beauty of the most simple, mundane moments, the ones I will miss most when I’m no longer here someday.
May all beings be free from suffering.
May all beings have mental wellness.
May all beings have physical wellness.
Fondly,
Courtney
©CB2020