My, how I have missed seeing all of you! It is a very strange experience to go from daily interactions with people you care about to being on semi-lockdown for 5 months! Since I went out in late April abruptly and unexpectedly with the triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, I have been through two surgeries and twelve chemotherapy treatments. Thank goodness the end is in sight for the hardest chemotherapy as it has been a real drag. I should finish that in October and then move on to radiation from November until December.
My plan is a return to office work on January 6th, 2025 which I am so excited about! It will take some ongoing monitoring to be sure all remains in remission, and I am hoping as soon as chemotherapy is complete, I can begin to work on regaining my stamina so you won’t find me panting at walking up and down the hall.
I cannot tell you all how much your love and support have helped me hold it together these months. Cancer is a singularly lonely experience and all of the small “touches” I have received from my office family, hospital family, and patient family have left me speechless at times. I have not always been able to send individual thank you cards to everyone, but please know I have kept every single card and letter I have received and treasure each of them. Flowers from Whitney, a tea box from Susan, weekly letters from Jane, my raised flower bed box from TJ and her dad, my pre-chemo love basket from the GSO Ob/GYN staff, dinners and gift cards, texts, Instagram messages, all of it—I cannot even reiterate all of the love but know I feel it and return it so deeply! I hope this experience will make me a little wiser, and that it is something I can share back to you all on my return. I do know a thing or two about wigs now….and scarves….and eyeliner. Hahaha!
So, know that no one wants her life back more than I do, and I look forward to giving you all a big hug very soon!
Thank you all for everything,
Kathy (aka Dr. Richardson)