Susan writes: “In January 2014, I was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer and have been receiving chemotherapy for six months following a left hemicolectomy. It’s kept me from traveling, but I continued to work three to five days at the thrift store. It kept me going. Now I’m waiting to have a CAT scan and blood work and meet with the oncologist next week. Then I hope to be back traveling again. My travel companion from California has also been receiving chemo for the past six months, so we will have to wait until he has one more treatment before we can book a cruise. We have both been blessed with very few side effects – mostly a feeling of exhaustion and I had some pretty wicked mouth sores and am still dealing with bad neuropathy in hands and feet. Just an inconvenience! So that’s been my year. The strange thing was that I had a clean colonoscopy just three and a half years ago. I complained of a “full” feeling at a routine check-up, although I had regular BM’s and no blood in stools. I had a CAT scan, MRI, and colonoscopy, and had to cancel two booked cruises and ended up in the hospital.

So sorry to hear of Sherri and Mary’s loss. We never know what tomorrow may bring us, so celebrate every day. It’s God’s gift. – Susan”