Everything happened so suddenly that it sometimes feels like I watched it happen to someone else. CT Aug 21. Met my doctor Aug 27. Pre-op Aug 29. Major surgery Aug 30. Dozens of staples held my gut together until Sept 10. I’ve experienced more pain than I ever thought possible.
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“The normal range of CA 19-9 in the blood of a healthy individual is 0-37 U/mL.” Mine’s at 5,000 U/mL. I still don’t have my pathology report. I still don’t know what comes next, except to say that I feel like I’m 100% strong and that I’m also 100% terrified.
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My last day at work was exactly a month ago, on Aug 28. I recorded a story that I’d worked on for months. I felt like this story, about a little boy detained at the MVM offices, might be the last story I would ever get to tell. Here’s the trailer: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reveal/id886009669?mt=2#episodeGuid=prx_149_11c7fee5-997d-4295-932a-2ddcad3999a6 …pic.twitter.com/sL3t7eQ2uq
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I’m grateful to have amazing co-workers, friends, and family that are seeing me through this. I’m not asking for flowers, meals, and/or donations. Please save that kindness for people who are truly in need. For now, all I really want are your good thoughts and prayers.
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The next time someone tries to tell you that the media is the enemy of the people, think back on my thread. I’m a reporter. And every reporter I know would do the same exact thing: fight to the very end to tell an important story, 100% strong and 100% terrified at the same time.
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I was diagnosed with cancer one week ago. I start chemo Wednesday. Like our ancestors, sometimes we fight battles to quell invasions. Happy Indigenous Peoples Day to us. We’re still here. We’re still here. We’re still here.
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Completed my second weekly chemo day today. Still learning what this stuff does, and how my body responds. I don’t know how often, and I don’t know how much I’ll share, but I’m going to keep tweeting about cancer. For you, and for me.
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2 in 5 people will get cancer. It could be you, reading this on Twitter. It’s scary. Part of that fear is stigma. For all the love and support I have, many people ignore me now, as if we were never friends. If this society is good at one thing, it’s at abandoning the vulnerable.
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We don’t know how to talk about cancer beyond a banal ribbon. Or as if it’s “a journey.” Or as if it’s “a war.” It burdens me that I don’t really don’t identify with these things. Aside from slogans, cancer is whispered. It’s hidden. But I don’t intend to be quiet about mine.
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A lot of cancer patients say food tastes metallic during chemo. I expected this to be the case, since one of the chemos in my cocktail is platinum. I was like, ooh, platinum-level drugs! Nah. The actual metal is used as the base. This is me upon realization:pic.twitter.com/2wGOyU3Z9L
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For me, most foods have tasted fine, while some foods have tasted... weird. Not bad, just different. However. I just had some chives and I felt like I was eating aluminum foil in fresh herb form. Went away with a spoon full of maple syrup but wow now I get it. Yuck.
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This week in cancer: the most generous
@ZivaBranstetter came by for a wonderful visit shortly before moving to Washington. Best. Boss. Ever.@ByardDuncan checked in about a weekly Trader Joe’s run. Love that I can count on him every Sunday!Show this thread -
The glorious
@CocaColaChola came all the way up from LA with the lil one over the wknd to hang out me and make me food. I cherished every moment, especially picking out a hat. I went on an awesome walk to a new coffee shop with my friend and neighbor@Cristinakim830.Show this thread -
Met with
@PatrickMichels and kicked around some great project ideas.@Cristinakim830 then came by with a ridiculous amount of food that I’ve already started devouring. Our friend Nadia joined in! Thought we’d watch tv but wound up catching up on life. Because I’m still living.Show this thread -
And!
@Blackamazon flew in. From London. And got a lil spot right up the street from me so she can come over and hang out and help me do things laundry, which are still a challenge because I can’t lift too much weight.Show this thread -
For a while, I felt like I was on my own. We moved to a new city a few months ago with few friends and no family. But I’m realizing that brand new friends and co-workers, as well as a fly-in and drive-in crew, are my support system. And we’re all surviving together. I’m blessed.
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Today in cancer: my hair started to fall out for the first time. Not sure what took so long. I had a moment, and then it was ok. I then had another moment. And it was, again, ok. I haven’t lost close to all of it yet. And I’ll be a cute ass bald bitch anyway.
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After my moments, I picked up
@Blackamazon and we spent the day grocery shopping, making short ribs, and doing my laundry. And talking. And laughing. So, all in all, a few hairs short of a perfect day.Show this thread -
Today in cancer... the exhaustion from chemo is setting in, but I just watched my
@NewsHour segment about MVM holding children in that unmarked Phoenix office. Not bad.pic.twitter.com/SDlw0tRxQm
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Back at the office today and am very excited about some responsive records and stuff but.... I got a card from
@MinorityPostdoc and it out the biggest smile on my face. Thank you.Show this thread -
My iPhone suggested directions to my cancer center as soon as I got in my car today. This feels like a creepy violation of my privacy,
@AppleSupport. I don’t even use Apple Maps. It’s disturbing that this app, which I can’t even remove from my phone, is tracking me in this way.Show this thread
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