January 25, 2007
To my Wonderful Friends and Family,
Thank you all so much for your cards, gifts, prayers and visits and the great home-cooked food! I feel surrounded by so much love and support. Please accept my deepest gratitude.
Many of you have asked, how I am feeling…..I’m just starting my third out of 6 cycles of oral chemotherapy (I take medication at home morning and night for 14 days and then have one week off during which I visit the Dr. for a check-up). My spirit is very strong, although I often feel tired and experience pain in my ribs due to the fluid in my right lung that is still causing pressure there. I am still teaching a little yoga and doing my best to keep up with my boys. Assuming all goes well, I’ll be done with treatment at the end of March.
In the meantime, I have signed up for a marathon: STRIDES FOR HOPE, sponsored by The Wellness Community in Bedminster, NJ. I will be walking 10 miles instead of running the marathon in Big Sur, California on April 27th. My goal is to raise $3,000 for this cause and be physically ready to walk the walk by April! I have been involved with The Wellness Community for the past year teaching Nia to cancer patients and I love the supportive and caring environment there. The Wellness Community is the ONLY non-profit that focuses on providing free classes at centers internationally, like yoga, nutrition, tai chi, Nia, meditation, support groups for patients, family and caregivers regardless of the type of cancer.
As a cancer patient, I feel that the compassion of the staff and teachers at the Wellness Community is so comforting. It is a safe haven for wellness, away from doctors and difficult treatments. The classes empower patients with new techniques that help them through the journey of cancer. You can find out more about the services they offer and pass the word to anyone who is faced with the diagnosis of cancer by browsing through the webpages on this site. What they do is truly a gift of compassion and Hope.
I lost two friends to breast cancer last year, one of whom I know found peace at The Wellness Community. I want to walk this marathon in their honor. I want to walk for myself and my friend Carol – we were both diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago and we are both enduring chemo together again. The challenge of this moment is my 6th occurrence of breast cancer. If your heart is moved to donate in support of my walk, click here and this link will allow you to donate on-line.
I take inspiration from Eleanor Roosevelt who said: You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face…and Do the thing you think you cannot do. At this moment, my body is a bit weak, but I face this challenge on the strength of my spirit. I will walk the Strides for Hope marathon!
Thank you for continued love and support,
Penny Williams |
