My graduation speech

Dear "chemo sisters", doctors, nurses, family, friends and unknown cheerleaders!

This is the third graduation day in my life! On my first two occasions I felt a little sad, but this time I am thrilled!

I will not miss those nauseous days, tasteless meals and sitting at a chemo booth for hours attached to various IV lines.

Having said that, during this process I've learned not only who my real friends are, the value of family, my limitless limits but also everyday things .... like how to show confidence with fake hair, how to avoid compliments about my great new hairdo and how to create symmetry in my chest area.

.. how to find the closest exit when the smell of the food from a restaurant kitchen hits my nose and the food inside changes direction upwards ...

I also became an expert on medical research, findind lumps in virtully any parts of my body and the topic of breast cancer, of course ...

I never appreciated little things in life so much as during this time - like having an attention span longer than 10 minutes and being able to decipher tastes between a grilled fish and a tiramisu.

They say life is a journey, I did not choose it this time but this is the card I was given ... mine is more like a roller coaster ride. I've been on the downward spiral for a long time, but hoping that the the one who is handing out the cards and steering my car is bored with the way down and will change direction towards the peak.

I got my eight chemo treatments, my eight presents as promised, but now it's time to say hooray for some new hair and good-bye cancer!

One of us had to go ... either Elvi or Harry ... I am still rooting for me :o)...