Shinybass Journal Entry 03/13/24

Day 1 

The only strength we could muster was to order pizza for dinner. Then we called it a day. 

If I were to write a book about what’s going on lately, I think it may start like the line above. The absolute crushing, deflating feeling of getting a cancer diagnosis is like nothing I’ve felt before. My wife got ‘the call’ at around 3 PM. All I could do for the next few hours was sort of make it to get pizza and get to bed. 

We learned more about my wife’s situation as the days moved on, hoping that some of this was positive news somehow. We had uplifting reports, like ‘we caught it early’, and we heard the two most important words : ‘treatable and curable’. I was (and am) still a mess, because there is this thing, this grape-sized mass living in the body of my wife; the guest no one invited to the party. 

As I talked with people about what’s going on, it seems everyone has a cancer story. This isn’t like a UFO or Bigfoot sighting. This is happening every day, all over the world. Messages started coming in ‘Hey man, my Mom has had_______, or my wife is dealing with_______, and the fraternity that no one pledged just kept growing before my eyes.

People are amazing. Political polarization rips us apart in so many ways, but give us a common enemy and dammit, we’re on it. And you have ALL been on it. Damn you, friends, for making me cry with the outpouring of support and encouragement. I hate to admit it (because I am a man and don’t talk about my feelings…), but we need all the help we can get. I can’t thank you enough. 

Life in the coming weeks and months is about to take on a new look. My priorities (of course) are to take care of my wife, keep my kids laughing and focused (they both know), and keep a house moving. And naturally still work in the middle. The kids soccer season starts this weekend, and Mom plans on being at all of the games, hair loss be damned. Her new novelty wigs from Amazon match the boys’ team colors. There’s no stopping us from enjoying this life, no matter how bumpy the road. 

The initial outpouring of support out of the gate is amazing, but we’re not even to base camp of Mt. Recovery yet. Climb with us, if you would, and let’s all get through this together. 

I’ll keep you all posted as we claw our way up.

Much love to you all, and hug those babies. 

See you on the road!

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