The “C” word, it’s everywhere

Today I called Sylvia from the Designer Workroom, wanting to let her know I was getting ready to order fabric for chairs, told her about the sidemark, to expect the fabric and the purchase order next week.  We did our normal small talk.  You know, how’s everything? How’s the family.  I told her that maybe I would write about her in my next blog.  I’ve been thinking of writing how the economy has affected workrooms in New York.  Little did I know what was coming next.  I said maybe I’ll stop by next week.  Then, awkward silence;  and she said, “early next week I’m having a few treatments done, and I get very tired afterwards, but Friday is good”.  So I start with my questions… Sylvia, everything ok?  You alright?

One day Sylvia noticed a little bit of blood, went to the doctor, had a sonogram,  then an MRI and was told  her uterus wall was a little thick.  Some of us have heard these words from our GYNs.  She had a DNC, then an ablasion.  When they sent the results to the lab they found the big “C”, Ovarian Cancer.  That’s it, just like that….speechless.  Sylvia would be high risk for surgery so the only option is radiation.  Devastation. 

I’ve been dealing with GYN problems and might need more surgery.  It was so scary to hear the “C” word come from Sylvia’s mouth.  I told her to be strong and that I would pray for her.  She sounded very optimistic.  The thought of her optimism makes me smile right now.  But Sylvia’s words keep playing in my head.  “Cancer is everywhere”, she said “everyone that I ever lost was from Cancer”.  She said she has no pain, just the treatments are very painful, but there’s a big chance of full recovery, and having had a PAP every year helped detect it early.  Sylvia is taking it head on and being strong.   I can relate a little bit to loosing people from the “C” word.  And if there’s a lesson to be learned from this is that we should keep up with our yearly PAP exams.  Early detection is the key. 

Sylvia told me today, her workroom is open for business and they’re busy.  I urge you to support Sylvia from Designer’s Workroom Services in NY and her workroom.  It’s good to keep her busy.  She is an amazing, talented woman, I've been using her workroom for 10 years and her work is beautiful!

 

Xo,
Teresa