After hearing what we have to do, people often say that they
feel that their worries or problems are not worthy of mention. The Ramers have
it way worse than they do.
I was thinking about this today as I drove home from dropping
the kids off at school and Olivia was still sort of waking up, so not actively
talking my ear off as she customarily does.
Without having each American flag along the route pointed out to me, I quietly
said my prayers and counted my blessings, as is my habit in such rare moments.
And I thought about this notion of comparing our lives to that of others.
I remember once, shortly after we moved here, Brent went to
play with a friend who lived in another neighborhood. When he returned, he exclaimed that they had
an enormous house: beautiful and so big, that he got a little lost at one
point. Would we be buying a house like
that someday?
I told him that I had no intention of moving for quite some
time. Our home was perfect for our
family, with room for my mom, who has since moved in with us. We have a wonderful neighborhood and live in
a fantastic school district. I pointed out that there would always be someone
who had a bigger house. There would always
be those who made more money. We cannot
measure our worth on this scale. You
cannot gauge your happiness in things, or in comparative terms.
I think that this idea translates beyond material things,
actually. I think you cannot find
happiness comparing your life to others, your problems, your blessings…any of
it.
I wrote recently about how I felt that Angelina Jolie might
help bring some understanding of genetic predispositions to the general public,
which then might translate to a better understanding of LFS…a place we could
start our explanation from, without going all the way to the beginning. (This often results in looks of confusion,
disbelief, or best yet, a glazed over, vacant stare.) Given her giant celebrity
status, she could bring attention to genetics and cancer, the way that Michael
J Fox brought a public awareness and appreciation of the challenges of Parkinson’s
disease.
It was interesting to hear from my LFS friends, and my
friends that are breast cancer survivors (and for the record, there is some overlap
here). I was surprised at how aggravated
some were with this whole business. To
me, it was as simple as someone famous, taking a strong preventative stance and
providing some good PR, for lack of a better term, in sharing her personal
story about cancer and giving some attention to genetic predisposition
syndromes.
I suppose that because I seldom listen to the radio and
never turn on the news, I probably missed a large portion of the ignorance out
there (confirming the wisdom in keeping my TV off). So, I can understand the
frustration of my friends with every idiot who failed to understand Angelina
Jolie’s decision, or of what breast cancer brings. And further, by the fact
that they felt compelled to confirm their ignorance by opening their mouth or
commenting on the internet, denouncing her decision, one that most folks in
this position happen to agree with.
But even if we didn’t agree, it is her body, her health, her
decision…not public domain. That, to me,
seems pretty obvious. And I could easily
understand how difficult it might be to listen to such comments, and want to
defend against such nonsense…maybe in violent frustration.
But what really surprised me was the reaction of some to the
facts of BRCA, and Jolie’s decision to have surgery, thus nearly eliminating
her risk. Apparently, this was received
with much public support, lots of “brave” and “courageous” accolades. I personally do not have a problem with these
adjectives, but some breast cancer survivors found this objectionable, which I
found curious, until I listened a bit more.
I believe it is the opportunities that Jolie has been afforded
that makes it difficult for some to drape her in laurel leaves as a ‘champion.’ Because she certainly has blessings in this
life: Financial independence such that
she can hire help with laundry and kids; a platform from which to speak and a
voice that people pay attention to; access to the very best doctors and the money
to pay them without needing to duke it out with an insurance company; genetic
knowledge in advance of a diagnosis, one that afforded her the opportunity to
chose a mastectomy, and careful reconstruction, when others had the same
procedure forced upon them with a diagnosis, further insult to follow in the
form of a chemo and/or a radiation chaser; Angelina’s ability to overcome her
‘genetic liability,’ (the way those with LFS cannot) and likely avoid cancer
altogether.
Let’s just say that there were
strong feelings about all the gushing and hoopla among some LFS friends as well. LFS is like playing in the major leagues of cancer. Jolie just got called up and these vets were not necessarily impressed with the rookie. She hasn't faced a fastball, the screwball...the curve. Does she have any endurance? She hasn't got the experience, and some out there are making her MVP.
I was bewildered.
While Jolie is genetically cursed with a mutation (BRCA) that
she was wise to both respect and address as she has done, those same genetics
blessed her with extraordinary beauty, which is partly why we are still talking
about this…she is in the movies and we are Americans. Forgive me for stating the obvious.
And that twist sort of hacks some regular people off,
especially those who have the yin of crappy genetics, without that yang of that
exceptional beauty…which has led to her status, her platform, her financial
ease, all of which are enviable.
But if I had had cancer, had this surgery thrust upon me, fought
my way through chemo, through radiation, learned of my devastating genetic diagnosis which cannot
be surgically mitigated, and struggled to care for my children while fighting
with the insurance company like a superhero, or madman…I might not have warm
and fuzzy feelings about this Johnny-come-lately who had done none of this, and
who people pay attention to because of her beauty. I can see how that would be irritating.
Well, now I get it.
From that perspective, she might not seem so much 'brave,' as logical,
pragmatic and resourceful…using whatever is available to her. And she has much available. I do not personally begrudge her the
resources. Believe me when I say that I
use whatever I can find to get through.
I count my blessings. I know that
I have many.
But ultimately, I think that it comes down to understanding the
fact that there will always be those better off than you, and there will always
be those worse off. Using a dear
friend’s description, LFS is 'the mother of all cancer syndromes.' And thus, genetically, we are the top
of the heap, cancer-wise. We are the
most exclusive club, but the sorority that no one rushes. No one has greater
cancer risk than this small, scattered group of families from all over the
world.
They struggle, anonymously for the most part, for
generations, losing significant portions of their family. They want help. They want solutions. They want a voice. They want research dollars. They want to be heard. Mostly, they desperately want a cure.
I am a newbie, without any sort of LFS perspective, or heavy
oncological baggage in my family. I lost
my father to kidney cancer, although I have been assured that this was not LFS
related. It counts toward my cancer fear
factor, this loss. But it is not in the
same league, not even close, to the stories of my friends, who have lost so many…children,
siblings, cousins, parents, aunts, uncles…
I have a different perspective. A different story. We all do.
I am grateful that Angelina Jolie shared her story. She still garners my sympathy and admiration,
because she seems to be a pretty private person when it comes to her
family. In sharing this, she has helped
others, and I view it as a measure of generosity, this giving of her privacy, a
treasure that she seems to hold dear. The
same anonymity that others find despair in, might be exactly what she craved as
she went through her procedures, skulking around and hiding from the paparazzi. You have to take the bad with the good, and we all have different challenges.
I try not to compare my life, or situation to others. This is simply my story. And I try to do the best with what I have
been given, and relate compassionately to those who cross my path. I look with much gratitude to those who have helped
me, which includes the insight and support from a beautiful group of strong
women from all over the world, each rivaling any character that Angelina Jolie
might play on the silver screen. They
are bad-ass in real life and deserve equal time, even if you do not know them and they never happen to
grace the cover of People Magazine.
Just saying.
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