#64: Spend Time with your Grandparents

Being diagnosed with cancer when your grandparents are still alive is not common. I am fortunate enough to have 3 out of my 4 grandparents still alive today, which unfortunately meant they had to endure the upsetting news that one of their grandchildren was diagnosed with cancer.

I made a point of visiting with my grandparents during treatment, not only because I had a lot of time on my hands, but because I wanted them to see me in the flesh and feel reassured that I was persevering.

Now that I'm out of treatment and in remission, it's as important as ever for me to spend time with my grandparents. My health has returned (if only partially), and my life is on the upswing. I want my grandparents to play in active part in my survivorship, and similarly, I want to continue to learn and gain experience from them.

This weekend, my family and I accompanied my grandmother (the ex-ballet dancer) to Romeo & Juliet presented by the National Ballet of Canada. The ballet was beautiful, and my grandmother repeated over and over after the performance, "That was magnificent!"

I'm so happy to have spent such a lovely afternoon with my grandmother. Afterall, my grandparents have played a strong role in shaping the person who I am today - cancer survivor and all!