21
November 25
Seven Dolors, Albany
From the outside the gothic ornate cross-shaped church was a feast for the eyes. From the inside the stained glass windows and Way of the Cross grabbed my attention from the moment I walked in and again when I realized their inscriptions were in German. I recognized St. Benedict and St. Scholastica, St. Blase, St. Christopher, St. Peter and Paul, St. Gertrude and the Infant of Prague but others were beyond me. The dolors , sorrows, were illustrated in a stunning set of seven circular stained glass images surrounding Mary. The traditional style of the church matched well with Father Edward, whose explanations of Biblical history were always presented with interesting detail and his own fascination readily apparent. From the two sentence gospel story of Luke 21:1-4 of the widow who tithed more than her share as an example, Father Edward highlighted the end of the Liturgical year being heavy with stories of persecution but also with hope and the knowledge that “our faith will rise and God will be in our lives.”
Dolors: Side Effects
Dolors. I tried not to dwell on the side effects or complain unless someone inquired specifically, but there were dolors throughout the cancer treatment because cancer is cancer–an ever present, all-encompassing, insidious, emotionally- invasive nuclear bomb–not only mutation at the cellular level. With each diagnosis I pictured it as an atomic bomb, the ripples spreading far and the fall-out never-ending. With each diagnosis I missed my healthy past and mourned the unknown but darker future.
With a few friends sharing their experience after being diagnosed recently with breast cancer and remembering being handed a Chemo 101 folder nine years before, I attended a Chemotherapy Education class at the Coborn Cancer Center. Honestly I also was in for the cool Thirty-One bag of treats that came with the appointment. The class was me in a patient education room with a revolving cast of medical professionals. First I met with an upbeat dietitian who showed me several sections in a ½ inch thick spiral bound book. Next, a chemo nurse who provided general hygiene information and side effect management, flagging sections in the manual. Finally, a pharmacist explained how meds are ordered and dosed and the importance of not mixing in other supplements. I noticed she was struggling as she explained the process and then confided that she was a cancer survivor. “You’re concerned about recurrence?” I guessed. She could only nod, closed her eyes briefly and then continued. I had two friends who had been inspired to become nurses after breast cancer treatment and could see the joy serving others brought them but this poor woman was heavily weighed by her fears every day seeing other patients’ recurrence.
From head to toe, it seemed cancer had affected me physically and mentally, I could list a few woes as well. Note: if you are squeamish you might find sections repulsive and if you are my son, you might