Horizon goals

August 24, 2012

When I was 30, I was diagnosed with a tumor that was removed by surgery. After getting over the initial shock of having been diagnosed with cancer, I knew that I had to find simple strategies that would lift my spirits in the short to intermediate term as I went through chemo and radiation treatments, and then serve as a bridge to long term happiness.

I decided to call these "horizon goals," because they were visible and tangible, and I could look forward to them on a daily or weekly basis. They also gave me strength to push forward. Sometimes it meant watching a film I liked after a day of nauseating radiation or chemo treatment. It could also mean planning to have someone special come by and visit.

In addition to my faith, I felt that I needed palpable goals that were meaningful. When we see progress, sometimes it alleviates the work that it takes to get there.

I pray that your treatments are going well. I felt like I wanted to share my experience because it provided me with gradual steps that boosted my morale as I made the journey to wellness.

My best,

Evan

One of the professors where I work sent me this email as I was starting my chemo treatments back in August.  I really liked the idea of setting “horizon goals” and working to accomplish some good as I go through my treatments or just doing something that I really enjoy that lifts my spirits.  I've found that it really helps to have some projects to work on, to have some places to go visit, to have some people over to visit and to just do things I enjoy doing.  It helps to keep my mind off how I feel and how I just want to curl up in the fetal position and not leave my house sometimes.   Here’s some of what I’ve come up with for my own “Horizon Goals.”

Chemo treatments on:

August 22 – Write a thank you card to everyone who serves me (so far I’ve written 50!)  I’ve been served by a lot of wonderful people.  Now it’s my turn to be a receiver of help (which is hard for me), and to be as gracious as I can possibly be.  #1 on that list of helpers is my dear husband.  Also, I will get up, put on my hat/hair/scarf and visit with whoever comes to my door.  I love visitors!

September 12 – enjoy every moment with my mother and let her take care of me (I’ve already written about that wonderful 4 days we spent together.)  Go to Logan and support my cousin Scott.  Go to Rupert and visit my childhood home and my sister Janet and her family.

 

October 3 – listen to the LDS general conference.  Determine to make 2 improvements in my life.  Sew a crib skirt and a crib quilt for my little grandson Charlie.  Go to Chicago/South Bend with our family for the BYU-Notre Dame football game. (This trip was planned long before the word “cancer” was spoken.)  The trip begins tomorrow starting in Chicago and ends in Minneapolis, MN.  Rick and I are picking up four new states in our quest to get to all 50.

October 24 – continue to serve my CASA girl and my Young Women girls.  Find some way to do something special for them. Sew some items for Christmas gifts. Go to some movies with Rick.  Have some people come over for dinner.  I love having dinner guests.

November 14 – enjoy the visit of my daughter Jordan who is coming to help me after the treatment.  Go to New Mexico for Thanksgiving with our daughters and their families.  Five of our six grandchildren will be there!

December 5 – enjoy the visit of my sister Janet and let her help me decorate our home for Christmas (prior to the treatment.)  Celebrate the end of Chemo treatments by going to The Roof at the JSMB after I’m well enough to eat.  Enjoy the entire month with no more treatments and our family all coming home for Christmas!  Could there be a better way to celebrate the birth of the Savior?  Halleluiah!!

I also decided to read the entire Book of Mormon again between the first chemo treatment and the last radiation treatment.

I’ll start radiation treatments in January and they will be every day, M-F, for six weeks.  I’ll need to set some new “Horizon goals” for those long six weeks.