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| In the canoe, shortly before it got scary. |
Last summer, I went with my family on a trip to the NC mountains for some late summer fun and relaxation. Novices, we decided to check out a local river for some canoeing. What started out a serene journey in fairly shallow water ended with my family evacuating tipping canoes, climbing onto a low lying bridge (one we'd pinned our canoes against), and watching on as Doug and I struggled to get our footing on the slippery rocks of the riverbed. We were both in the water and trying to get out of a rushing current when my leg got pinned between our canoe and the side of a low lying bridge. Luckily, the canoe eventually dislodged itself and bobbed beneath the bridge and down the river, freeing my leg. We helped each other climb up onto the bridge. It was just two months before Doug and I married, three and a half months before my cancer diagnosis and nothing if not a symbol of the work that was to come.
I've been a little preoccupied with surviving since the cancer diagnosis, but in the back of my mind, I've wanted to get back out in the water. It felt like I needed a good experience sporting on the water to wipe the scary-canoeing-incident slate clean. I'd talked a lot about trying paddle-boarding. "Talked" is the key word here. I've put on a lot of weight, and my bones and joints aren't the same since chemo. My poor ankles can hardly stand to support my weight just walking around, forget about trying to balance on a board out in the water. Oh, and then there's the fact that I really don't know much about paddling... Anyway, we have friends who paddle-board, and there are lessons available all over town, but it was going to be one of those back-burner things. Something I would try one day, and blog about, when I was stronger and slimmer.
And then along came
Pretty In Pink Foundation... I stopped by their office in mid-July to meet the local coordinator, Joy, and their exercise physiologist, Laura. They showed me around the offices, and we chatted. I mentioned starting this blog to them, and how paddle-boarding was one of the things I wanted to do and then write about. Wouldn't you know it, they were going the next day at high tide with another survivor, Ann, and they even had an extra board that had been donated to the organization. Ann had learned to SUP (Stand-Up Paddle-board) while she was in treatment for her cancer. It was an outlet, a thing of solace, and a way to stay active. She grew so fond of it (it's addicting) that it became a normal part of her life, and now she wants to teach others. Well, Lord knows I need a good teacher when in the water, so when Joy and Laura invited me along (heck, they even rearranged their schedules to accommodate mine), I couldn't resist.
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| A view of Bradley Creek |
That next afternoon, when I should have been home prepping for my hysterectomy (it was scheduled for the next day), I met up with Ann, Laura, and Joy on a dock at Bradley Creek.I was a bundle of nerves with a million fearful questions running through my head. Would I be able to balance? Could I stand up? Could I paddle? In the right direction? Would I hit a boat? Would one hit me? If I fell off, could I even pull my own weight out of the water? Would the girls laugh at me? You get the picture...
Ann and Laura put me right at ease. Joy stayed behind to take a few snapshots of us out on the water. I didn't even know how to get on a paddle-board, but they showed me and helped keep it steady until I was settled. They got on their boards, and off we went.
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| Here goes nothing... |
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| Getting settled |
I immediately failed, which normally would have sent me right back to dry land. But I was determined to keep going. You see, I had paddled the wrong way, setting us up for an easy start to our journey by moving with the current, but a harder ride home, having to paddle against the current when we were already tired at the end of the trip. That hadn't been their plan. I was supposed to go the other way but couldn't seem to get it together enough to turn around. Ann and Laura were great, explaining and showing me how to paddle, where to position my feet, how to stand up. They stuck with me, despite my screw-up, and taught me how to do it right.
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Heading out... in the wrong direction!
LOL! |
I think I would have been satisfied to sit on my butt in the middle of that board and just enjoy the serene scene. Sunshine, a light breeze, ever-so-slightly cool water rushing against my dangling feet. I mean really... it was a beautiful day. But I really wanted to be able to say I did it; I stood up. And guess what?! I DID IT!!! I wasn't graceful, and I'm sure it wasn't fun to watch, but on my second attempt, I.STOOD.UP!!! And I stayed up for at least 5 mins, maybe more. I stood up and paddled that board by a moving boat, under a bridge, and even turned around (my paddling skills grew exponentially, it seems, in the hour we were on the water). Just when I thought I'd lose my balance, I threw my butt down on that board so fast. I never ended up taking a dip in the water. I made it all the way out and back without falling in! I know... I was shocked too!
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| Determined! |
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OK, so there isn't any photographic evidence of me standing,
but Ann and Laura will vouch for me, right girls? |
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| I couldn't stop smiling! |
I felt so triumphant when we got back to the dock. I may not have been graceful, and I know I didn't look pretty doing it, but who cares?! With their support, and a little courage and tenacity, I overcame a lot of fear, and I know doing things like this (active, fun, and physical) I will get back to a place where I can call myself healthy. This is survival and healing all wrapped up in one.
Oh, if you haven't tried it yet... What are you waiting for? DO IT!!!
