Tuesday, August 25, 2009
When Intellect and Emotion Collide
My beautiful Maine Coon kitty, Don Juan de Marco, aka Marko, became very ill recently. He is only 3 ½ years old and well loved even by my oldest children, who are allergic to cats. First Marko lost his “meow” and then his breathing became very labored. After testing and biopsies, it has been confirmed that Marko has a lymphoma in his larynx.
Recommended treatment involves chemotherapy. Here is where the struggle between the ears begins….he is a cat, how much do you spend on a cat? How much is too much? Doesn’t he deserve a chance? How important is his quality of life?
When I am challenged with a decision to make, I have three categories - Yes, No and I need more information. The first vet thought I should send him on his way to heaven, the oncologist urged me to seek more information. I went back and forth between my feelings and the practicalities of life. I decided to live in hope.
Whether it is a cat life or a human life, those of us who are the stewards of a living being have a responsibility to do our best. I have resolved not to let Marko down. I was sharing this while driving to the Montreal airport with my brother, the doctor, who is an esteemed palliative care specialist. At the point when I said, “I have to give him a chance, because when I had Hodgkin’s decades ago, what if someone put me to sleep?” My very funny brother said, as we turned onto the next highway, “well then I’d be going straight instead of making this turn”. Humor is, after al, the best medicine.
After one month of chemo, he is talking up a storm – Marko has his “meow” back, and apparently this type of lymphoma responds well to chemo. Marko has the love and prayers of all the many people who join me for dinner meetings at my home. I am grateful for my friends who know that an animal is a family member and that prayers do heal.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Relationships Begin With Hello
This morning, I boarded the plane leaving Montreal for Chicago and found myself sitting beside a lovely young lady. For the next two hours I was completely captivated by her energy, her wisdom and her incredible healing talent.
Bron is a drummer in a pipe band, among her many other talents. She has the incredible ability to sit next to someone and detect their medical challenges. She told me a story of bumping shoulders with a man and recognizing that he had a torn tendon in his opposite shoulder.
We talked about relationships and friendships, children and manifesting. She was full of insights and ideas that I intend to follow up on. It was an amazing conversation from start to finish. As the plane started it’s descent I knew there was something I had to share with her. The members of my Forum for Seasoned coaches each did a legacy video last year. Garry was asked to interview me and he asked me what turned out to be me a very profound question. He said “ You inspire many people, but who inspires you Frumi?” The question was profound because I strated to cry as what instantly came to mind was that my mother did – and she died two years ago.
I shared this story with Bron, who I only met 2 hours earlier….and said…”I’m telling you this story because you have inspired me Bron. And her answer was….”and it began with “Hello”.
Don’t be afraid to reach out and touch another soul – life is all about the people we meet and connect with on our journeys.
