Tree-Do

Our narrow backyard is appropriate for practicing free throws, a straightforward trajectory to the rim of the basket. It never quite worked for volleyball games. When the ball would get passed too close to the bougainvillea tree, mostly when Hal or I were doing the passing because we were so bad, the boys would quickly declare “Tree-Do!” and re-do the point. Or if the pokey bougainvillea thorns happened to puncture the ball, it was the end of the match and we had to buy a new volleyball.

I got a Life Tree-do on September 9. Even in our best case scenario, we could not have imagined the news that we received right after surgery – not only was the tumor benign, it was located in an area that did not require navigating blood vessels nor having the expected Whipple procedure that would have rewired my stomach permanently. There would be no need for oncologist visits, no follow-up CT scans of the pancreas. I thought I would be on a liquid diet, but I am back to steaks and even chicken, which I couldn’t eat before surgery. Prune juice is the new cocktail of choice.

Recovery from major surgery is a gradual process, and appreciating a new life and all of its potential will be gradual as well. I don’t have much of a bucket list because I never wanted to jump from bridges or climb a mountain. I leave that to the boys and they don’t tell me when they do it. Sometimes afterwards. Family, friends and experiences have all been blessings from God. I never took them lightly, but you can never appreciate them enough either.

Life turned on a dime with the finding of the tumor. In a flash, I had my life back again, intact and the same as before, but also never to be the same. I got a Tree-Do and a new volleyball, all at the same time.