Sometimes life slows us down in ways we never expected.

This past year has brought challenges I could have never imagined, but also moments of deep reflection, faith, and gratitude. As I continue through treatment and prepare for an unexpected pilgrimage, I wanted to share a little update and a lot of thankfulness.

Treatment Update

First off, on the treatments, things have been going as well as chemotherapy can. This past Monday, I started treatment three and will have treatment four on Monday, November 10th, in this round of 5FU. I’m hopeful that my scan on November 17th will show continued improvement and open up more options.

This week, my CEA number came down from 15 to 13, which is encouraging, and I’m hoping to build on that momentum.

Going back on treatment has been more difficult than I’d like, but I’m continuing to do all the things that I hope will help my body respond and get me back to where I was in May. Through these challenges, I’ve gained a lot of perspective, the kind that I think we can all benefit from. Every one of us faces hard things, and sometimes it helps to pause and reflect on how we get through them.

Finding Gratitude in the Hard Things

A few weeks ago, during the homily at Mass (shout-out to Father Will, I’m so grateful God sent him to State Route 59!), the topic of gratitude came up and really made me think about what that means for me.

Can I be grateful that I have cancer?

That’s a hard pill to swallow… but the answer is yes. Life has changed in so many ways, and I’ve had to do things I never thought I could. But I did them. We are always stronger and more resilient than we realize.

Before I got sick, life was busy and stressful. God knew I needed something big to make me slow down and let go of the idea that I could do it all. I’ve always been loyal to a fault, which can be a good thing, but it can also make us worry about others when the only person we truly have control over is ourselves.

Learning to Let Go

If you’ve known me in my adult life, you know I’ve always been the fixer. I’ve always wanted to help, at work, in friendships, and in life, often at my own expense. Ironically, I started therapy two weeks before my diagnosis. I had reached a point where I needed to work on myself to move forward, and I had no idea how much that therapy would help me through this journey. My husband gets much credit for helping me see that, add it to the list of all of the reasons I am grateful for him 💕

There’s a lot of research showing the connection between emotional well-being and physical health. If you’ve been considering therapy, take this as your nudge. No one can fix all of life’s problems, but we can do things to help ourselves through the journey.

No matter how difficult life feels, there’s always something to be grateful for.

A Heartfelt Thank You

This is my heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who has reached out, prayed, sent positivity, cards, or gifts. It has all made such a difference. I am grateful for all of it. I have been trying to send thank you cards but I know I have missed some.

As I come up on a year since receiving the worst news of my life, I find myself grateful for so many things, right down to simply being alive. About six months ago, I was talking to a dear friend who has been such a bright light through all of this. In her own life, she has inspired me to pray through the hard things and I know she continues to pray for me every single day. In that conversation she said, “We need to do something for your birthday that does not include a hospital stay”.

In true Michelle Moore fashion, I replied, half-jokingly, “Well, there’s Disney… or the Vatican. In 2025, the Door of Hope is open.”

All she had to do was mention that conversation to Dave, and the wheels started turning to make it happen. The reality is, we really don’t have any business taking a trip to Italy right now, but sometimes you just have to say yes and worry about the rest later.

A Pilgrimage of Gratitude

This Friday, we begin a pilgrimage we never thought we’d take, and we couldn’t be more excited or grateful. Please pray for us as we travel to Rome and spend the week taking in all that is sacred and beautiful around us. We’ll attend the papal audience on Wednesday and walk through all four Holy Doors that only open every 25 years.

When we return, I’ll share our experiences. For now, I’m simply grateful to be alive, not in the hospital, and celebrating 53 years. Aging is a privilege that society often wants us to hide or reverse, but the truth is, we should be thrilled with every wrinkle, every year, and every moment we’re given. ❤️

Peace, love, gratitude, and hope,

Michelle 

Author’s Note:

Over the past year, I’ve shared these reflections not just as updates, but as part of my own healing journey. Writing helps me process what’s happening, and my hope is that something in these words might also bring comfort, faith, or perspective to someone else walking through their own hard season. 💛