Recovery

Recovery is a struggle for my sister. I'll travel by bus to Vancouver tomorrow, visit her in the hospital and take her some licorice allsorts, a sudoku puzzle book and a good cup of coffee. Still not sure how long she will stay in the hospital before returning home or how long I will stay with her.

The following is an excerpt from Eve Ensler, author of the Vagina Monologues, following her surgery for ovarian cancer:

I have a scar

A warrior track that runs down

My 57-year-old body

Each time I look at it I am reminded that I was opened up 

in order to remove the darkness

I was laid bare in order to be free of the pain

I surrendered in order to find my power 

Each time I see my scar

I am reminded that I was lucky

That I had insurance

That I could afford the most extraordinary and loving surgeons and doctors

That I was surrounded by an embarrassment of love and friends and family who bought me soup and presents

And rubbed my feet and made me eggs at 6 in the morning 

when I was ready to throw up

I am reminded that I mattered 

And because of that I recovered

I know that every single person deserves this attention

Every single person

And so my scar has become a permanent tattoo 

Calling for inclusion and joy.