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“Choosing Joy” by Mary Gooze – A #MetsMonday Featured Post

“Choosing Joy” by Mary Gooze – A #MetsMonday Featured Post

I’m pleased to share the next #MetsMonday featured post. This one comes to you from Mary Gooze, the woman behind the blog titled, “7777+ Days”. Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. She learned it had metastasized to her bones in 2014. Mary does amazing things through her unique advocacy work. (I’m in awe. You likely will be too after you learn about it.) She shares about her advocacy and how choosing joy helps her get through dark times. Thank you for sharing your voice on Nancy’s Point, Mary. Be sure to leave Mary a comment or ask her a question below.

Choosing Joy

by Mary Gooze

 

You have metastatic breast cancer.

Those words were frightening enough four years ago, but I had no idea how much I would have to adjust my emotional as well as physical being to living with this diagnosis. Questions filled my thoughts about what would change in this charmed life I had been living.

Will cancer take away everything leaving me stranded with a worn out body and a depleted soul?

After reading the dire statistics of this disease, I felt I had to do something instead of waiting for my demise. According to the literature, the median survival rate is three years. This knowledge propelled me into action to quickly save myself.

Since I had been a long-time swimmer, I decided to swim across lakes with the goal to educate people about the disease and lack of funding supporting stage IV breast cancer and also, to garner precious donations. My ultimate goal, of course, is to give others like me more time on this earth.

And so, my One Woman Many Lakes campaign was born. (Be sure to click on the link.)

I kept preaching research is our best hope, and it paid off as I am approaching the million dollar goal I had set for myself four years ago. The added bonus of swimming is that it has helped me both physically and mentally endure the side effects from the treatments.

However, it was a bit naive on my part to think all I had to do was raise money for the researchers and a cure would be found. Cancer is a complicated disease and brilliant scientists have been working on it for years. They are getting closer; however, the reality has been a readjustment of my survival expectancy and focusing my advocacy to making metastatic breast cancer a chronic disease for my daughter’s and granddaughter’s generation.

So, where does this leave me as I face living every day with cancer knowing that, despite my efforts, I might be running out of time?

During the first year of my One Woman Many Lakes campaign, I was focusing on something other than the outcome of this disease; however, over time, I found it increasingly difficult to keep it from interfering with my daily thoughts.

A mighty but short three-letter word helped me in my darkest hours after learning of progression or when dealing with side effects from treatments that left me exhausted and drained.

What word? 

“Joy”.

When I felt myself going down the rocky road of despair, I would think of all the joy in my life, and found I didn’t have to look far. That golden nugget of a word could reference something as tiny as a hummingbird alighting on a flower or as joyful as the grand bear hugs from my beloved granddaughter.

Joy has kept me focused on living and not dying.

When the gloomy thoughts start percolating, I remind myself to stop and look around. I have discovered that little word can push me out of the dumps and into a more uplifted mindset.

When there is joy, I smile. And who can’t help but smile back?

Friends and family respond to my (usually) chosen brighter outlook, and even though there has been no scientific evidence that my attitude will prolong my life, it encourages others to want to interact with me, and for me, that connection is priceless.

Too simple?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Sometimes I reflect upon what cancer has taken and what it has left me with as well—thinning hair, wrinkled skin, fatigue filled days and a sooner than later expiration date.

But one thing I know to be true; cancer has not robbed me of JOY.

I intend to never let it.

Bio:  Mary Gooze  is a wife, mother of three, grandmother to a beautiful granddaughter and a retired teacher. Since her metastatic breast cancer diagnosis in 2014, her passion has been to bring awareness and funding specific to mbc. She blogs at 7777+ Days and runs the One Woman Many Lakes initiative where your donations are welcome. And she swims. A lot.

 

"Choosing Joy" by Mary Gooze, A #MetsMonday Featured Post #breastcancer #cancer #metastaticbreastcancer #mbc #advocacy #researchnotribbons

 

Do you have a comment or question for Mary?

Are you a swimmer? If so, have you ever swam across a lake?

Cancer or no cancer, how do you choose joy when it’s a challenge to do so?

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An #MetsMonday invitation #metastataicbreastcancer #breastcancer #advocacy

Linda Boberg

Monday 6th of May 2019

First, thank you for sharing both this post about Joy and the other one that is realistic, but not really joyful . I loved both and I wish there was a sign up somewhere for her blog. Anyway! I'm finally finding some joy in my life after four months of despair over my new Stage 4 diagnosis. I think there'll be both types of days and I finally think I'm ready to handle it.

Nancy

Thursday 9th of May 2019

Linda, I'm glad you had a chance to read both of Mary's posts. They illustrate so well how we can have feelings of despair and feelings of joy, sometimes even at the same time. You likely will have days filled with many differing emotions as you grapple with your new diagnosis. I'm glad you feel you are now ready to handle it, though even that feeling will likely fluctuate. I hope you don't mind me saying the latter. Thank you for sharing. Wishing you all my best.

Linda Cook

Wednesday 13th of February 2019

Mary, As always, I admire you and consider myself fortunate to call you my friend. Thank you for all of your efforts in raising funds and awareness for MBC and for More For Stage IV.

Mary Gooze

Thursday 14th of February 2019

You are right there behind me. Thanks for listening to me when I rant! Here's to more swims for us!

Liz Johnson

Wednesday 13th of February 2019

Wow! I'm a swimmer, but you put me to shame. Was it difficult to raise that kind of money for research? I'm always amazed when I read about endeavors such as this. Would love to read a blog post on how you did it.

Mary Gooze

Wednesday 13th of February 2019

Thanks for your kind words. Please visit my website on where I’ve been swimming and how we raised the funds. www.onewomanmanylakes.org

Donna Funkhouser

Wednesday 13th of February 2019

Mary, you know how your words have inspired and comforted me and how I've so appreciated how quickly you always respond to my many questions. You inspired me to swim across Bear Paw Lake in Havre Mt the summer before last. (I would still love to swim that one with you. No motor boats allowed.) I think of you often and how your joy shines from within you and spreads to all who have contact with you. Keep up the good work!

Mary Gooze

Wednesday 13th of February 2019

Good to hear from you. Thanks for writing. Let’s plan on that swim together.

Eli

Wednesday 13th of February 2019

Thank you for an inspiring article! Good luck for many lakes to come!!! Go girl!!

Mary Gooze

Wednesday 13th of February 2019

Thanks. I’m going to keep swimming as long as I can.