Life. Love. Cancer.

I’m not the woman I used to be. Somewhere along the way I feel as if I have matured. Part of me thinks that I may have even chilled out a little bit when it comes to things that don’t make a difference in the big scheme of things.

Gone are the days that I jumped out of bed and made it immediately. No longer do I stress or flip out when there is laundry on the floor of the laundry room for more than a day. I’ve even relaxed enough to allow other people to load the dishwasher, clean the bathroom, and do the grocery shopping.

When I was first diagnosed and started treatments I tried valiantly to do it all. I made the meals, packed the lunches, cleaned the house, and tried like hell to be everything my husband and kids deserved. At the end of the night I was so exhausted that I couldn’t be bothered to walk up the stairs to go to bed. Still, I’d wake up and do it all again.

My husband and I would argue because I wouldn’t let him do anything. He struggled with watching the woman he loved pushing herself beyond her limits and I struggled to be the wife I thought he wanted and needed. It took a major argument and pneumonia for me to let go and let someone else.

In the six weeks that he has been home with me we’ve argued only twice. I really thought that we’d kill one another by the time a week had passed but he was convinced that this was just what we both needed. He knew better than I what a difference it would make for both of us as individuals and as a couple.

Oh, we still bicker. He tells me when I’m being a bitch. I tell him when he’s being an insensitive asshole. There are times when I’m sure we both could use a break but we hang in there. By the time the smoke clears we’re laughing like loons and enjoying one another once more.

He wants to do more. I curl up under the blankets and allow him. If I need a soda he brings me one. If I am sick he checks on me and helps me back to my chair. If I’m hungry but nothing in the house sounds appetizing (and we have two or three dollars) then he volunteers to run and get fries and sweet tea from McDonalds so that I have something in my system.

Our routine is simple, relaxed. We get up at the same time and head downstairs. He logs in and gets ready for work. I curl up in my comfortable chair and put my feet on the ottoman. He tucks my blankets in around me and brings me whatever I need before he heads back to his desk to work.

At some point during the day he helps me shower. I wash my hair and he washes my body. Then he washes himself before helping me out. He escorts me into the living room where my clothes are waiting for me before he heads back to his desk. (Showering and dressing seem to be the biggest energy drains for me but showering feels so good!) I dress slowly, piece of clothing by piece of clothing, then wait for him to help me back to my chair. If his schedule allows for it, we nap together. Otherwise, I sleep in my chair.

The days are the same. His love is the same. I thank him for taking care of me and he tells me that he loves taking care of me.

I never imagined finding a love like this. Someone who makes me laugh and smile is also the person who looks out for me, protects me. The person who drives me the most insane is the person I can’t imagine being without.

The man who kisses me gently in the morning is the same man that makes sweet passionate love to me at night. The man who is my warden is also my protector, my champion, and my guardian. The man who made me his wife has made me his life.

I’m convinced that when faced with a love like ours, cancer doesn’t stand a chance.