I’ve been on a bit of a rollercoaster lately, and as I lay on my sofa recovering from surgery today, I thought it a good time to spill the beans on the past three and a half months. Life threw me a curveball when my routine check-up revealed some not-so-great news. Fast forward to surgery day, and here I am, reflecting on the journey, the lessons learned, and the bits of sarcasm humor😊, in between that kept me going.
The Setup: Surprise Results…That Was Not Too Surprising
Let’s rewind to a few months ago when my doctor gave an update – “abnormal” cells from a routine pap smear. Surprised – no? When you have experienced cancer in close family members, you become aware that genetics may screw with you at any time. That marked the beginning of what I like to call my health odyssey. Tests, scans, and a whole lot of poking, feeling like a Thanksgiving turkey, and prodding followed, leading me to the grand finale – surgery. I should say, that I am no stranger to this, having been diagnosed with Lupus in 2009 and various health adventures since then. But this one, for whatever reason, was even more tiring. Perhaps, it’s my age (I am not a spring chicken 🐔anymore…more like a summer chicken🍗), or maybe all my responsibilities now versus then. Still, I can honestly say, I was not worried or afraid at this point. I had to coach myself, walk my walk, and pull out every self-management technique in my bag…and it worked.
However, today as I walked into the operating room, nerves and yes, a bit of fear were my plus-ones. But there was also trust – trust in my skilled surgeon (my doctor who along the way ensured I was aware of everything that concerned me) and the team about to tackle the multiple abnormal growths in my body; that have been the cause of some pain and discomfort. I would say it’s been a pain in the #$$, but that would have been a different diagnosis. If you follow me on Instagram, you know the drill – the ups, the downs, and the candid snapshots of life’s unexpected turns.
Meeting In The Waiting Room: Lessons From A Pre-Op Chat
Cut to the pre-op waiting room this morning, a space where personal stories collide. There, I bumped into a former colleague, who looked like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. Amidst my medical haze, life handed me a lesson – everyone is going through something.
While I was doing my prep, he had lost a loved one. Right there. Right then. What made it worse, was that he could not yet begin his natural grief process, as he first was being subjected to all the admin red tape, that has no place in this moment.
Now, amid my own medical haze, I got a stark reminder – everyone is dealing with something. In the chaos of life, from work pressures to financial struggles, we’re all just human. However, when we step back and find perspective, we discover grace for others and, importantly, for ourselves.
At that moment, I chose to embody my coaching principles – empathy, meeting the person where they are, humanity, and my mantra – it’s not about me. He was dealing with the unexpected passing of his loved one, a situation that eclipsed my fears and discomfort. I let him share, allowing silence, and refrained from making it about my impending surgery. Instead, when I saw the situation could benefit from a bit of “I understand”, I shared a bit of something similar I experienced with the hospital that he was relating to; and suggested he focus on his father, take his mom home, and forget about the hospital admin right then. He got up and went over to the admin desk to communicate that he was leaving.
This encounter was a small chapter of the broader lesson – life is a mix of shared experiences, and empathy bridges the gaps between our individual stories.
Life’s messiness, work pressures, and financial struggles make us humanly imperfect. Like having road rage when we are late, dealing with office politics, confronting what we think is rude customer service, complaining about that co-worker is always so negative, or those frustrations we get worked up over at home. But finding grace for others and ourselves in the midst of it all is crucial. It’s a lesson in removing ego from conversations and making space for understanding and compassion.
Everytime we interact with someone, they may be going through something…like us.
Life’s Reality Check: From Boardrooms To Operating Rooms
Enter the operating room, where gowns replace power suits, and vulnerability takes center stage. I got this in a big way when I had my son via C-section. Life has a way of reminding us of the need to stay down to earth. Whether you are C-Suite or entry-level, we are all human when it comes to our health.
As I lay on the operating table, a team of professionals with a front-row seat to my most private parts, tube down my throat, totally unconscious, the irony wasn’t lost on me. In moments like this, you have no filters to improve the look, no editing tools, no VIPs in there with you, and no brand-name gowns (they’re all ugly and your butt cheeks will hang out). At that moment, your doctor is the only influencer that matters. Life’s message is crystal clear – humility is not a choice; it’s a fundamental aspect of our shared humanity. It’s the great equalizer that transcends social standing and circles of influence
Image – Taken after waking up for the 3rd time and now feeling ready to leave. I am not smiling to pretend everything is okay, I am smiling because it could be worse and I can
The Aftermath: Alive, Thankful And Nudging Towards Change
Now, as I navigate the post-surgery landscape, I’m alive, in some pain (nothing compared to a C-section, though!), and overwhelmingly thankful. Thankful for the support of those people who knew when to message, not to be overbearing, when to simply offer supportive words, and when to back away. Thankful to have a partner who speaks in his love language, by stepping up, showing up as needed, and doing what needs to be done. Grateful. Thankful for the moments of vulnerability that sparked connections, and the ability to rest and recover.
I carry with me the echoes of shared human experiences, the lessons of empathy, and the wisdom gained from the operating room’s unspoken truths; including Six Lessons & Reminders From My Surgery, which I will share with you later. The journey continues, and with each step, the path becomes clearer – a trajectory guided by health, gratitude, and the ever-unfolding narrative of the human experience.
Hi there, if you got any value from this post, then please let me know in the comments, and let’s connect! I’m TRYING to spend more time on social media lately, Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin. I know it matters to many, and it can be so powerful, so if you’re on there then let’s connect…but it’s a lot of work isn’t it😜The truth is, I love meaningful connections, so if you want to get in on some things I keep for my special circle, then be sure to join my mailing list. Here’s one link with everything or scan the code to make it super easy! Sharlene.
