fierypearls
Her Lemons And Pearls
Brought to you by a career-woman, a mom and a girl that knows to smile at life's silly imperfections.
When life gives her lemons, she knows to make lemonade, or lemon meringue pie, or simply lemon teaš
And she knows to count her pearls and treasure them forever.
Here are a few pages from her life's journal ...
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THE PARTY AFTER THE PARTY
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***I am a 1-year cancer survivor today!***
Today is a year since I got diagnosed with breast cancer. This last one year has been brutal going through harsh treatments, multiple surgeries, side effects and complications.
I just finished my last active treatment and I am currently recovering well. Today I have turned in my resignation letter with my workplace and I will be exiting Microsoft at the end of the month. This will either be a temporary sabbatical of sorts, or an early retirement from my career.ā¦ not sure which one just yet. However, what I am sure of is that as I am almost physically healed now, I want to next focus on my mental health, spiritual and psychological healing and overall wellbeing. I will be traveling quite a bit for the rest of this year, domestically and internationally.... as well as spending time with family and friends. I am looking forward to once again being there on the sidelines cheering my daughter at her softball games. I am looking forward to taking care of my aging parents again, and not the other way around anymore. I am looking forward to slowing down and enjoying each day.
I plan to stay focused on cancer advocacy, awareness, fundraising and mentoring. I look forward to contributing back to and serving the cancer community. And I will be actively involved with the non-profit organizations - American Cancer Society, Imerman Angels, SurvivingBreast Cancer.org and Expressive Therapies. When I was first diagnosed I did not know of anyone that had cancer in my family or friends circle, hence had no one to talk to or no one that could relate to what I was going through. Cancer can be incredibly lonely. I am going to be mentoring newly diagnosed patients through these support organizations and through my doctors offices. All these, I feel, would in turn help me with my own healing.
I have been through loss and grief before, but this past one year has been nothing like Iāve ever experienced before. Close encounter with the ultimate end changes you! Fighting the fear of recurrence will not be easy but I am grateful for my rebirth, for this second chance at life. I have learnt now to appreciate the small things and to live one day at a time.
I wanted to commemorate this 1-year survivorship so went and got these tattoos.
Significance of my lotus tattoo-
ā1.ā ā Personal Transformation: I have undergone a significant life event/change/personal growth. The tattoo serves as a reminder of my journey and the strength I have gained.
ā2.ā ā Resilience/Rebirth: The lotus grows in murky waters, yet it emerges pristine and beautiful. It symbolizes resilience, the ability to rise above challenges, and the capacity for transformation. Just as the lotus blooms from the mud, I have been able to overcome adversity and find my inner strength.
(Bonus, Arvind i.e. my husband's name, also means lotus.)
Significance of my pink ribbon tattoo-
ā1.ā ā Breast Cancer Advocacy: The pink ribbon is widely recognized as a symbol of breast cancer awareness. By wearing a pink ribbon tattoo, I express my support for those affected by this disease. It serves as a constant reminder to fight for a cure, promote early detection, and offer compassion to patients and survivors.
ā2.ā ā Strength and Resilience: As a breast cancer survivor, the pink ribbon tattoo represents resilience, hope, and triumph over the disease. It serves as a permanent reminder of my journey and the strength I have demonstrated throughout my battle.
I am totally in love with my rebirth lotus tattoo and my dainty F.U. cancer tattoo :) Cheers to one year.... and hopefully many more!
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Feels good to be back :)
I am now a month past my revision surgery. Thankfully I have been forcing myself to rest well and allowing my body to heal. I had energy this last week and the weekend, and consequently it was hard for me to sit still ā¦. so I jumped into a few projects. I organized my spice rack, I cleaned my fridge and pantry, I set up my plants in our sunroom and I set up my new zen reading-nook in one corner of the sunroom. And doing all that felt so nice!
Cancer made me miss out on a lot. This last one year of my diagnosis and treatment robbed me of normal life. I missed out on one year of my career, one year of enjoying time with friends and family, of multiple travels that we used to embark on throughout the year, of all the events and gatherings that my family would normally attend or host, of attending my daughterās school events, sports and tournaments. I was especially sad for missing out on cheering Shriya, my daughter, at her games and practices. I have always been there for her on the fields, talking to her coaches and team parents. I would take Snowy, our dog, with me to the games where he was a major crowd puller and a favorite of the kids. I missed driving Shriya back from the field discussing the good and the bad of her games, and how she plans to get better.Ā
March 13th was a year since I had my biopsy and a year since I was handed a list of breast surgeons by the radiologist to start my research on which doctor I would like to meet next āif I needed to, if the report came back positiveā. The radiologist wouldnāt of course officially tell me the results at that time but it was a clear indication that I did in fact have cancer, which got confirmed in a few days once the official results got read back to me by a doctor. Now, that I felt like I did have more energy, I wanted to take back my life. I ventured to drive my daughter to her batting practice on my own instead of leaving that responsibility for my husband. I went into the batting facility, met the coaches, chatted with the team and the team parents, said bye to Shriya and headed back to the car. As I drove away, with a big grin on my face, I actually mouthed āYeh baby.ā¦ Iām back!!āĀ Ā Ā
Feels good to be back :)
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I learnt to live, I learnt to stay
A voice inside me told me to pray
To give thanks and stay the way,
And not to think of whatās beyond today.
When I was weakā¦. each day was hard
I could tell no days apart.
My body was battered.... it wept, it cried
It wanted to break away and die.
But my spirit held strong and wouldn't let me give up.
The ravaged spirit wouldnāt give up.
I despised how I wasnāt strong
I felt I didnāt belong
I needed help with little things
I had to learn it wasnāt wrong.
It wasnāt wrong, and I wasnāt weak
It was a sign of respecting my new limits
And loving myself enough to accept the treat.
The treat that is the love of othersā¦.
Who wanted to help and truly felt my needs.
The body bore the trauma, but the spirit grew stronger.
I hope to live... to live much longer.
Those dark days when my mind would spiral
On lonely nights and rage a storm
Deep breaths and visions of happier days
Would lift me up and bring me home.
And so I gave thanks, and so I prayed.
And I lived and I stayed.
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***A new year, a new me.***
Late post, but Happy New Year!
As 2024 rolled in, since my hair was starting to grow back, I felt comfortable stepping outside more often without my hats on on non-frigid/good weather days.
The other day a lady in an Indian restaurant said- "I donāt see a lot of Indians with short hair. You look nice!"
I was waiting for my ride and a random passerby remarked- "I love your haircut!"
A lady walking her dog stopped and said- "You have a great vibe going on hereā¦ I love your hair!"
My Iranian dentist commented that she loved my Googooshy hairdo and that I am rocking it.
I was not expecting all these compliments on my chemo hair at all! I might appear vain relishing these compliments.... but 2023 had robbed me of a lotā¦ itās nice to finally feel a little whole, a little human again in 2024.
Hoping for a beautiful year ahead for me and for you! Love & hugs!
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My healing.
Today, at Surviving Breast Cancerās Encourage & Empower session I was asked āwhat is healing?ā To me, healing is welcoming energy, welcoming peace, welcoming joy, welcoming love and not expecting overnight miracles. Two ways that I have received successful healing are giving back to others and traveling.
While going through active cancer treatment I have been able to engage in efforts of giving back to community by being open about my diagnosis and sharing my journey with newly diagnosed patients, young and old.
However, the surgeries and chemotherapy of course did not allow for any travel this year. Once I finish my active treatment and I heal physically, I fully intend to pursue travel to welcome mental healing. I have always been a type-A person, a perfectionist. I thrive on goal setting and excelling, and have always been chasing corporate targets at a high stress job. But, next year I want to prioritize myself and to simply breathe!
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#touched
Today was a tough day, not gonna lie! No, not physically or spiritually, but emotionally.
Yes, I got my chemo yesterday and I got my first WBC booster shot for this round of chemo today. And yes, I was fatigued and needed a nap in the afternoon. But it was a tough day because my emotional leg was a little wobbly. The other two legs of my āwell-being stoolā - physical and spiritual, were still relatively strong today.
Why? Itās because I was #touched by empathy and humanity. I have been wearing my short pixie cut proudly since donating my hair 5 weeks back. I have had some hair loss from chemo the last few weeks and then, just this past Sunday, my hair began to fall like an avalanche all of a sudden! It left patchy bald spots and it was getting hard to contain all the shedding with a beanie. Wearing the beanie 24/7 made me heat up and I was struggling to fall asleep at night with it on. So, I decided to go ahead and buzz off my hair.
At the end of the work day today, I went with my husband to the barber shop he usually goes to. With my immunity low due to chemo I wear a mask if I have to step out in public. Glad I was wearing one today else my emotions would have been so visible on my faceā¦ didnāt realize how hair could be so personal and triggering. Oddly I had my eyes closed for half the time I was on the chairā¦ when I have no problem watching blood draws or chemo drugs being pushed into my body.
The lady who helped shave me, heard my story, touched my shoulder ever so reassuringly, went gentle with the head shave, gave me a hug at the end, told me ādonāt worry, youāll do greatā just as I got done with the shave and stood up from her chair, and then insisted that this is on the house when I was about to pay!!
Some silent tears rolled down my cheeks. I could barely say Thank You in my choked voice, but I did and I said Goodbye.
I know I will cherish this hug and this sweet empathetic gesture for a long time!!
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(Photos of my cancer binder)
No scars to your beautiful
[This one is for me, for my pink cancer friends that went through lumpectomy, mastectomy and/or reconstruction and really anyone else that needed to hear this.]
If you feel horrible, looking like a Frankenstein, with giant stitches all across your bodyā¦. I am here to tell you it is OK to feel how you feel! It is NOT vain. If your partner or others say that you look beautiful, but you donāt like how you look right now, it's OK. If you donāt want to look at your body right now, it's OK.
You went through a lot. You went through multiple surgeries, chemo, maybe radiation, immunotherapy. And yes, you are alive. But we are allowed to mourn our old self. Not just the body, but the person we were the day before we were told we had cancer. Yes, itās physical changes, but thatās on TOP of so many other life-altering moments. One day youāre just living your life, and the next youāre talking to oncologists, and geneticists, and surgeons. The world will tell you that youāre supposed to be grateful for being alive, and how you look does not matter. But it DOES.
Even when we get a haircut or get our nails done, we are anxious. And this is not a part of the body like the hair or the nail that grows back. Chopping off a part of the body, that you will never get back, is huge! And having to make that decision, is huge! You lose your hair from chemo, and you need wigs to feel a bit normal. You have incisions all over from surgery or you have no breasts anymore, and you cannot wear your old clothes. Or you need prosthetics to fit into cloths to look and to feel good, and you need tattoos to cover your multiple scars, and you cry when you look at yourself in the mirror and you research makeup to draw out fake eyebrows you lost to chemo. So disregard when people say "Just be thankful you are alive"ā¦.. we are allowed to mourn and we do not have to dismiss our emotions. I always tell people that cancer is a journey that is not just physical, but mental and psychological as well.
You normally wouldn't have looked and felt like this. So is that our new normal? Yes, it is. Unfortunately, our new normal is now forever different. Having said that, equally true is that these battle scars will fade in time, and the hair will likely grow back eventually. So, yes, mourn. Mourning is healthy, mourning cleanses the soul, mourning ushers acceptance into our hearts. Mournā¦. but then keep living on. And wear the scars proudly!
Iāll sign off here with an excerpt from Alessia Cara's song- No scars to your beautiful.
But there's a hope that's waiting for you in the dark
You should know you're beautiful just the way you are
And you don't have to change a thing
The world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful
We're stars and we're beautiful
No better you than the you that you are
(No better you than the you that you are)
No better life than the life we're living
(No better life than the life we're living)
No better time for your shine, you're a star
(No better time for your shine, you're a star)
Oh, you're beautiful, oh, you're beautiful.
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Feeding my soul.
Hard to be open and transparent when penning down words publicly, but I want to try doing so today.
June 1st was my birthday. As the month of June wrapped up, I was reflecting on how my birthday month went, and if I did anything worthwhile this month. I was also reflecting more broadly on a few other things like what am I doing to leave this world a better place than I came into, what legacy am I going to leave behind, have I helped others enough that might not have the same privileges as me. I have these bouts sometimes, and I feel that self-reflections like these make me fall in love with life and help me gain more clarity of my lifeās purpose. Many a times I am caught up hustling and simply living my everyday life, that I fail to recognize opportunities where I could have been of service in a greater capacity than taking care of just my family and loved ones. Many a times I get wrapped up in enjoying the fruits of today, that I forget to plant seeds for the future. Ā Ā Ā
But there were three things I was able to do in June that made me feel genuinely happy inside.
I partnered with American Cancer Society (ACS)ās Relay For Life event and was able to fundraise critical dollars that go towards raising awareness and towards providing services to people that cannot afford cancer treatment. There are several clinical trials that go on hold due to lack of funds, so many of these trials do not reach the final stages and we never get to see the results of what could have been life-changing medical breakthroughs. I could not have done it alone, I have so many of my dear donors to thank who helped me on this fundraiser and helped fund cancer research. Hope one day we get to a cancer-free world! ACS also hosted a luncheon and recognized the local cancer survivors in my county. It was a humbling experience being able to see all the good work that happens behind the scenes of a big non-profit like ACS, to see how the raised funds are getting routed, and to hear stories of other cancer survivors and their journeys.
I was grateful that they honored not just survivors, but caregivers too, who fight tirelessly alongside any survivor. Nikki, one of my caregivers, was able to join me at that luncheon and she is someone I am thankful for being right beside me on this journey. My caregivers, whether it be my husband, or my mom, or my friends and relatives, give so much of themselves to see me thrive and come out the other side of this battle stronger. I just want to pause for a moment here to say that I thank you all so very much!! The collage here shows a poem dedicated to caregivers, who often do not get their fair share of appreciation.
June was also the month when I started my chemotherapy treatment. Itās a long road for anyone diagnosed with cancerā¦. and if they have to go through chemotherapy, it is the part of the road that is usually the bumpiest and most tiring, quite literally. It is laced with all kinds of side effects due to the toxic chemo drugs that get pushed into oneās body, like nausea, constipation, diarrhea, terrible fatigue, bone pain, muscle pain, skin peeling, mouth sore, nose bleeds, teeth and nail damage, and yes, hair loss. Before the hair loss could take effect, I decided to go ahead and donate my hair. I figured very soon my hair would start thinning and falling off, so before I started losing my hair, I got myself a very short pixie cut and donated my hair to Locks Of Love.
During the Covid days I did not go to any hair salon and let my hair grow out longā¦. longer than I had ever grown my hair as far as I can recall. And hereās the reason why I was drawn to this non-profit--- Locks of Love provides custom hairpieces to children experiencing medical hair loss. They utilize human hair donations in the production of custom cranial prosthesis. Their recipients receive their custom hairpieces FREE OF CHARGE, every 2 years until the age of 21. It made me happy inside thinking a small effort like this could help someone else who might be struggling with a need for wig, need for better self-image or confidenceā¦ whether itās due to alopecia caused by cancer or some other medical reason.
And finally, after my diagnosis I admittedly have not been as religious about working out as I should be. To be completely honest, I have never been a runner, a cardio, or CrossFit, or Spin kind of gal. I was happy doing my daily walks of 2 miles (which again, I know I know is not much at all going by the standards of some of my fit runner friends š ). But doing that regular walk of 2 miles with my 3-year old sweet English Cream Golden Retriever, Snowy, was good enough for me. However, given my surgery and chemo, even that 2 miles were torture for my body. Right before my treatment started, I had enrolled myself in a Virtual Workout challenge called Conqueror. Itās a New Zealand based company that offers virtual challenges based on immersive virtual travelling experience to help people start and stick to exercise, using technology to build positive habits rather than negative ones. So so glad I found this company/app!! I have recommended it to so many of my friends and hereās the link if interested-- https://www.theconqueror.events/r/JC93236 Ā
There are so many things I love about Conqueror. The participants could do a run, a walk, a ride, or a swim, youāre working towards conquering a S.M.A.R.T fitness goal. What you get out of it is what I put into itā¦. Itās all about your dedication and discipline. The challenges are all virtual, self-paced and have fantastic themes/trails like Peru, France, Golden Triangle, Amazon rainforest, etc. and even Lord of the Rings š. They have ariel views of the trails, and they send postcards and videos of landmarks along the challengeās trail. Thus, I get to learn of the history, the architecture, the geography, the people, the cuisine although I havenāt travelled there in real life (but places that have been on my list). Also, they send real medals once you complete a challenge, and not the flimsy kinds but ones that are truly work of art in themselves and would always be prized possessions for me. So far I have completed their Inca Trail, Marathon To Athens and Giza Pyramids. Next up for me is Golden Triangle India. And finally, what drew me most to this platform is that for every 20% of a challenge that I complete, Conqueror plants a real tree to regrow forests, solve climate crisis and protect our planet, i.e. circling back to my reflection on am I leaving this world a better place than I came into? Conqueror partnered with Eden Projects ā a non-profit organization, whose mission in their own words is--- āWe work with local communities to restore landscapes on a massive scale, thereby creating jobs, protecting ecosystems, and helping mitigate climate change.ā
I hope I can keep finding causes like these and align myself better to do good, share great causes like these with others and bring them along in our journeys together, and teach my daughter to shine a little brighter by shining a light onto others.
Do what feeds your soul....
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The Journey
[Note for my future self (AND anyone that cares to know) : This journal entry is intended to be a refresher on the major things/milestones/landmarks I went through during my cancer journeyā¦. if ever a look-back is needed and for when, far into the future, itās not a good idea to bank on my memory alone š]
Breast cancer has many sub-types. Not every breast cancer is the same. The timeline and treatment plan vary by sub-type, stage, biological receptors, medical history, and many other factors. Hence, mine will not match with most othersā. In this journal entry I plan to chart out the timeline of my medical journey as it relates to my diagnosis of breast cancer, and I will notate my overall treatment plan.
Timeline--
Last week of February 2023 until roughly mid-March 2023: Mammogram, Diagnostic Mammogram, Ultrasound, Biopsy.
March 19th, 2023: Got diagnosed with IDC and DCIS, early-stage ER/PR+, HER2- breast cancer.
Last two weeks of March until end of April 2023: MRI and a slew of doctors appointments with breast surgeons and reconstruction surgeons (multiple opinions), labs and pre-op appointments.
May 5th, 2023: Surgery#1- Mastectomy, Sentinel Node Biopsy and Reconstruction Phase I with expanders.
May 15th, 2023: Received read-out of Surgical Pathology results. The lymph nodes were clear. Pathological stage=1C.
June 5th, 2023: Received Oncotype DX results. High score due to Grade III, high ER and PR score, high Ki-67 pushed up Oncotype score to 30. Verdict- Chemotherapy is needed.
June 20th, 2023: Chemo Port placement surgery.
June 26th, 2023: First chemo.
August 28th, 2023: Last Chemo.
Mid- Sep, 2023: Beginning of Hormone Therapy and Ovarian Suppression for 5 years.
October 16th, 2023: Surgery#2- Reconstruction Phase II removal of expanders and DIEP.
Treatment Plan--
Surgery#1- Mastectomy, Sentinel Node Biopsy and Reconstruction Phase I with expanders.
The first step in my treatment plan was surgery to remove the cancerous tumors. I opted for mastectomy, and not lumpectomy. Mastectomy is a surgery to remove all breast tissue from the breast as a way to treat or prevent breast cancer. There are different types of mastectomies, depending on how much tissue is removed and whether the nipple and areola are preserved.
Some of the reasons why a mastectomy may be done are:
When a woman has breast cancer that cannot be treated with breast-conserving surgery (i.e. lumpectomy, which saves most of the breast.)
If a woman chooses mastectomy over breast-conserving surgery for personal reasons, such as having a strong family history of breast cancer or a genetic mutation that increases the risk of breast cancer.
For medical reasons like for women at very high risk of getting a second breast cancer who sometimes choose to have a double mastectomy (the removal of both breasts).
Risks: Mastectomy is a major surgery that involves general anesthesia, blood loss, infection, pain, scarring, and possible complications with wound healing or reconstruction, and risks of lymphedema (swelling) in the arm.Ā Some women may also experience emotional distress, body image issues, or loss of sensation in the chest area after mastectomy.
Benefits: Mastectomy can remove all or most of the cancerous tissue from the breast, reducing the risk of recurrence or spread of the disease. Mastectomy can also be a preventive measure for women who have a very high risk of developing breast cancer in the future. Some women may prefer mastectomy over other treatments because it offers them more peace of mind or control over their health.
Reason for my choice: I chose bilateral mastectomy (with prophylactic for my right breast) because I was not planning to have any more kids and was done breast feeding and was thankful for the service my breasts provided, because I did not want to go through multiple surgeries in case the margins did not come out clear from doing lumpectomy, because I wanted to do everything in my power to reduce the chances of recurrence (although the % delta recurrence rate between lumpectomy and mastectomy is quite small), and because to me my life, my mental peace and my physical health were much more valuable than worldly-perceptions, aesthetics and body-Image.Ā
Surgery this big, and in fact the entire breast cancer journey, is not just a physical journeyā¦. it is an emotional, mental and psychological journey.
After surgery, patients need to sleep in an inclined position for 1-2 weeks, approximately until the surgery drains come off. This was the most pathetic part of it all š The pain and swelling were quite bad for me for the first two weeks. Arm movement and range of motion was very limited after the surgery. I did pre and post physical therapy to help with bringing back strength to my core, to reduce risk of lymphedema and to help my body try to return to some semblance of normalcy. I was very dependent on others in the initial days after surgery for the most basic needs like getting on or off the bed, picking up stuff from the floor, showering and having my hair combed, etc. It was mentally very very hard to accept that I am a patient now and need to receive help from others. Anyways, more on that another time š Thankfully my swelling from surgery went down in a few weeks, my two drains (that collect the seroma fluid) came off after the first two weeks, and I was almost able to get back to doing most of my regular chores in six weeks. It did, however, pain every time our car would drive over an uneven surface or bumps! So, we kept car rides to a minimum i.e. mostly to doctorās offices.
The Sentinel Node Biopsy is done to determine if the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes and if there were possibility of metastasis to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system. Two lymph nodes were removed for testing at the time of surgery. Thankfully mine came back negative.
Reconstruction Phase I with expanders was done to place expanders to hold the cavity created from removing all breast tissues, and to create the pockets to fill in later with fatty tissues at the time of Surgery#2. My expanders were partially filled at the time of surgery and did not require additional fills at the doctorās office at the time of post-op checkups.
As of 06/21/2023, at the time of writing this journal entry, I have only completed my treatment up until this part. Up next is Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy and Ovarian Suppression, and Surgery#2. I will do future entries to document how those go but for now, here are some details on what those will entail at a high-level.
Chemotherapy-
Iāll be getting T/C chemo, a strong one. T/C chemotherapy is a combination of two chemotherapy drugs: docetaxel (Taxotere) and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). It is an adjuvant chemo used to treat early-stage ER + breast cancer after surgery with Oncotype score of >25. The frequency of T/C chemotherapy depends on the stage of cancer and other factors. It is usually given every 3 weeks for 4 cycles.
The side effects of T/C chemotherapy can vary from person to person. Some common side effects include: fatigue, brain fog/chemo brain, nausea and vomiting, hair loss (scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, all body hair), loss of appetite, constipation, mouth sores, nose bleeding, menopausal symptoms, nail changes, increased risk of infection/loss of immunity due to severe drop in neutrophil/WBC, neuropathy, diarrhea, skinĀ rash, boneĀ pain.
My doctor has given me medicines to counter some of the side effects like nausea, diarrhea, constipation, mouth sore, and loss of immunity. I was quite surprised when the doctor prescribed Claritin for bone pain. It is taken with Neulasta to reduce bone pain, which is a common side effect of Neulasta. Neulasta is administered after each chemo infusion since it increases/boosts neutrophil levels. But it can also cause inflammation and swelling in the bone marrow, resulting in severe pain. Claritin is an antihistamine that blocks histamine, which induces inflammation and swelling in the bone marrow and results in pain. It is thought that Claritin reduces the amount of inflammation and swelling in the bone marrow, therefore reducingĀ theĀ pain.
Hormone Therapy (& Ovarian Suppression)-
For the Hormone therapy after chemo, Iāll most likely get Tamoxifen, which is the medication given to premenopausal women, that helps block the actions of estrogen. My type of breast cancer requires estrogen to grow. Tamoxifen attaches to the hormone receptors in the cancer cell, blocking estrogen from attaching to the receptors. This slows or stops the growth of the tumor by preventing the cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow.
Tamoxifen may cause side effects such as menopause-like symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness, weight gain, irregular or loss of menstrual periods, leg swelling, nausea, vaginal discharge, skin rash, fatigue,Ā andĀ others.
And in addition to Tamoxifen, I will likely need ovarian suppression. It uses drug therapy to prevent the ovaries from making estrogen. This lowers hormone levels in the body, so the tumor canāt get the estrogen it needs to grow. Ovarian suppression is always given in combination with Tamoxifen or an Aromatase Inhibitor.
Ovarian suppression drugs, such as leuprolide (Lupron) or goserelin (Zoladex), can stop the ovaries from makingĀ estrogen.
Surgery#2-
The reconstruction surgery is slated to happen in mid-October, when I take a small pause on the Hormone Therapy. It is the phase II procedure to remove the expanders and fill in the chest pockets with fatty tissue, thus creating the breast mounds. I would be so so happy the day the expanders come off! They feel like metal amour across the chest. I opted for DIEP procedure using my own fatty tissues and chose not to go with implants. Implants have a lifespan, need to be exchanged after approximately 10-15 years, need fat grafting for a smoother natural look, and have the chances of rapturing. I wanted to avoid all the upkeep, maintenance and risks that come with implants and foreign objects in the body.
So thatās my medical journey. Again, not everyone goes through all these treatments or same chemo drugs. The medical team works closely with each patient to tailor their treatment plan. It IS a long fight, but it is one that I intend to fight with all my might and positive attitude, and I believe in my heart that with the love, positive vibes, and prayers of all my friends, family and supporters I will surely win this fight.
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Making lemonade with my lemons
We planned on our April 2023 Spring break trip to Las Cabos, Mexico quite a while back. My work has been hectic since around September/October of last year so I, for one, was really looking forward to this trip. Shriya, my daughter, too had been excitedly helping me with the planning. I am a huge plannerā¦ I enjoy the planning process and the execution process. I like to organize things and plan ahead. Last thing I would want is to fumble and look for options while on the trip, wasting precious travel time. I like to read up on places in advance that I will be visiting ā¦ their people, culture, food, art, architecture, landmarks, history. I research best places to catch glorious sunsets from, chart out the routes to get to the best local eateries, determine family friendly activities, and do detective work to uncover hidden gems that blogs and vlogs on the internet would reveal.
And then, as luck would have it, in March 2023 I got diagnosed with cancer and my world changed.
After being diagnosed with cancer I wasnāt sure if this spring break trip would evenĀ beĀ possible. Our focus shifted to mammograms, ultrasound, biopsy, MRI, labs, test results, doctorsā appointments, reading up on the diagnosis, getting questions ready for the breast surgeon and meeting with doctors to determine my treatment plan. I was prepping my daughter that we might have to cancel the trip and feared that she would be hugely disappointed. But Shriya was quite mature about it and told me I should not worry about it or feel bad cancelling it, and that my cancer treatment is priority now and that we can always travel again once I get better. I donāt say this enough, but I am grateful for a mature pre-teen, who had always been an easy and understanding kid. Additionally, my breast surgeon cleared me for the trip and since my surgery date was three weeks out, she actually recommended that I do not cancel and go enjoy family time.Ā
And so, we flew to West Coast Mexico. Ā
We landed in Las Cabos and started heading towards our beautiful Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas in our airport shuttle taxi. Shriya was sitting next to me in the shuttle. A little into the drive, Shriya tapped me on my arms, and told me she needed to talk to me. I bent over and she tells me in her kind voice to put aside the worries of cancer for the duration of the trip and encourages me relish the present. She, somehow, managed to catch me red-handed thinking about my diagnosis š She levied a hefty tax of $5 every time she caught me wandering off and thinking about my diagnosis there on out š
Next morning, after enjoying a glorious sunrise by the beach right outside our window, we headed to San Jose del Cabo. San Jose del Cabo is a charming town about 40 minutes away from the center of or the marina of Cabo San Lucas. We explored the historic main square of San Jose del Cabo, shopped for souvenirs, visited the church, tasted delicious food, and admired the art galleries in the Art Gallery District. The Gallery District San Jose del Cabo is the cultural hub of Los Cabos with many upscale fine art galleries showcasing original paintings, sculpture, photography, prints and jewelry by local, national, and international contemporary artists. A fun tip -- the district hosts an Art Walk every Thursday night from 5 to 9 pm, from October through June. During the Art Walk, visitors can wander through the galleries, enjoy live music, wine and snacks, and chat with the artists.
We had whale watching activity planned for the next day. Los Cabos is situated at the end of the Baja California Peninsula, where the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez meet, forming one of the most biodiverse seas on Earth. Whale watching in Los Cabos Mexico is a thrilling and popular activity that lets you see various kinds of whales in their natural environment. Humpback, Gray, Blue and Orca whales travel from Alaska and British Columbia to the warmer waters of the Sea of Cortez. The official season lasts from December 15 to April 15, but some whales may come earlier or stay later. The best time to spot whales in Los Cabos is from January to March, when calves are born and livelier.Ā
We booked our tickets for the Whale Watching boat tour through Viator. Our boat served traditional Mexican breakfast and had knowledgeable and respectful guides who told us interesting facts about these amazing creatures. We were fortunate to witness a mamma whale teaching her calf how to jump out of the water and do a bridge! It was incredible to watch these majestic giants up close, in their natural habitat.
Our whale watching boat sailed up to the El Arco de Cabo San Lucas (Lands End). El Arco de Cabo San Lucas is a stunning natural rock formation that forms a dramatic arch at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. The arch is also known as Landās End because it is the last piece of land before reaching the open ocean. It is one of the most iconic landmarks of Cabo San Lucas and a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. The arch was formed by the erosion of granite rocks over millions of years by the wind and the waves of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. And it marks the point where these two bodies of water meet, creating a rich marine biodiversity. The arch is a habitat for sea lions and a popular spot for whale watching.
Ā We enjoyed both local food and elevated dining on our trip. Arvind, my husband did fall sick for part of the trip due to heat and dehydration, but then with some good rest and with the help of the on-site doctor at the resort, he made a full recovery. Overall, it was a good trip. It felt liberating to savor the joys of life and embrace the present moment, without letting cancer and the future cast a shadow over me.
Ā Not going to lie, it was hard not to think about the diagnosis, the future, the unknowns and not getting sucked into the āwhy-did-this-have-to-happen?ā quicksand. But, Iām proud to say per Shriya's strict rules, I ended up owing ONLY $10 to her by the end of the trip š and I was able to enjoy the family time and this much-needed break.
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Life anticipated her collapse, but she arrowed ahead and stood strong.
Sometimes life is like an archerās bow. It pulls us back so we can shoot forward with more force and clarity. And just like an arrow, the more you get pulled back, the more potential energy you haveā¦. the more potential energy you have, the farther you can go. The tattoo on my arm helps me remember this message.
March 19th, 2023 Sunday. Itās the day I got diagnosed with breast cancer. Itās the day when my world changed. A myriad of emotions took over me that dayā¦. and not the good kinds. However, I knew I needed to arrow ahead and stand strong in the face of this new challenge that life tossed my way.
I have always been good about staying on top of health checks. I went in for my annual womenās check with my ONGYN in early February 2023, and since I had turned 40 this year, I qualified to do my first mammogram screening. On February 27th I got my very first mammogram done. The first week of March I get a letter in the mail saying that my mammogram performed on February 27th, 2023, showed a finding that requires supplemental imaging studies, such as additional mammographic views or an ultrasound, and that I needed to go in for a retake. Me and Arvind, my husband, of course, immediately Googled the chances of a callback and we found out that apparently a lot of women do get callbacks on their first mammogram since there is no baseline to compare against and hence itās not a real concern. As such we did not make much of it and we went in casually for the retake i.e., diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound on the morning of March 13th. My radiology center told me that I needed to do the mammogram and ultrasound, and I did. After reviewing the new images, they said I needed to come back the same afternoon for a biopsy following the stand protocol of a time out between the imagings and the biopsy procedure. I was in no mood to eat but forced myself to have lunch. I asked my husband to join me again for the second visit of the day to the radiology center. I knew I might not be cautious at the wheel if I drove, given all the craziness, and he too wanted to be with me for the biopsy. I had a core needle biopsy done and a coil marker placed at the site of the tumor finding. I knew I did not have much hope when the radiologist accidentally grunted while pushing in the needle into the hard mass. After the procedure, the radiologist sat down with me and my husband and reviewed the findings, said that she did not like what she was seeing, that we should brace ourselves and handed us a list of breast surgeons. She asked us to wait for the official pathological results from the biopsy but also advised us to start screening/reaching out to breast surgeons so the cancerous tumor can be taken out at the soonest. All this while I was holding strong but at this point, I felt a lone drop of tear streaming down one cheek.
The next few days were a blur. Arvind and I were not from the medical field, I did not have any family history of breast cancer, I did not know a single woman in my social circle that had breast cancer, hence we were practically cancer-illiterate. I started researching about breast cancer in general, its types, stages, causes, grades, treatment options, etc. I gathered my questions for the surgeon for our first meeting. We also looked at top breast surgeons in the area, and we narrowed down our choices. We decided we would seek a second opinion to validate my treatment plan and hence, I got on the books of two. And all this while trying to maintain some form of normalcy in our daily life without being overcome with the fear of unknow.
Two things that I did decide on at the very onset were to stay strong and to be transparent with my daughter. Shriya, our 11 year old daughter, is a mature kid. I did not want to withhold information from her, I did not want her to go online and try to find answers for herself, I wanted her to be able to ask me questions openly, I wanted an open dialog, I did not want her to bottle up her feelings and her fear, I wanted her to know that the doctors and I would do the best we could to see this through, but at the same time I did not want to overwhelm her. I knew she could handle this if I was right beside her and if I was sharing information with her at a level that was age appropriate. And to this day I think those were two solid decisions I had made. We have a ritual of spending about 30-45min mommy-daughter time before bed every night, and thatās our time to talk about our lives, how our day went, our feelings, our dreams ā¦. anything under the sun basically. And that was my time to have those transparent discussions with her. And I know she continues to thrive because she is empowered to ask questions and have an open dialog about something as disruptive as cancer with me.
March 19th, 2023 Sunday. We were anxiously waiting on the biopsy results the entire week. And while Arvind, Shriya, Snowy (our 3-year old English Cream Golden Retriever) and I were out on a casual drive and grabbing an early dinner, I get a call from my radiologist. I wasnāt expecting a call on a Sunday. We knew the results had to be bad. And it was. I was positive for breast cancer. I had Stage I Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) and Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS).
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Travelling with a toddler
Once you are bitten by the travel bug there is no stopping, whether you have kids or not. That's what happened to me. Yes it is certainly tougher on accounts when you are travelling with a kid, but certainly not impossible. There is so much to see and so much to explore, don't put them away for later. If you WANT to do it you CAN do it. Atleast thatās how I see it. Our now 4-year old is already a world traveler and I love it. We love travelling with her, making special memories and enriching her life as well as ours with the joys that travelling to new places brings.
We have travelled domestically within US and internationally with our toddler. Each trip has been just as special and fun as the one before. Just this year we have travelled to Chicago to visit my parents, went on a 2-week trip to Italy, a Western Caribbean cruise and did a Disney World trip.
If you are looking for tips on travelling with your little one here are some. Am sure this is not an all-exhaustive list but these are some that work for us, and I think will definitely help you get started on thinking of some of the things we, parents, can/should consider.
1. Check the validity of your passports to make sure they haven't expired.
2. Scan your passports and email them to yourself, along with any other important documents ā e.g. green card, birth certificate, visa pages of your passport. If you ever lose your passports abroad, this will save you a ton of time and hassle when you have to replace them. Hopefully doesn't happen, but better to be safe.
3. Notify your credit card companies before you leave of foreign transactions to avoid payments holds/freezes.
4. Take more than one credit or debit card. Keep enough cash on you. Cards might not be accepted everywhere.
5. Put enough in your carry-on bags for the first day or 2 of your trip, diapers, change of clothes in case your bags are lost. Hopefully doesn't happen, but better to be safe.
6. Make sure luggages have names/contact info tags inside and outside. Try to personalize your luggage maybe with a brightly colored ribbon at the handle to easily identify them during the rush of luggage pickup at the baggage carrousel.
7. You might want to carry your SLR cameras but if you don't mind it just go with your phone camera or even a small digital camera. Go lite if you can, you will have tons of luggages to haul anyways ;)
8. Stay flexible with the daily itinerary but make sure all the bigger items like hotels, intercity connections- trains/flights, rental car, sightseeing busses, day tours, etc. are booked in advance as much as possible. This will relieve you of some stress, will give you some sort of structure, and you won't need to carry as much cash/use the cards as much when actually on travel.
9. Carry/print maps ahead of time so you don't have to look for free wi-fi spots to check directions on your phone or waste precious travel time asking for directions too much.
10. Going through security is unavoidable, less you carry on you the better.... (as if that is possible!) But no really try to pack only the absolute essentials in your carry-ons and make sure everything that should go in clear zip-locks are not floating around somewhere in the bottom of your bag.
11. Sometimes boarding early helps so you can settle in nicely and find room for all your carry-ons, whereas sometimes waiting till the end by the gate and letting your active child play in some non-oh-my-goodness-airline-seat-tight places helps. See what works best for you and your child.
12. Don't hold up lines, ask for help, people are mostly willing to help. Don't stress.
13. This is a good one I read...get online storage for photos, upload photos to your cloud whenever you find some free time between all your travel crazies...if you are carrying a laptop save them to your drive. You WILL take tons of photos, make sure you don't run out of space when you need it and end up needing to stop and start deleting pictures to make room.
14. Another good one, make sure your camera/phone is charged at night so you don't have to travel with a charger during the day or are low on charge when you are about to take that one special photo!
15. Jet lag is a reality. Try to beat it. Maybe you can take advantage of it and explore the city when the rush has died down assuming it is safe or go catch an early sunrise by the water thanking your jet lag.
16. Do tons of research. Lots of places will have on-time information on closures, constructions, tips, etc. be a well prepared traveler.
17. Think of the weather and pack accordingly. Plan for some ponchos and light jackets to deal with forecast changes.
18. Pack swim items, sunscreen, flashlight, empty plastic bags, first-aid and bug spray as applicable.
19. Invest in a good light stroller, car seat wheeler, and inflatable booster seat as applicable. They have pretty fancy stuff these days. Consider investing in a good noise cancellation kidās headphone.
20. Get the necessary vaccines. Check your insurance coverage in foreign land.
21. If not renting a car consider staying in an area where there's lots to do and lots of food options within walking distance, even if you pay more for your stay....this cuts out some of the public transportation hassles.
22. Try to think what works best for you when reserving seats, window or aisle. Usually having atleast one of your seats as an aisle seat helps specially with getting up quickly and reaching for stuff, getting out for restrooms multiple times with your kid or just letting your kid get into the aisle and walk around a bit.
23. Book flights keeping your kidās sleep schedule in mind. For us usually boarding the last flight in the night for international trips and first flight in the morning for domestic trips (so she can do a nap to finish her sleep, the part she missed from waking her up and dragging her to the airport at an ungodly hour) helps. Helps us and helps fellow passengers :)
24. Buy cheap new toys, books, activities.... and introduce them one at a time to keep the kids busy during flights.
25. Don't forget to pack some of his/her favorite snacks.
26. Plan on at least one easy day and take a break if your trip is too hectic. You might or might not go back to visit the same place in future, but for now don't kill yourself.
27. You make plans. Stuff happens. Itineraries change. Stay Positive! Be Happy and try to enjoy the rest of it!
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Durga Puja
It's that time of the year when I miss my old childhood city, Kolkata(India). Durga Puja, the biggest religious celebration for Bengali Hindu's is currently going on in Kolkata. Here in Washington DC we just got done celebrating it. Back there the celebrations are over five days whereas here, overseas, it's usually condensed to two weekend days closest to the actual puja dates. There it's the main festival of the local people hence is celebrated on a grand scale, but here it is pared down to a much much much smaller scale but we love it no less :)
Ā Posted some of the pujo pictures from our weekend celebration at Norther Virginia Bengali Association pujo this year.Ā We have become a regular there now and have made a lot of new bengali friends living in DC area. Ofcourse it can be never as fun as it would be in Kolkata but it's a smidge bit less :) NVBA really does a great job bringing us the flavors and memories of pujo back in the best possible way even when we are thousands of miles away from Kolkata.
Ā And here's some good information I found on the web... a little background for people that are not as familiar with the celebrations and festivities associated with Durga Puja...
Ā Mother Durga is believed to be the feminine force which guides us and destroys all the evil from earth. She is tha embodiment of power. It is believed that Goddess Durga is invited to visit her maternal home and the invocation given to her is by 'Mahalaya'. Goddess Durga then visits home for five days and Bengalis celebrate, worship, and enjoy the five days of Durga Puja ā Shashti, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Vijayadashami. Mahalaya is the auspicious day which comes seven days before Durga Puja. It is the invocation or invitation to the Goddess Durga to come on earth. Goddess Durga symbolises power and the triumph of good over evil. Goddess Durga had killed the demon king Mahisasur and thus the heaven and earth rejoice on the victory. On this day, Bengalis switch on their radio or television early in the morning to hear or watch the program called Mahisasura Mardina (the annihilation of the demon). It consists of chanting mantras and singing devotional song ā "Jago Tumi Jago" ā to invoke Maa Durga. The story of killing Mahisasura, the demon king, by Goddess Durga is shown on the day of Mahalaya. Heaven and earth rejoice at her victory and the program ends with the mantra ā "Ya devi sarbabhuteshshu, sakti rupena sanksthita Namasteshwai Namasteshwai Namasteshwai namo namaha."
Ā Ā Ā Then comes the actual puja days. Creative and beautiful pandals or temporary canopies are made on the festival of Durga Puja every year, which house the idol of Durga Goddess. Huge number of devotees crowd inside the pandal who come worship the idols on the Durga Puja festival where priest performs rituals and chant prayers. People wear their traditional Bengali attire. Puja Bhog(food offered to Goddess/blessed by Goddess) is served to the devotees that mainly consist of Khichdi (made up of lentils and rice), payesh (rice and milk), red chutney, labra (mixed vegetable) and five different types of vegetable fries.
Ā Priest performs rituals in front of Hindu girls dressed as a "Kumari" or virgin Durga. It is done on the eighth day (Maha Ashtami) of Durga Puja and on this day the bhog which is offered to the Goddess will not contain any rice product. The evening of Maha Ashtami is the main 'sandhya puja' in which 108 earthen lamps (diyas) are lightened. It is the day when Maa Durga killed the demon king Mahisasura.Devotees performs a traditional dance ritual - Dhunuchi nritya - in front of the idol of Durga. Drummers drum their traditional Indian drums called "Dhak" in a special pujo beat. Most of the traditional dance rituals are done on the beats of these drums during the festival.
Ā Along with worshiping Goddess Durga, Bengalis also have many cultural programs. It has traditional Bengali dance forms and songs. The dancers beautifully portray 'Mahisasur Mardini' through their dance. Devotees offers sweet to the idol of Maa Durga on the tenth day (Vijaya Dashami). On this day The devotees bid farewell to the Goddess Durga by putting sindoor on the idol and praying for their family's well being. Another important and fun ritual is smearing with "sindoor", or vermillion powder, as part of a ritual called as "Sindoor Khela" by married women on each other on the last day of the Durga Puja festival.
Ā Finally the divotees prepare to immerse an idol of Hindu goddess Durga known as 'Visarjan' in the river. The idol of the Hindu goddess Durga is carried across the city to immerse in the holy water of Ganges river while chanting "Asche Bochor Abar Hobe" (It will happen again next year). Her immersion is the end of the Durga Puja festival and then everybody wish each other saying "Shubho Bijoya".
Ā Ā The Durga Puja festival is an extremely social event. Aside from religious rituals cultural performances are widely held. Food is a huge part of the festival, and street stalls blossom all over Kolkata. In the evenings, the streets of Kolkata fill with people, who come to admire the statues of Goddess Durga, eat, and celebrate. It's that time of the year for the Bengali Hindus and Assamese, who wake up to the `Dhak`(drum) beats every morning from the nearby pandals. One is lost in worship, and in life and soul. A deep sense of pride and enthusiasm takes over you. You are lost in revelling the cultural bonanza attached to the customary practices of the puja. Throughout the 5 days of this festival, the cities transform and show cultural mileu. Pandals are set up in all the nooks and corner of city, wherever possible. The idols are creatively crafted by the potters, out of clay and the life-size idols of Durga along with her children are installed in the pandals. Community puja or `Sarbojanin` puja, take up the role of organising the puja in their locality by housing idols in pandals and make-shift temples, each community trying to outdo the other, competing in decoration, themes celebration, food, drink and of course the rituals. The themes again are not ordinary, they keep evolving over the years (animated theme, Harry Potter, Cave, Rocket theme, Space and so on).
Ā Ā And now you know how the celebration of Durga Puja is culturally significant and holds emotional value for the people of Bengal, Assam and adjoining areas. Itās a grand affair every year, and you have to really witness it to understand the magic of this festival :)Ā
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Fun at the spray park.
A spray park close to the city is our newest fun destination. We went to the 'Our Special Harbor Spray Park at Lee District RECenter' one of the days over this Labor day weekend. There were two other families besides us, so three kids in all... a two, a three and a seven year old. And all three kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and hardly wanted to get out of the fun place.
The park is open during summer Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Admission is free. Operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority, the sprayground is located in the Family Recreation Area at Lee District Park, at the intersection of Rose Hill and Telegraph Roads.
The spray park is so much fun if you like running through the sprinklers, with several different water attractions. It has a big serpent spraying water, ships and boats, tiki-themed sprinkler area, lighthouse, spray guns, flowers and nest water attractions, water maze and other water activities. There are clean changing stations at the restroom; there is a shaded area for parents that want to sit down by the chairs and tables. Volunteers and spray park employees were monitoring visitors to ensure their safety and welcoming guests to the facility.
Another bonus.... the spray park has a lovely playground next to it which has slides, swings and several other rides. The floor has rubber paddding and is very kid-friendly. We didn't use the playground since this time we went for the spray park, but we will definitely go back for it sometime soon. And we will be back for the spray park ofcourse next year. Too bad the spray park closes after Labor Day weekend. Until next year...
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My baby turns 3!
Last weekend we celebrated Shriyaās 3rd birthday. She had a lovely time hanging out with friends at Montrose Park in Georgetown, in the city. From the decor to the cake to the playground to her new talking-ELmo to running on the grass with friends, she loved it all. Check out her picture with the cake, Shriya is almost giddy with joy :)
We had an Elmo themed party outdoors. Didnāt want a standard Elmo party with pin-the-nose games and regular Elmo decors. Wanted it have a projection of our style and personality in it. The idea of the theme stemmed from our recent Europe trip where in Berlin we met some street performers dressed as Elmo and Cookie monster. Shriya loved taking pictures with them, hugging them and pretending to be part of their team :) So back home when I was brain storming through themes for her big day I kept coming back to Elmo. But then again it had to be a non-standard and girly one, so the colors of red, orange, pink and polka-dots were interlaced with the overall Elmo theme. I had so much fun designing the birthday banner, the welcome signs, the cake, the games, the cupcakes and ā3ā and āSā cookies and āsparklyā pretzels dipped in candy melt, and the goodie bags and return gifts. Best of all we had a surprise gift for herā¦ a fishā¦not a goldfish like Elmoās Dorothy, but a blue betta fish, which she loves so dearly now. Shriya named him Buddy!
We were concerned that there was going to be light rain during the party per the weather forecast, but we got lucky and had none! Turned out to be an awesome party in the park after all.
Happy birthday dear baby!
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At Sandy Point beach
45 min away from Washington DC and 45 min from Baltimore lies Sandy Point beach in MD. If you are looking for a good beach not far from the cities check this one out.
Nice beach with a park. The Sandy Point State park has picnic tables and there is a convenience store selling funnel cakes, soda, fried, hotdogs, etc. The beach is a man-made one and is not the cleanest, but better than most others. We went there last weekend, and on a partly sunny day with a nice breeze you can definitely have a good time. We saw a lot of kids and adults splashing in the water, some relaxing on the sands under umbrellas, some playing beach ball.Ā Seems like the state park offers activities and services like boating, hiking, youth group camping, areas of historical interest and wildlife viewing.Ā
What's cool is you look right at the 4 mile long Chesapeake Bay bridge from the beach. Ofcourse not as pretty as California's Golden bridge but is more than thrice it's length.Ā We saw people fishing by the calm waters by the big rocks near the foot of the bridge.Ā You might even find some good spots to click a few good pictures!
Happy relaxing!
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My home, my backyard. Living in Washington DC with a small kid.
One year of moving into the city from the suburbs, and loving it!!
A bold move, you say, with a toddler? Nothing for the kid to enjoy in the city you say? A selfish move? Quite the contrary if you can believe it :) Initially making the decision was tough, but once I did I was and āweā were so much happier.Ā Yes we do not have our own big backyard, yes we do not have our own basement but look what we haveā¦. If you are a parent with a small kid I suggest you read onā¦.
We have no lawn mowing and snow shoveling to do, all while managing a curious super-active toddler :) We do not have to worry about the massive cleaning job that a single-family house demands :) Ā
From the suburbs we moved into the west end of Washington DCās Foggy Bottom neighborhood last summer. Now, instead Shriya, our almost 3 year, old has parks, play-grounds and public library she can walk to. We have the Kennedy Center a block away where she watched the splendid 4th July fireworks from.Ā
We have the Washington monument which we can watch from our balcony. Our little one saw the scaffolding on our dear landmark shed off as the repairs from the 2011 earthquake damage gradually got done, plus she really loves driving by it. She now enjoys the Cherry blossom festival in the city and her parents do not need to stress about finding a parking spot during that tourist season.
We have water fountain, green grass and the beautiful kid-friendly Georgetown waterfront in our backyard. Shriya really loves splashing about in the water fountains with other kids or just watch the ducks in the water. I see so many parents sit down and relax while their kids are having a good time themselves getting wet. The water fountains in the center of the waterfront where all the restaurants like Sequoia, Farmers Fishers Bakers, Tony & Joeās, Nickās Riverside Grill areā¦. that one is more for sitting around and letting the kids enjoy theĀ rhythmicĀ lighted fountains.Ā That one also converts into an ice skating rick in the winters! Really really awesome during Christmas time :) And then the fountains you see once you go past Fiola Mare and past the ferry loading area and across the Loews theater are the ones that are part of Georgetown Waterfront Park and are the ones that the kids splash around in.
I first found out about them through a very friendly site-Ā KidFriendly DC. City-parents, I highly recommend signing up at this site. The site-host has tons of information any new parent moving into a city would probably be Googling! From stuff going around in the city, to outdoor places that the kids would have a good time at, to planning daily getaways not far from homeā¦. this site is just great!
Would I have these at a walking distance from my house in the suburbs? Hell no!
And hence I and āweā love it. And you will too if you are moving into the city with kids. Contact me if you have questions, would love supporting you if you are making that big decision :)
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