IN YOUR OWN WORDS GOING THROUGH CANCER BY RAELENE JOHNSON, VOICE VENDOR AS I WRITE THIS, it is five days before I have my first chemo treatment, and by the time you read this, I will have one treatment under my belt! I’m hoping to have very few side effects, but I have made up my mind that I will deal with it. I still find myself spacing out and losing sense of time, but I don’t feel bad yet. When I start chemo, all bets are off. I know my time is coming to be sick. I have gotten my house clean and ready for winter. I have stocked up on food and other supplies I will need for what is to come. I still find it hard to believe I have cancer. I know how lucky I am, having whoever read my scan find the tumor as early as they did. I appreciate that I wasn’t told how big it could have grown or how fast it could have moved before it was found. The doctors I have are the best. They care deeply for all of the patients they see every day. If you need anything or have a problem, they do everything they can to help you out. No one knows how they will react to having cancer until the time comes. Don’t listen to people who tell you about what their family member or friend who had cancer went through during their treatment. Don’t listen if they tell you they know someone who had this or that happen, and that you should prepare for what’s coming. Let me tell you something. I have found that everyone’s treatment is different, depending on their cancer and how they react to the treatment. There are so many kinds of cancer, so from the beginning of my treatment, I didn’t listen to anyone but my doctor! I thank God for putting the right people in place to care for me and help me during this time. Don’t put off getting your things in order if you are about to start chemo. If you have a dog who needs walks, line up people before the time comes. Find someone who will help you shop or will shop for you or someone who will pick up your mail from the mailbox for you. I thank God my primary doctor set me up with the best docs to treat me! I thank God even if I’m in pain because a lot of people are in worse pain or didn’t get a chance to wake up at all. I am grateful I can feel anything at all. I thank Him for making it possible to change my life, s so I can write my stories or poems and help others with my writing. I thank God for everyone who will help me during the time I cannot vend the Denver VOICE. I thank God for the Denver VOICE staff, who have become my family because they care so much about me and the other vendors. When you donate to the Denver VOICE or send money via Venmo to your favorite vendors during the winter, it helps them find shelter, so they don’t have to struggle with harsh winter weather. RAELENE JOHNSON. CREDIT: KAREN BEEMAN I always thank God for everyone who helps me and other VOICE vendors out when we aren’t able to work. I pray that God will bless everyone who is reading our paper. I will close for now. Monday, I start chemo, and I will keep sharing my story so it may help someone just starting their journey on the road to cancer treatment and recovery. ■ WINTER WISH LIST Drop-offs are accepted Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., or by appointment. NEW ITEMS NEEDED: • Socks • Toiletries (individual or travel-size) • Toothpaste, deodorant • Chapstick, sunscreen • Hand warmers GENTLY-USED ITEMS NEEDED: • Men’s shoes or boots (sizes 8-12) • Men’s jackets (sizes L, XL, XXL) • Women’s jackets (sizes M, L, XL) • Backpacks, carrier bags • USB-C charging cables VENMO YOUR VENDOR: If you would like to help out a specific vendor by donating a few extra dollars, scan the QR code below to make a payment through Venmo. Please be sure to write your vendor’s name in the comments. Thank you! @DenverVOICE 12 DENVER VOICE February 2024
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