“The Big Chill” Meets “The Big C”

It was spontaneous because that’s how Jenny does things. She starts chemo again next month, and her fiftieth birthday is in June. Ten days ago she decided that she’s not certain how she’ll feel when the real date rolls around, so we should celebrate now. Jenny found a good deal on a house built into a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and invited her friends to come, eat, drink, laugh and watch sunsets. All across the country, Jenny’s friends juggled meetings and found babysitters, and we flew to Laguna Beach–not out of fear or pity (although cancer does lend urgency), but because we knew how much fun this would be.

Statistics about ovarian cancer aren’t in Jenny’s favor. I know this, but I can’t wrap my mind around it this week. I have to remind myself that she had major surgery two weeks ago. Jenny’s rocking the super short hair, and she’s tooling around Laguna Beach in a Mustang convertible, coordinating airport shuttles and Disneyland visits along with trips to Trader Joe’s. (Next week we’ll go back to healthy eating, but this vacation fridge is stocked with Brie.)

Conversation flows freely, from Jenny’s bucket list to today’s plans. Yesterday afternoon we booked a massage and facial at the luxurious Montage Laguna Beach, then took a leisurely steam and soaked up the late-afternoon sun by the resort’s pool. Today we drove up Temescal Canyon to Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa and Day Spa, where we soaked in mineral waters and slathered our bodies with California red clay. Feeling spoiled and virtuous, we lunched on fresh organic fruits and vegetables in a private cabana and finished our day with Chef Bill Wavrin’s special antioxidant-rich smoothies.

Driving back down the canyon, Jenny said our spa days had been revolutionary. A ski instructor, personal trainer and therapist with four kids, she’s always the caretaker and never the client. She rarely gets days like these.

We joked that spa days were as likely to be the miracle cure we’re looking for as anything else we’ve investigated since the news about her cancer started getting bad. Jenny said they may or may not help her live longer, but they’ll make the days she has a lot more enjoyable. “That’s good enough for me,” she said as we headed toward our house full of friends.

That’s good enough for all of us.

Jenny basks in her after-treatment glow at the Montage Laguna Beach.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

nancy r.

8:53AM PST on Nov 30, 2011

Love your attitude.Wishing you all the best.

send a green star

Holly L.

5:28PM PST on Nov 12, 2011

Best of ALL to you!

KARLOLINA G.

11:55PM PST on Nov 7, 2011

Good attitue young lady. The best to you.

Past Member .

3:43AM PDT on Nov 5, 2011

thanks

KS G.

3:20AM PDT on Nov 5, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Jenny V.

7:26AM PDT on Nov 3, 2011

Thank you everyone for your support and well wishes! It is most appreciated. It was a great trip. Back in Colorado now where it is colder but the sun is shining brighter. Love my sun! :-)
-jenny
"Celebrate we will 'cause life is short but sweet for certain" -dmb

Carole R.

2:11PM PDT on Nov 1, 2011

Great article. Thanks Jenny. Best of luck to you.

Dawn G.

1:23PM PDT on Nov 1, 2011

What a great attitude, I wish you the best.

Tim C.

12:01PM PDT on Nov 1, 2011

Robyn thanks

Eva B.

7:44AM PDT on Nov 1, 2011

You look great, Jenny and a positive attitude is key when battling cancer. I am approaching 4 years of survival after stage 4 cancer - and I still try to live every day to its fullest.
Stay strong and enjoy each and every moment. You are right to fill your days with as much happiness as you can fit in.
I pray for you and your family. God Bless.