To share or not to share on the blog has been the question on my mind this year. I have always thought of my blog as just a food blog, and an extension of my catering business. I really never wanted to share anything more than my love of food. As the end of the year gets nearer, I have begun thinking about all of the change that has taken place this year, and how that has affected my family and I. Looking forward, I see more change coming and more need to get out of my head and make meaning of it all. So I’ve decided to share.
Reis Family Fall 2018 Photagraphy courtest of Pamela Leeds Photography.
Here it goes…
In early September, my husband, Conlin, was hospitalized for two weeks with spontaneous lung failure. After a long hospital stay, a battery of tests, and steroid treatments, he was released greatly improved but with large question mark looming over the experience. He was better, but no one could find the exact reason he had been so ill. So many tests were run and so many terrible diseases were excluded that we resigned ourselves to the idea that this was a mystery we might never know the answer to.
As weeks rolled by, he continued to improve and we started to gain confidence in his health. Life was returning to normal, and we were back to making plans for the future. While hospitalized, my husband had a lung tissue biopsy that initially came back inconclusive. As life was getting back to normal for us, a diligent pathologist, unsatisfied with an inconclusive result continued to test and then sent the samples to a University Lab for more extensive testing. This testing led us to our answer.
My husband received a call from his primary care doctor nearly two months after being released from the hospital. The news was bad. She informed him that he has peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma. CANCER! It took a while to even begin to process what that meant for him and our family. Gobsmacked is the word that repeatedly came to mind as words failed.
We immediately called our family, and everyone jumped into action making calls and planning ways to help. Immediately, we felt the love and the power of family and community. It is a net wider that we could have imagined, reaching far out to childhood and family friends all willing to help in any way they could. That support helped pushed us from the stupor of shock and into action and planning. We were guided to a wonderful medical team, and started the process of fighting this ugly disease. This is an aggressive cancer that needs aggressive treatment. We are hopeful, prayerful, and overall grateful because in the face of it all we have so much.
Opening this blog to more than just food is a big step for me. I always encourage people to use the recipes I post to bring loved ones together and add joy to our lives. Sharing food is a way to share ourselves and to build community. The table is where we begin to understand each other. This personal addition to my blog is a new table I am setting. I hope you join me in this CANCER journey, get to know me a little more, and become a part of my community.
Cheryl Bryant
I was so sorry to hear about Conlon’s cancer, your family has been thru a lot this year . I will keep him on my prayer list and also your family.
Athena Brown
Always prayers for you guys
Danielle & Nathan
Oh my you guys, had no idea. So so sorry to hear. Know that we are here to help and support you in any way you may need through this journey! We love you all and are praying 🙏🙏🙏
Jo Thorpe
Conlin, his brother, and my two boys go back years to when they were all just boys growing up in Elk Grove.
If you had talked with me many years ago about the power of prayer, I doubt I would have been a believer. However, since then, and especially in most recent years, I know without a doubt that certain events in my life can only be explained as having occurred by the grace of God.
In addition, when I’m having a rough day, I am reminded that others are facing bigger challenges in their lives than me.
Thank you for sharing. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.