It’s on! Oh my god. It’s on. Fark. It’s on. Not panicking at all. Just fucking with you, I’m totally panicking. For those of you following at home, you’ll know that the purpose of all of this is to record my recovery through swimming. Regular swims over a year to recover from surgery and embrace … Continue reading It’s on!
Category: Mental health
Life in the time of Coronavirus
“Your return to work won’t go the way you plan”, my oncologist warned me ominously. I had written a plan, discussed it with my manager, discussed it with my health insurance and crawled out of the cocoon I had hidden myself in for the last sixteen months. And regretted it immediately. My hips ached from … Continue reading Life in the time of Coronavirus
Flat is where it’s at
For something a little different, here's an interview I did with Stephanie Astalos-Jones on her podcast "Flat is where it's at" back at the end of March. We're talking about breast cancer, being a uni and life after... https://flatiswhereitsat.libsyn.com/hangin-with-jessica-cooke
Starkbierfest
I laced the bodice of my Dirndl tightly, bringing my breasts to a state of perfection as they all but burst from my dress. I hadn’t worn my traditional Oktoberfest dress for months and I pondered how insane I was as I covered my delectable breasts with my coat and stepped out into the snow. … Continue reading Starkbierfest
Closure
It wasn’t just me who had to deal with cancer. My sister flew from Australia to Luxembourg twice to be with me during chemotherapy. The last time I saw Jenni I was finishing my fourth round of soul-destroying EC chemo and starting the eight week brutality of Taxol chemotherapy. I was bald, listless, depressed, incapacitated … Continue reading Closure
12 months of cancer
It’s been a while since I’ve written because I knew what was coming and I’m not sure that I’ve got the courage for it. It’s time to talk about her but it’s difficult. I look at photos of her and it still makes me weep. It breaks my heart to see her, to remember her. … Continue reading 12 months of cancer
Anniversaries, scanxiety and colonic irrigation
Cancer is full of anniversaries. Shout out a date and I’ll be able to associate it with something cancer related, but this was the big one. One year since diagnosis. One year since the world titled on its axis and sent me hurtling straight to hell. A not so gentle reminder of the last 14 … Continue reading Anniversaries, scanxiety and colonic irrigation
It was fate
I swam around an island! I am amazing! If that weren’t incredible enough, it was called Shark Island! And for something spectacular, I did it from a boat! Knowing of my crippling shark phobia and my debilitating motion sickness may make this more impressive. I swam around an islandI'm on a boat When I decided … Continue reading It was fate
Juicy Mountain Magic
We have climbed to Limestone Plateau to release our cares to the imp of the mountain. Our yogi tells us that limestone absorbs negative emotions and if we ask, we may leave ours with the little man in the silver jacket. “It may be comfortable, it may be other, whatever”, Kenny intones. I lie on … Continue reading Juicy Mountain Magic
Juicy Mountain Recovery
The sheep baa in the distance as I shuffle away from the meditation platform shrouded in a grey and white blanket. I look back at those shuffling behind me, similarly cloaked in their grey and white blankets and giggle. “I don’t know why they think we’re a cult.” Laughter rings out, breaking the solemnity. Not … Continue reading Juicy Mountain Recovery
