The Beck family blogs about life in California -- about soccer games and parades and hikes and family trips. They display happy photos of their kids eating pancakes made by daddy and playing on the beach and dressing up for Halloween. And they also blog about breast cancer -- because Valerie Beck, wife and mom of two young children, was diagnosed with this disease on June 26, 2006. Valerie is just two months into her journey and has just completed her second chemotherapy treatment. She has already survived surgery and scary pathology results and some dark moments. But Valerie will surely conquer cancer with her happy take on life, her supportive family, and her ability to go with the flow -- however unpredictable it may be. And her husband -- author of the family blog -- keeps all readers updated on Valerie's progress. He is positive, hopeful, and a bit frightened too. On July 8, he wrote:
What a past couple days, my beautiful bride Valerie, my wife, my life long partner has a serious fight in front of her. She is going to grow old with me, she is going to help me spoil our grandchildren, we will beat this! I have faith, and I believe, but I also believe you cannot hide from the awful truths, this is not a nice disease. Three of the best doctors in the world do not come rushing to your aid in ONE DAY if they thought "you will easily make it through this" (which is what it seems I am always telling Valerie). I am trying to be strong, I feel I have to be, but sitting here in front of an inanimate object I find it easier to share my inner fears. I do have faith we will make it through this ..... it just won't be easy.
It won't be easy. But it can be done. Best wishes, Beck family!
1. Jacki,
I have read your blog describing your story of cancer treatment. Unfortunately my wife was recently diagnosed with BC at the age of 36. We have 4 children under the age of 8. What makes this diagnosis ironic is I am the administrator of two cancer centers. You never expect to be on the other side of the coin.
I've been blogging of our experience and some of my viewpoints as the husband of a breast cancer patient who is going to be my patient as well. I'm definitely going to have a different perspective of cancer care as we walk through this journey.
The site is
http:pattysjourney.blogspot.com
Posted at 1:44PM on Aug 30th 2006 by Scott W