one step at a time...

so now that i have met with the doctors at dana farber, and scheduled my treatments, one big question people have asked is what about work. it's already stressful enough being in your 20s, trying to start your career and figure out how you're going to be successful, not to mention in this economy when your friends are being laid off or having their hours cut and cant find new jobs, so having this major road block throw up in my path doesnt help.

so i happen to work for a unique company. we are a private, family owned, marketing agency. we deal with large scale corporate events and digital marketing (websites, animation, print, etc) i work in account management and also i also happen to work on the marketing side as well. this job is very much reactive, i never really know what i might be working on when i come into work in the morning, and that's one of the reasons i love my job. it's fun, the people are fun and creative and it's just a very vibrant place to work. a job like this isn't predictable.

based on the recommendations of my doctors, as well as talking with friends and family, i will be taking a short leave of absence from my job, just to see how my body handles treatment. i've been told the first month can be the hardest, just because you dont know what will happen, i could be sick the whole time, or i could be fine. either way, my concentration and focus right now needs to be on myself and my health. if there is one time to be selfish it's now. so basically i will go on short term disability, and once my treatment gets going i will decide what i can handle in terms of work. no matter what i will be out of work at least once ever other week for the next six months. after discussions with my boss, it will very much be up to me as to what i want to do. as i said, my job can be unpredictable at times, but i'm learning so is life!

everyone at my work has been so supportive and downright amazing. i basically had to take two weeks off when i was going through all these tests and go to all these different doctors, and never for a moment did i have to worry about the security of my job. at times like these you realize what is important and my boss and coworkers know that. this situation is unique and one that i dont think my company has dealt with, let alone my coworkers.

i think i'm the type of person who wont be content just sitting around being sick all day for the next six months. i'm going to want something, maybe as a distraction, or many just as a sense of normalcy. my doctors have said many people work through treatment, it's really up to me as to what i want to do. so as with everything in my life right now, i'm taking it one step at a time and we will see how it goes.