After a routine exam and then further testing, my friend Danielle was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which just blew my mind since she is one of the healthiest people I know. She has been known to go for 15 mile hikes, is an established yoga instructor and her biggest vice is probably a Diet Coke once in awhile. But as we know, life is not always fair, and sometimes these things happen. I know she will be fine, but it’s still scary, confusing and as cliche as it sounds, truly makes you realize that life can change in an instant. In a few days my friend Danielle will start radiation and then be in total isolation for days.
Danielle and I have bonded on many things over the years, from our love of Bill Maher to watching Kathy Griffin at the Laugh Factory back in the day. She designed the Kids of Kilimanjaro book as a donation to my family’s charity and was one of the first to visit me while I was at UCLA doing my stem cell donation five years ago. Plain a simple she’s a good friend who treats people well. She’s also an incredibly talented artist (see above) and I’m proud to have two of her pieces hanging in our home.
I decided to send her a little package of Maher’s new book and the first season of Bored to Death to try to keep her entertained during this difficult time. I will be thinking of her and sending lots of positive thoughts. Danielle is not my first friend to face cancer at a young age and I find that no one knows what to say, feel or do in these situations. I always try to just listen and if I can distract someone with gossip or humor I will. If you have experience with this, as a patient or friend, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
