Since I was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer in mid-2017, there have been two people that I followed closely on social media who were "outed" as not actually having the level of illness they had claimed. I'm not going to use their names in this blog post because this is about me sorting … Continue reading When People Pretend
Author: Abigail Johnston
I'm a daughter, a wife, a mother, and I've been living with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer since March, 2017. All of the words I publish are my own.
ATM Mutation (Originally published in Wildfire Magazine)
If you don't already subscribe to Wildfire Magazine, go sign up now!! It's amazing and you will get content from a wide variety of talented men and women. A version of this post was originally published in 2018 in the Genetics edition of Wildfire. When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, my breast surgeon … Continue reading ATM Mutation (Originally published in Wildfire Magazine)
Feeling Fragile
Most days, I have sufficient energy to keep up with the boys, to attend my doctor's appointments and to do the things that need to get done, to do the laundry and organize homework. Most days. I'm not at my former level of energy, but with judicious rest and a LOT of help, including the … Continue reading Feeling Fragile
Discharging Student Loans
Like millions of Americans, when I went to college, I had to take out loans. My loans from undergrad were tiny, like less than $2,000.00 and I paid them off by working multiple jobs each summer and breaks. However, law school was a very different story. I still worked during the school year and worked … Continue reading Discharging Student Loans
Hear My Voice Class 2019 @ Living Beyond Breast Cancer, some thoughts
Philadelphia is cold!! It's also a bit gloomy and the air is crisp and cool. This Florida gal is freaking chilly. Oooh, ships!! Those were some of my internal thoughts upon landing in Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon. In light of the fact that I sprained my left knee AND ankle recently after a fall, I … Continue reading Hear My Voice Class 2019 @ Living Beyond Breast Cancer, some thoughts
Talking to children about Cancer (or any other terminal illness)
This is a topic that has haunted me since I heard in 2017 that not only did I have breast cancer, but that I'm incurable. Having a terminal illness puts many things into perspective; however, the diagnosis does not come with a road map. Rather like parenting ... I remember that horrible feeling of astonishment … Continue reading Talking to children about Cancer (or any other terminal illness)
April Fools?
Today is the day that people play tricks on one another. Mostly in good fun. I have fond memories of April Fools jokes because my mother's best friend from college used to live with us when I was a kid and she took this day very seriously. As a kid, green milk or corn flakes … Continue reading April Fools?
Communication
Back when I was a practicing lawyer and I had my own firm (not that long ago, but it is starting to feel as if it was a million years ago), I had a bunch of rules about communication for myself and for my employees. Since my practice was mostly focused on Family Law (divorces, … Continue reading Communication
Working Together
Disclaimer--this post is not about any one person or any group in particular. This post is my own perspective based on my own experiences and background. I'm sure that I'm wrong in about 1000 ways. With that in mind, read further at your own risk. I'm a straight shooter, direct nearly to the point of … Continue reading Working Together
Acupuncture during Cancer Treatment
At the outset, let me repeat that I'm not a doctor. This blog is about my own personal experiences, not the science or biology of acupuncture or its affect on the body. Read further at your own risk. My only exposure to Acupuncture before my cancer diagnosis was watching Sex and the City. Seriously, the … Continue reading Acupuncture during Cancer Treatment
