by Lee Wardlow
LIFE Interrupted
Feet in the stirrups, staring at the ceiling, Sophie Russack waited for Doctor Ben to finish what he was doing between her legs. She tried not to think about it or she would have a panic attack. He knew that too, so he had to do everything backwards with Sophie.
Sophie, girl, you’re forty-one years old, not that the number bothered her. It didn’t. It was just a number. Often, you’re mistaken for being much younger because you try to take care of yourself with exercise and lots of sunscreen but girl you really need to stop being a baby about these things. You’ve had two kids and after that experience nothing is sacred. Why does this appointment still bother you?
Her life was different than she had anticipated at forty-one. Her two best friends were having babies. Her first grandson had been born. She was afraid of these changes happening around her but not anymore.
She was with the love of her life. The only man she had ever loved. Everyone thought they wouldn’t make it after getting pregnant at eighteen, but they had proved them wrong. They fought to stay together because breaking up was too easy.
Then life threw Sophie Russack a whopper of a curve ball. She was late for her annual exam. She had only gone now because Josh hounded her about it.
Doctor Ben found a lump during her exam. Sophie Russack never thought she had to worry about breast cancer because there was no cancer in her family.
This is Sophie’s journey through all the emotions of fear, sadness, anger and finally triumph as she battles cancer with chemotherapy and surgery. Along the way she meets other women facing the same struggles she is.
Cancer patients must find a way to live their life while being pushed to the edge, so they can survive while their lives continue around them. Babies are born. Daughters experience heartbreak. They are wives, mothers, daughters and sisters but they show their strength and willpower to become a Breast Cancer Survivor.
Sophie only becomes stronger as cancer becomes a wake-up call for her. She changes everything about her life except Josh. Nothing will change how she feels about him.
LIFE Interrupted
By
Lee Wardlow
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons living, or dead is coincidental. The suggestion or actual use of college football names is used only to further the author’s story not to promote any, team.
Copyright © 2018 by Lee Wardlow. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, redistribute, or transmit in any form, paperback or digital or any other feasible means possible.
Dedication
I spent a lot of time thinking about this book because the idea started when a friend who had been cancer free for three years asked me to write one about a woman who kicks cancer’s butt. Her exact words.
After being cancer free for three years, she has started her second battle with cancer so, I buckled down and wrote this book for her first and foremost, Debbie S. There are elements of her in many of the female characters in this book. She helped me a ton in writing this. Sending me pictures and answering questions to help me understand more about breast cancer. So many things, I wish I never had to know because three of my closest friends are affected by it.
There are words like triple positive and triple negative that I had never heard before. There are so many things that I didn’t know. These women go for bloodwork regularly, so they can make sure that their bodies are handling the chemo well. Most are getting fluids because of the strain chemo puts on their body. Some handle it better than others. Some not well at all.
I only touched a small portion of what breast cancer really is about because there is just so much from treatments, drugs and what causes the cancer that I just couldn’t do it justice. I focused on the effects and the emotions.
At the same time, Debbie started her second round of chemo, I found out that two more friends were fighting breast cancer while another was a survivor. Lori’s battle with cancer was a rough one so a lot of what I saw happening to her became Sophie’s battle in the book plus I read blogs and articles that helped me understand the struggle these women go through.
The experience is different for different women. One may vomit all the time while the another responds to the anti-nausea meds well. The hair always seems to fall out by the second treatment. All experience extreme exhaustion. Food issues are always consistent. It just plain tastes bad on top of the fact that you feel pukey (Deb’s word).
All these women are from my same high school class and it breaks my heart to see them go through this. Lori E. and Andrea W. are fighting this battle now. Kathy M. is a survivor.
What I wanted to capture is their strength and courage in the face of so much adversity while their lives continue around them. Some must try to work. Some Babies are born. Daughters have heartbreak. (Note: Ally’s story will continue in another book. I haven’t decided what to do with her and Brian.)
I wanted religion to be a strong, support of these women because I see my friends reaching out for prayers. Being inspirational in their faith. I’m a Catholic so I based Sophie’s religion on Catholicism because that is what I know. They always say to write what you know best but I also wanted to show that it doesn’t matter what faith you are Christianity should be the same faith no matter who you are because we believe in the same God and his son Jesus Christ.
We should love each other and care for each other as Christ taught us without bias or prejudice because of color (Amy, a woman you meet in this book is a woman of color, but I didn’t feel the need to come out and explicitly say that. I wanted it to be a non-issue). The same with religion. These women are of different religious backgrounds but love each other and support each other just the same because of what they are going through.
So, I dedicate this book to my girls from high school who have cancer and are breast cancer survivors. Debbie S., Lori E., Andrea W., and Kathy M. You ladies are amazing women.
Note to readers I had a gynecologist once who put posters on his ceiling. That was fun.
Chapter 1
Sophie
Feet in the stirrups, staring at the ceiling, Sophie Russack waited for Doctor Ben to finish what he was doing between her legs. She tried not to think about it or she would have had a panic attack. He knew that too, so he had to do everything backwards with Sophie. He started with the pelvic and pap smear and worked his way up to the breast exam. She hated coming to this appointment.
Sophie had shaved her legs last night then again, this morning. Nicked her left ankle and behind her right knee, hurrying too quickly to get the job done. She didn’t want Ben to see any stubble. Ben couldn’t see either of her wounds because she had on socks that she was sure were pretty, stinky because she had worn work boots to the office in case she had to go into the field with Josh, her husband. Hopefully, Doctor Ben didn’t smell her socks. He was close to them, right now. Her knee, he couldn’t see the battle wound because it was in the bend of her leg.
It could have been worse; her entire body could have been stinky. She could have had to go to the field today with Josh. He could have used her, but Sophie had this appointment. She would have been sweaty and stinky and then she would have had to cancel. What a relief that would have been. Sophie, she told herself, as she stared into Tom Selleck’s eyes from his Magnum PI days, you’re being ridiculous.
Ben had a sense of humor. Each exam room had a different poster of a famous actor posted on the ceiling. One room did not for the women who weren’t comfortable with that sort of thing but most of his patients loved it. His wife, Donna picked them out. Sophie was particularly fond of Brad Pitt, Legends of the Fall but that room wasn�
�t ready.
Sophie, girl, you’re forty-one years old, not that the number bothered her. It didn’t. It was just a number. Often, you’re mistaken for being much younger because you try to take care of yourself with exercise and lots of sunscreen but girl you really need to stop being a baby about these things. You’ve had two kids and after that experience nothing is sacred. Why does this appointment still bother you?
She used every excuse in the book to avoid this appointment. Running a business with Josh had consumed them along with raising two children, Heath and Ally. The kids were both gone so they were enjoying life and love. Chasing each other around the house as Josh promised. They had Joshua, their grandson as much as they wanted which was a lot. She loved being a grandma. She was a busy woman but not too busy to make this once a year visit.
Joshua reminded Sophie of Heath. Her oldest, his father. He and Hannah were good parents. She saw her son raising his child using the morals and ideas that he was raised with and it made her proud. It made her feel like maybe she had done something right after all. Granted Joshua was just a toddler, but she could still see it and she liked it.
Ally was in nursing school in Columbus. Things just couldn’t get any better even if both of her best friends had babies now. Their dynamic hadn’t changed as much as she feared it would. The kids just came along when they got together. They still made time for her. She loved their time together even more. Sophie held the babies when she saw them and could return them to their mothers like she did her grandson.
Micki’s twins were two months old now. Kai’s Alexander was eight months old, so she could still get her baby fix and her sleep. The best part was that Sophie had none of the messy stuff to deal with. No poopy diapers and no spit up. Her fears were now put to bed that she and Josh would have nothing in common any more now that the kids were gone. Sophie was content with her life.
She and Josh had just celebrated twenty-three years of marriage. Sophie would be the first to say that Josh was a saint for putting up with her. She was mouthy and difficult at times but if anyone needed anything, Sophie Russack was the first person there to pitch in and get it done. She had a big heart.
She was also late for this annual check-up, not that she was worried about it. Her yearly exams were always fine. Josh finally nagged her enough that she had made the appointment to see Doctor Ben.
He didn’t like it when she was this overdue but of course, Josh didn’t do his annual exams either and she reminded him of that. His argument was he was a man, so it was different. She guessed prostate cancer didn’t scare him like cervical cancer did.
She wasn’t that late, not really. The appointment should have been ten months ago. She was too busy like today. Her phone was buzzing like a vibrator in her pocket, but Sophie Russack didn’t own a vibrator. She wasn’t a prude, but she liked her intimacy with Josh not a toy.
The love between Sophie and Josh was just as strong as when she started dating him when they were just teenagers. The intensity of the passion had cooled over the years, but they still made time for intimacy which included simple things like cuddling on the sofa and watching old movies because it was important to them and their marriage. They were committed to not becoming a statistic like some in their high school classmates who married young. They worked at their marriage, no matter how hard it was because they were important to each other.
She and Josh graduated from Cooper High School in Ohio, a small town where everyone knew each other. Some left and some didn’t but they both liked the small town feel of knowing your neighbor and being able to walk down the street and say hello to a familiar face.
They loved raising their children here where values were important, and crime was minimal. They didn’t have to worry about the children riding their bicycles or playing in the yard. They liked their small town of Cooper.
Josh owned a landscaping business and had done well for himself and their family. Their business afforded them the opportunity for Sophie to be at home when the kids were out of school. She found activities to keep her busy schedule even busier when she wasn’t working with Josh. She had the Women’s Club and volunteering at the nursing home or the hospital. Her children volunteered too. They wanted their kids to be well-rounded and humble.
She and Josh were proud of Heath and Hannah, Kai her best friend’s daughter and Heath’s wife. How they worked together raising their baby, creating a loving home for their new family.
Sophie had a good life. Two beautiful healthy kids, a grandson she adored. Josh. A lovely home that she and Josh had worked hard to get. She had the best friends in Micki and Kai. Friends she had known for a lifetime.
What could be wrong? She finally broke down and made the appointment and here she was feet in the stirrups starting to get panicky. She would rather go to the dentist and have a root canal than be going to the gynecologist, and that’s why she always postponed it, but never this long though. Six months max, was probably the longest she had gone without her annual check-up.
Sophie tried breathing to stave the oncoming panic. She didn’t know why she was so bothered by this. Doctor Ben Hillard had been her doctor since she was eighteen and discovered she was pregnant with Heath. Her mother had taken her to him. He was young then too, just starting out. They had both aged in the twenty-two years since he had delivered Heath.
She stared at Tom Selleck, breathing in and out. Everyone had seen her vagina from nurses, doctors, residents and surgical techs during the birth of her children, but she still hated this. Dr. Ben understood Sophie.
“Almost done, Sophie. Hang in there.”
Hanging in, she thought but didn’t say anything.
He wasn’t much taller than Sophie and a little overweight but who after forty didn’t need to lose a few pounds? He was dark haired with silver beginning to touch his temples giving him a distinguished appearance. He was a nice, looking guy.
He pushed his glasses up on his nose with his wrist after he finished her pelvic exam. The pap smear was done and being sent off. He informed her that she would hear from his office if they found anything. She already knew that though. This wasn’t her first rodeo in the stirrups.
Dr. Ben rolled backwards on his stool and stood. He walked to her side and opened her gown. “Sophie, breathe,” he told her, his tone was soft and consoling, while he began the breast exam. “Do you do monthly exams?” He asked frowning at her.
“When I think of it,” she replied her eyes avoiding his. Dr. Ben’s fingers were cold and rough probably because he washed his hands so much.
Nothing is ever wrong. She was healthy as a horse.
“Sophie,” he scolded her. “I feel a lump.” Her eyes shot to his face. “When was the last time you did one?”
She thought back to the last time she examined her own breasts. She sighed. “Twelve months ago, at least probably while showering.” That was usually when she examined her breasts.
“You didn’t feel a lump?” He took her hand and placed it on the lump.” She could feel the spot about the size of a pea.
“Nope,” she replied. “Should I be worried?”
He shook his head at her. “I’m going to try to get you in today for a diagnostic mammogram.”
“But I have places to be. Josh is expecting me back at the office.”
Ben cut her off. “Sophie, this is important. Josh will understand. His business takes care of our property here and at my community where my home is. I see him frequently. I know him. Your health would be his priority,” Ben informed her.
The thought of Ben and Josh discussing her flitted through her brain and made her uncomfortable. She pushed it to the back of her mind and scowled at Ben’s back.
“He’s probably the only reason that you actually made the appointment today.” He was gazing at her now.
She glanced at his worried face. “Nope, not more important,” she agreed contrite because he was right. Josh had pushed her into this.
Ben turned away from her and Sophie sat
up clutching the paper gown around her. It’s probably nothing, she told herself. A cyst. Her friends had cysts before. They were nothing. Too much caffeine. She drank a lot of coffee in the morning. She would have to cut back on her coffee, most likely.
Cancer didn’t run in her family. Breast cancer ran in families, right? She would ask Ben, but he was trying to schedule her mammogram. Doctor Hillard sat at his desk and picked up the phone. He dialed a number while Sophie’s arms wrapped tight at her waist holding the gown closed.
She half listened to him speaking to someone, trying to get her mammogram scheduled today. He was concerned, why wasn’t she? Because Sophie was good at putting things off and burying the obvious. She needed to be more diligent about her health.
**
Sophie got in the landscaping truck and called Josh to let him know that she would be later than expected. She was almost relieved when he didn’t answer the phone.
“Hey babe, I have to run over to the Imaging Center. Ben wasn’t happy with me because it’s been more than a year since I’ve had my mammogram. He pulled a few strings and got an appointment for me. I’ll be back as soon as possible.” Then she hung up. She wasn’t going to answer if Josh called back. Sophie didn’t want him to hear the concern in her voice. She didn’t want to worry Josh.
The center was five minutes from Doctor Ben’s office. A quick turn out of the Professional Building parking lot. A mile down the street and a left and she was there. Her heart felt like it was in her throat. At the Imaging Center, changed out of her top, shoving it and her bra into the locker with her purse. She had to wash off her deodorant. Then she closed the hospital gown and was about to shut the locker door and pocket the key when her phone dinged.
She grabbed it out of the locker and glanced at the message from Josh. He wanted to know if she was all right. She contemplated whether to respond. The phone was in her hand. She was staring at the screen. He would worry a little, but he would worry a lot if he knew that Ben had found an actual, lump and had rushed her to the Imaging Center for a diagnostic mammogram.
