May 5- My school friend Jolene recently informed a few of us girls that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Along with an upcoming double mastectomy surgery, she also would be having a hysterectomy and an unrelated Cerebral Spinal Fluid surgery. The CSF stemmed from what she thought were multiple ear infections over the past few years and will have surgery to fill a hole near her ear. All three surgeries are major and sound terrible. Her plan is to have one followed by the next about 3 weeks apart each. She will be off work for 3 months. When Jolene told me about the surgeries, I immediately wanted to do something for her. She is a nurse and has been there numerous times for me. She was there when Jayden was born and visited me just hours after my delivery. She was there when I was on bed rest with Jacob and came to visit me with snacks and a movie one evening. When I had my double mastectomy, she came to see me hours after my surgery. When I was in too much pain to talk, she talked to the nurses and had them up my pain meds. That is a good friend and I wanted to pay it forward and do something for her. It has been a few years since I had even gotten together with Jolene.
Over a phone call I told her I would like to get together and have a fun day with a few of the gals. I gave her some options, go golfing, go shopping, go out to eat, go walking at a park, or go horseback riding. She chose horseback riding. Because of the last minute notice and her quick approaching surgery dates, we only had a few days to plan. That made it hard for anyone else to join us. Shawna was the only one that was certain she could come. I decided not to tell Jolene and let it be a surprise. It was a big surprise and Jolene even cried. The three of us sat and chatted, i fixed them lunch, then we got horses out and saddled. Jolene told me she has always wanted to ride and hadn't ridden a horse since she was a little girl. She said her husband laughed and didn't think she was serious. It was great to get the two girls on a horse. Shawna has had horses, but it had been a long time for her too. We had a nice time ridding laps in the arena and chatting. It was far too windy to enjoy an outside ride. It was a special day, a day where Jolene could enjoy the horses and the company and not worry. It was a day she could talk about whatever was on her mind. She had a lot of smiles.
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