Dedication and Appreciation

From: Nora

I dedicate this page of my blog to the incredible people who have supported me throughout my journey—my family, friends, coworkers, and the compassionate care team who stood by me from the moment of my diagnosis and treated me not just as a patient, but as a person striving to overcome this thing they call cancer.

Your love, support, and empathy have been nothing short of extraordinary. 💖 I’m deeply grateful to have been surrounded by such tremendous kindness, strength, and unwavering encouragement.

This space is where I honor you—each story, each gesture, each moment that helped carry me forward.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
To my Family

💙 To Mike and Jacob

Mike, Thank you for helping me realize that I have to fight this abrasive disease called cancer—and that I’m stronger than I ever imagined. 💪

You reminded me that love carries us through: love for life, for time, and for the whirlwind of adventures we call living. 🌪️🌿Thank you for staying up with me, for being there when I couldn’t even stand. Thank you for saying “yes” when I said I didn’t want to do chemo—even though I know your hearts wanted to say “stay.” You let me step into my own decisions and own my healthcare, while still standing solid beside me, reminding me that life is too good to miss when we’re together. 💫

To my Jacob—who loves my embrace and stayed strong throughout this journey, always checking in to see if I was okay—I love you, my kid. And to Sarah, thank you for the first person who gave me flowers, you are so thoughtful. 💖

💞 To Stephanie, Jer, Lilly, AJ, and Lori

Thank you all for the calls, the check-ins, and the prayers. 🙏 It means so much to know you’ve been thinking of me and wishing me well.

Your support has truly lifted my spirits, and I’m looking forward to seeing you soon. 💖

💞 To Papa, Jescel, Ely, Ramram, Beverly, Ana, JD and Dante.

To my brothers and sister—thank you for always being available in our message chats. 💬 Your prayers truly help, and your encouragement makes me feel like it’s going to be okay… I’m going to be fine. 🙏💖 "Laban sis"

To my brother Ely, thank you for being so calm and positively mindful. 🧘‍♂️ I appreciate our talks—they help me stay grounded and keep me in my lane of mindfulness. 🌿

To my Papa—try to stay healthy, would yah? 🍲💪 Hope to see you next year.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To my Friends

🌄 To Aerin — My Spontaneous Friend

Aerin, my spontaneous friend who lives in the moment and savors life upfront—thank you for our adventures. I still remember the scent of the north woods, the warm sunshine, and the aroma of fresh coffee. ☕🌲🌞

Thinking about it makes me want to get fit again—camping is calling.

Thank you for feeding me during my hospital stay, for visiting, and for comforting me during a time when it felt like everything stood still.

💐 To Mayet — My Sunshine in a Bowl of Tinola

How can I not smile when I think of you, Mayet? 😄 Thank you for the laughs—even in chat, you manage to make me LOL. I even warned everyone not to make me laugh when I came home from surgery… and sure enough, no one could help themselves. 😂

Thank you for being such a refreshing presence and for your thoughtful support. You always say, “Let me know if you need me to be there,” and you mean it every time.

Your sweet puto maya kept me from overloading on carbs during chemo, and your tinolang pompano was a true treat for my chemo taste buds. 🍲

💖To Jane – From Warm Soup to Warmer Hearts🌟

Thank you for always being the one who asks how I’m doing, checks in on my progress, and makes sure I’m truly okay. Your care means the world to me. 🙏

Thank you for the sabaw that nourishes me every time you visit—especially after my surgery and chemo sessions. 🍲 Your kindness in checking my incision to ensure it’s healing properly, and even bringing an extra waistband to support my recovery from abdominal surgery, has been such a help.

I truly appreciate all the little things you’ve given me—especially the warmer (which I use all the time 💕). Mike loves it too! 😊

Thank you for your love and thoughtfulness throughout my recovery. 🌷

💌 To Luisa — 🍯 Biko, 🍎 Baskets, and 🚽 Bathroom Breakthroughs

Luisa, thank you for being as sweet as your biko—comforting, rich, and full of love 🍯🍚. It nourished me with enough carbs to make me want to walk laps around the house after recovering from surgery 🚶‍♀️💪.

The fruit basket and gift card were put to excellent use 🍎🎁. I even bought a baby potty to safely dispose of all my chemo-nuclear bathroom adventures 🚽☢️😂.

Thank you for genuinely caring about my well-being and showering me with kindness, attention, and thoughtful surprises 💖. You made recovery feel a little less clinical and a lot more loved.

🚗 To Grace — Pandesal, Pan, and Protector of the Asian Grocery Realm 🥖🥭🛡️

Grace, my ever-loyal and carefree friend—someone who could rule the world and still make time to care for it 💃🌍💖.

Thank you for all the pandesal you brought 🥖—those glorious carbs paired with morning coffee worked their magic on my stomach and kept me going ☕🍞💪.

Thank you for driving me around and always showing up when I need anything: mangoes? ✅ Pan? ✅ Siopao? ✅ Saging? ✅ If it’s in the Asian store, Grace’s got it! 🛒🥭🍌🥟

You’re such a protective and thoughtful friend, always making sure I’m doing okay. Your care wraps around me like a warm blanket—and sometimes like bubble wrap, just in case 💕🫶.

To my Manager and Co Worker

Through all the ups and downs — from diagnosis to recovery — one question often crossed my mind:

💭 Will I have work to go back to? Do I still have the capacity to be productive and return to the workforce?

Today, I can confidently say yes — because my manager and co‑workers believed in my well‑being. 🌟

🗣 Words That Stayed With Me

👩‍💼 Manager: “Nora, your health comes first.” 💖

🤝 Co‑worker: “Don’t rush back — heal first. It’s not easy going through chemo.” 🌸

🛠 Co‑worker: “Don’t worry about it, I’ve got it covered.” 🙌

🧶 Co‑worker : “This hat is for you, to keep your head warm during chemo.” 🧢💛

🧢 Co- worker: " You are such a positive person Nora, You will survive this"

🧢 Co-worker: "Thinking of you and wishing you a speedy recovery"

🌱 Why This Matters

Your kindness, understanding, and support carried me through some of my hardest days. 💪
You reminded me that compassion in the workplace isn’t just possible — it’s powerful. ✨

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. 💚

To my Oncology Doctor and Care Team

🩺 To Dr. Colleen Rivard M Health Fairview Cancer Center, March 2025 - Present

I would like to formally recognize Dr. Rivard for her exceptional care following the identification of an ovarian tumor during my emergency room visit in March 2025.

After the ER team conducted a CT scan of my abdomen and initiated a referral, Dr. Rivard reviewed the imaging and assumed responsibility for my surgical care. Her evaluation was thorough, and she communicated the diagnosis and treatment plan with clarity and professionalism.

She performed the surgery with appropriate urgency, responding to the severity of my symptoms. Throughout the process—from initial consultation through postoperative recovery—she demonstrated both clinical precision and compassionate presence.

Her ability to address the medical urgency while acknowledging the emotional weight of the diagnosis made a significant impact on my experience as a patient. I felt informed, respected, and supported at every stage of care.

I am deeply grateful for Dr. Rivard’s role in my treatment and recovery. Her leadership and dedication reflect the highest standards of oncology practice.

💛To Nurse Lars – M Health Fairview UM - March 14–17, 2025

Lars supported me through two critical moments—first during my surgical recovery, and again in the ER just days later. His clinical skill, emotional intelligence, and unwavering presence made a profound impact on my healing process.

During recovery, Lars entered my room with calm focus and quiet strength. He monitored my vitals, encouraged mobility, and handed me a spirometer, explaining, “You need to use this to expand your lungs—they usually get weak after surgery.”

Less than 24 hours after my operation, he looked at me and said with a smile:

“Nora, I’ll be a bad nurse—I’m going to make you walk.” 🚶‍♀️

And he did. He helped me stand when I could barely move. He listened without judgment, responded to my fears, and offered spiritual support when I whispered, “I think I’m going to die.” 😔 His ability to hold space for both physical and emotional pain was remarkable.

Then, on March 17, in the middle of a crowded ER, Lars recognized me instantly. He stopped to check in, and before his shift ended, returned with snacks—graham crackers, peanut butter, and water. 🥜🍪💧 That small act of kindness reminded me I wasn’t alone.

Lars didn’t just treat symptoms—he treated the whole person. His presence, empathy, and professionalism exemplify the very best of nursing care.

💛To Nurse Val – M Health Fairview Cancer Center

March 4, 2025 — the first time we met. You were wearing a mask because you had a cold, and we had just stepped out of Dr. Rivard’s room. Without missing a beat, you took command — guiding me through every step of how to prepare for surgery. You explained each detail with clarity, asked if I had any questions, and made sure I understood what to do in a world that was completely new to me.

From that day forward, you became my point of contact — helping me navigate not only the path to surgery but also the winding road of chemotherapy.

“Reach out — no matter what it is. I, and Dr. Rivard’s team, will be here for you. Whether it’s something big, something small, or you just need someone to talk to.”

You helped me understand what to expect — through surgery, chemo, and everything in between.

💚 Thank you, Val — for your follow calls, guidance, your patience, and for being one of my advocate