Last week, I had the great joy of having breakfast with one of my favorite parent friends about a month after she’d had her double mastectomy. I’ve been meaning to mention it, as a reminder of what everyone knows: mammograms can save lives. As can other routine screenings and check-ups. For over a month now, I’ve been trying to lead a healthier life, spurred by a doctor’s report that my sugar level is perilously high.
I’m not sure why I’ve been delinquent about eating better and exercising more for so long, but it’s probably because I thought I could get away with it. I can’t think that way anymore. So, now—somehow, most days—I’m eating all kinds of healthy meals at modest portion sizes, and I’ve lost about 12 lbs so far. I’m still struggling to figure out how to up the amount of exercise in my life, but I have increased one of the few physical activities I endlessly enjoy—walking.
For parents, the specter of mortality looms, with a special sadness, knowing that there will be a day—hopefully later than sooner—when we won’t be able to be there for our children any more. I hope I’m extending my lease, but who knows? Hopefully this note encourages some of you to do the same.
Last night I read in the Times about how “Good Morning America’s” Amy Robach, who was New York Family‘s June 2013 cover subject with her husband, Andrew Shue, had—as part of an on-air “GMA” segment about breast cancer awareness—reluctantly agreed to have her first mammogram at age 40, only to learn that she had early-stage breast cancer. The startling revelation lead her to undergo a battery of follow up screenings, and ultimately resulted in her decision to undergo a double mastectomy (scheduled for later this week). It’s hard to see a silver lining in a cancer diagnosis but when the silver lining is life itself, there it is. She was one of my favorite cover people this year, a wonderful person, a devoted mom and step-mom. Let’s wish her well.
Eric Messinger is the editor of New York Family. He can be reached at emessinger@manhattanmedia.com.
