Whoa, it’s the holidays?
- mlemichel
- Dec 29, 2025
- 3 min read
I looked up last week and realized the holiday season was upon us. It seems we have been living in a time loop since August, a three week repeating cycle that starts and ends with treatments. Week 1, marked by treatment, begins a slowing of all the things: food intake becomes challenging, medications cause an evasion of sleep, brain feels scrambled and stamina slowly declines. Week 2 pretty much sucks, plain and simple. Bones ache, nausea lives under the surface and if a rash occurs, that would be the week. By the second half of the second week, things start to look up: energy, appetite, strength all returning. For maybe a bit over a week things feel ok; tasks are tackled, a wider geographical radius is visited, more time with loved ones helps speed the healing. Juliana describes this week as merging back in with life, trying to get caught up to speed quickly while remembering the world is not on the same loop.
In this way, holidays looked much different this year. Instead of the large, loud, chaotic family gatherings that are lovely in their own right, smaller, more intimate gatherings prevailed for Juliana and our family. Chemo treatment #5 and Thanksgiving week were one in the same, requiring flexible plans to accommodate the recovery. Unsurprisingly, Juliana shared her authentic smile, was grounded and present despite her protesting body. She even made me her pumpkin pie with the gingersnap crust, my absolute favorite.
Christmas itself was a week and a half after treatment #6, so things were starting on the up-train by the time it arrived. Juliana wanted to spend this week in Portland, and she made it happen. She has gotten some beautiful quality time with family and we even are spending some quiet days at the Oregon Coast.
We are so grateful for this season of slow down and really leaning into it. A much needed and much appreciated break, with (hopefully) more days of feeling good than not, strong, clear, nourished body and soul, the battery charging. This moment is one of transition and a chance to get off this persistent 3 week roller coaster. Starting in January, Juliana will transfer her care to Fred Hutch under the care of a physician specializing in her specific type of cancer (mucinous adenocarcinoma). She has been consulting with this doctor for several months now and is looking forward to a more targeted approach to her care plan. Until we meet with him at the beginning of January, we won’t have information on her treatment plan and schedule.
We have received the results of the second set of scans and the general results look encouraging, as measured by the goals. Small growth in one area, but reduced growth in other areas, with no new tumors identified. We look forward to discussing these results with the new team and having it inform next steps as we head into the New Year.
We continue to be thankful for the unwavering support and love that surrounds Juliana, keeping her lifted. She feels all the love coming her way.
Hoping everyone takes a moment during this slow time to sit with all that is important in your life, be present, let the good that is out there wash over you, and you feel love. Wishing you peace, love and light in 2026.
