The Pandemic and Another Big Challenge

If you haven’t seen Marty lately – or even if you have — here’s an update on his life since the pandemic—with a message from Mary Ellen.

My life hasn’t changed all that much. I’m still teaching tennis, still struggling to learn to play golf, and cooking. Oh, and we got a new roof put on the house and had extra time to clean out a lot of stuff. We had some trees that were hanging over the house cut down. It gave me a chance to split some of those up for firewood. The rest of them are big chunks beautifully lining the driveway.

I’m just teaching one lesson a day now – we’re back at the Swamp now that the weather allows it. I also meet my ladies at Bucks and Hopewell Valley tennis clubs. They keep me young and alive, and I still put on a good show for them. After two hours of running them around I think they know they’ve gotten more than what they came for.

I’m enjoying my family, just not as often with the restrictions and all. Mary Ellen and I got vaccinated in February, but we are still being careful. We still had some nice celebrations at Tara’s house, and Kyle and his family came down from Connecticut once. My grandson is starting to play Quickball—not T-ball. This is new to me, but I’m giving him a few batting tips.

The other big deal – other than the pandemic — Mary Ellen rang the bell twice over the last year—first after chemo and then radiation. Many of you know that she took on cancer. She was a trooper, and we laughed as much as we could. I’ll let her tell a little bit.

Mary Ellen: I found a lump on 6/18/20. I had a normal mammogram in November 2019.

Nothing showed up on the mammogram on 6/18, but they did an ultrasound right away and there it was. In between 6/18/20 & 4/8/21 there were CT scans, MRI’s, biopsies, genetic testing, lab work, COVID tests, one unplanned visit, because I had a fever, 16 chemo infusions, a lumpectomy, 30 radiation treatments and a bazillion doctor visits. Stage 3 Triple Negative Breast Cancer…so far so good, but I’m petrified of it coming back somewhere else in my body. They’re watching me like a hawk. I feel fine, just tired, but they said that could last quite a while.

I’m telling you this because I want to spread the word to do breast self-exams.

Marty and Mary Ellen