SPECIAL FEATURE
getting
in the
SPIRIT
Managing holidays and special events after a cancer diagnosis
By Bridget McCrea
AS KEISHA AND ROD ECHOLS began to process
the news of Rod's stage III colorectal cancer diagnosis in August
2012, thoughts of how the diagnosis would affect their family in
the months ahead took center stage. With two young children
and the holidays around the corner, the Echolses wanted to do
what they could to ensure that their children's lives remained as
normal as possible during this stressful period.
The fact that Rod, 39, was scheduled for surgery on the day
before Thanksgiving made planning for and participating in a
26 cancer fighters thrive | winter 2013
traditional celebration on the usual day particularly challenging. And his next surgery was set for December 27—two days
after Christmas—and would again have an impact on the family's holiday.
A planner by nature, Keisha, 42, began thinking about the
family traditions she and Rod had enjoyed for years as a couple and with their children. "As soon as we talked about Rod's
treatment plan, I pulled out my calendar," she recalls. "I did as
much as I could in advance—especially for our children, who
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