Sister Saturdays – Sabrina Elizondo
She showed up with a smile and a one-piece ski outfit to die for. Between her dance moves, her yoga practice, and how she played on the mountain, I wasn’t sure if she was a yoga instructor, ski instructor, or just simply loved life. Turns out it was a little bit of everything, and she most definitely LOVES life. Sabrina had joined us in LA for our First Annual Wellness Day, but Grand Targhee 2020 Mountain Wellness Retreat is where I truly met Sabrina Elizondo. It’s always so interesting to watch those given crappy hands in life, and at the same time, to see these women take waves of pain with grace. Inspiring and empowering to say the least. I realize Sabrina has hard days. I realize she has had to perhaps adjust her vision to see what she’s been given versus what she may have dreamed of, but I just can’t help but believe she is going to be ok. I mean, that isn’t stopping me from keeping her in my thoughts from time to time when I see bright sparkly mountains, or keeping an eye out for a blind date set up in her area, but her honesty and realness leads me to believe that she is ascending to courageous heights in this lifetime, and I’m just grateful to witness it.
– Megan Pischke, B4BC Community and Wellness Director
Tell us where you are on your ‘path’…and would you consider it a ‘cancer journey’ or ‘healing path’? Why?
For me, specifically, I think of it as another continent. I’ve done my 7, so I consider cancer my 8th. An entire new group of people, new language, new food…many times it can be out of your comfort zone, stretching yourself to adjust to a new normal or new side effects, and possibly a new life. But at the end of the day, oddly, it’s still an exploration of yourself. When I travel, I try my best to embrace the local culture, be open to their practices and traditions. Same goes for the “cancer culture”. Correlating the two supports me in adapting to the challenges I face with cancer.
How have you been managing with doctor appointments/scans/treatments while there is a pandemic?
Pretty minimally, I suppose. To be honest, for all of us who have been through the journey prior to Covid-19, we have already been through our own personal pandemic. I am fortunate that I am on maintenance now, so I pop in for bloodwork, shots, and scans. The worst part, pandemic or not, is the waiting period. Every three month scans baby! It’s always a defining moment leading up to the results, and receiving them, for that matter. Always very grateful for clear ones, as it gives me a new sense of pride and inspiration to live fully.
Anything in particular that you are doing differently while Covid is rampant to uphold your health and overall immunity right now?
To have the luxury of working from home, which I’m fortunate for, has also allowed me to replenish the ravishing effects of treatments and surgeries for a year and a half. It’s been a moment to catch up on life personally and reflect on experience I’ve just had. There’s a lot less stress than the rush of early morning and getting out the door, fighting traffic, etc. There’s no rush to be anywhere, therefor I have bandwidth to manage my time a bit better. In between calls and emails, I’m more likely to do some sun salutations, walk my giant dog a few more times a day, or do PT exercises for my torn ACL… which happened on the best ski trip ever! #soworthit! LOL.
Yoga? Meditation? How do they support your overall well-being?
I used to teach yoga, so I am thankful to have a lot of those tools to support myself in stretches, alignment, and basic low-impact movement. Been tough to get full range back after radiation and surgeries, but I’m determined to get as close to 100 percent as possible. I have to, for my own sanity and my mountaineering goals!
Meditation supports me to calm my mind and help my ADD/ruminating middle brain to stay out of depravity, and in the pre-fontal cortex. It helps me NOT freak about scans, or be sad that I can’t have kids naturally anymore, or the fact that I feel alone/single, or my new pill-taking reality of being poked and prodded for the rest of my life. It can go on and on. Many times, when I start to feel overwhelmed about some of these limitations and their impact on my vision, it’s too much to handle. But meditation, breath, positive thinking and declarations (no matter how sad a mood I’m in), keep me moving into a head space that’s amenable and sustainable. It’s a daily (sometimes hourly) practice, for sure!
Integrated therapies? Could you recommend any for someone newly diagnosed?
Yes, absolutely! I think they go hand-in-hand. There needs to be an open discussion between your oncologist, naturopathopathic, or integrative doc. I found my acupuncturist, Angela, incredibly healing for me. I’ve also seen an emotional therapist and a psycho-oncologist on the regular to ensure I’m always moving through issues that are holding me back from living my best version of myself. Lots of appointments there.
Do you feel supported enough with the emotional/psychological aspects that cancer brings?
I’d say it’s 50/50. I have the daily support from family and friends, but that’s on the more topical stuff. On the over-arching, life-changing, soul-sucking, vision-stealing stuff…I feel more supported from cancer girlfriends, because they understand. My therapists, as mentioned above, and some young cancer communities support me through tougher issues. Especially being young in my voyage, tackling cancer, it’s effects on your body, mind, and soul, and seeing how it affects your relationship with yourself, family, friends, coworkers, and strangers for that matter is truly too much for one person to navigate on their own. The financial ramifications are also enough to make ones’ sickness perpetuate, with all the insurance correspondence, disability paperwork, and hours on the phone dealing with our systemic bureaucracy. It’s a full-time job, let alone taking care of yourself!
Anything you’ve learned on managing health insurance with cancer?
See above. Even with my second time around, I thought it’d be easier…or I’d be a pro at navigating the system. Nope. Just breathe. Ask a friend or family member to help take it off your plate and organize. Honestly, it’s the last thing you’ll want to deal with, so do yourself a favor and ask for support! Delegate that shit!
Today, what is the best way for you to feel GOOD?
Movement and space give me freedom. Being outdoors with fresh air are heaven for me. I feel inspired when my eyes feast on a beautiful vista or some flowers, beach & mountains. It gives me motivation to live out in the world and a reminder that I’m more than the cancer. I love music and dancing too, and training for climbs or our triathlon! Working every inch of my body gives me such endorphins to last a lifetime! Not to mention food and wine too! And reading incredible books that create growth and personal insight. I’d be a fool not to mention visiting with family and friends, it’s just the best!
Survivorship or thrivership? Please define what they mean to you.
Survivorship lands for me, as I have survived this shit twice. I’m not sure about thrivership yet. I prefer this over METAvivor, but it’s mostly because I see my struggles every day and I don’t feel like I’m thriving just yet. I constantly aim to shift my perspective though, and increase my usage of the word so I believe that I am. It’s all about how self-compassion and being gentle with those words you use, and I’m trying to make those little changes!
Is there any doctor/healer/practitioner that you want to give a shout out to?!
Dr. Tiffany Grunwald, for having the ability to be friends with patients and caring more than the average doctor. Dr. Chiyo Maniwa, for being my mentor/therapist during such difficult times and helping guide my soul in the right direction. Angela Laurino, my acupuncturist, for her healing powers and knowledge of the whole body. She literally made my shingle pain go away within hours!
CBD or THC? Why or why not?
CBD for the day-to-day, and THC to help me sleep! Honestly, I’d love to find a better solution of sativa or indica that keeps my spirits high but allows me to function as well. Would be a healthier supplement than my wine and beer. 🙂
