I have a CT scan coming up.

Nothing serious.

Probably my sinuses.

Everything is a little puffy, so they ordered an ultrasound.

The ultrasound found something that was just the tiniest bit out of whack.

And now…

I

Want

All

The

Scans.

It is not small when the backyard was the place where you could breathe before the diagnosis came in and rearranged the furniture of your whole life.

Cancer treatment can make even ordinary things feel like climbing a hill, in the snow, in flip-flops. Watering. Weeding. Dragging a hose. Lifting a bag of soil. Bending down to prune something. Remembering whether the seedlings got watered yesterday or three days ago because every day has become some strange soup of appointments, fatigue, and “what did the doctor say again?”

That is where Backyard Breasties comes in.

At Backyard Breasties, we talk a lot about survivors, gardens, and the strange heartbreak of watching the life around you need care when you barely have enough energy for your own body. But we also know this: helping caregivers helps survivors too.

How is breast cancer treatment like becoming a butterfly?

Painting of the Healing Garden Vision and the Breastie Bucket

Beverly and Britany introduce their first Breastie, Napthalie

John never imagined that Napthalie would get cancer, more than that, he never imagined she would get it so young. She is active in the community and homeschools their two children. They all needed her. To make matters worse…he knew how to do a lot of things but he didn’t know how to help her with her cancer diagnosis and he didn’t know who to turn to either.

….so having Beverly and Britany come and offer to help is such a source of hope for me. I’m not alone, I don’t have to do this alone, and there will be so much life beyond this. This is way more than yard work. This is life work.

The Sunbath: Place the jar in a sunbeam and stand next to it, arms outstretched, soaking up the sun’s rays as if you’re powering up. Encourage the tea to “absorb the power of the sun” in your most mystical voice.

Time Passing Rituals: While the tea is brewing, perform random silly rituals to “help” the process. Maybe you can serenade the jar with a song, do some yoga poses next to it, or even tell it a funny story.

Announce to your audience (real or imaginary) that you’re about to perform "The Boil of Boils!" Get the kettle going and give the water a pep talk like it’s about to run a marathon.