There are many ways to celebrate a retirement and to say goodbye. Some might choose a gathering of close family and friends, a big party, or perhaps a quiet goodbye. My retirement came as a shock to my family and me. As some of you may know, I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, in March of Another primary cancerβbreast cancerβwas found four months later.
I was treated with surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation through May of During this time, my staff, friends, and I continued to produce Sewing With Nancy shows, some creatively repackaged, and other brand-new episodes.
My amazing team worked diligently to help me with the book-writing process, to develop new products, and to keep me up to speed. We skipped a few beats, but not too many. Earlier this year, my husband and I celebrated our 40 th anniversary and vacations were enjoyed.
Then, life changed. A scan in July showed that one of the cancers had metastasized and additional treatments would not be helpful. It was a devastating day, realizing that my life and my career, as I had known it, would end. I recorded new Sewing With Nancy shows right up to my diagnosis. Plus, my hope is that the Sewing With Nancy series will continue to air for years to come. The last episode that we recorded is I Sew For Fun, a show on team sewing with kids ages 5β9.
My granddaughters will be featured; I marvel at this miracle. It is not easy to say goodbye, especially since the terms were totally unexpected. I have learned during these past weeks to concentrate on my faith. You may not share my beliefs; I respect that, yet I would not be true to myself if I did not state the verse that I am focusing on during this last journey.
