Happy Birthday Robin!

When I received the call that my radiation treatments were going to begin August 1st the significance or irony or whatever, was not lost on me. I thought, how fitting that I should start such a harsh infliction on my body the first day of my birthday month!

With that in mind, I became very contemplative about this year's birthday. Reflective really.

The last thirteen years every trial in my life has been a medical one. From the moment I broke my ankle at my 50th birthday party, God has performed miracle after miracle and not only in the physical sense but relational as well. I come from a small family, mother and father both passed on, one sibling and I am one of those childless cat ladies that whats-his-face so eloquently named successful women without children, so my friends are my family. God has shown me through them and their support and care, His love and care for me.

In the last ten years, I have survived two benign brain tumors and one malignant breast tumor.

Survived. I'm still here. By the grace of God I am still here!

I wanted to do something very special for myself. This wasn't a milestone, but as my friend Eve told me, "Yes it is a milestone. You survived." Thank you Eve.

I had so many ideas swirling around my mind.

• A good ol' house party and just dance and dance!

• A train ride up the coast. I love train rides.

• I also love hotels, so maybe treat myself to a weekend in a posh boutique hotel.

Logistically putting everything together I ruled out the house party. I knew also that fatigue was a huge side effect of radiation so I thought if I take a train ride to explore a coastal city or town, whether north or south, would I have enough energy to venture out of the hotel room?

Talking with colleagues, it was suggested that I perhaps find an AirBnB close to Cedars-Sinai the first week of treatments and have a week long getaway so to speak. Equipment wise for work that wouldn't work but it did help me solidify an idea. A weekend at a posh boutique hotel!

I was leaning on The Peninsula, mostly because they also serve High Tea and that's something that a couple of friends and I like to do.

One night out to dinner with friends, Chateau Marmont was suggested. Hmmm. I like it. I loved it once I compared rates.

The Chateau Marmont is one of the most iconic, celebrated hotels in Los Angeles. Nestled at the foot of the Hollywood Hills, it is all things vintage, full of Hollywood lore and scandal, established in 1927 and very much a staple of Hollywood glamour and elite of the 50s through the 70s. Still a haven today for celebrities; they have a very strict no photos policy.

Book it Dano!

It was the perfect place at the moment to just, be. The top floor suite was lovely with a beautiful view. A kitchen complete with cookware and dishes. Hanging in the wardrobe was a fluffy white robe and slippers. The concierge service was A+! Celebrating not only my birthday, even though I was in only the second week of treatment, I was celebrating surviving breast cancer. I was celebrating LIVING!

They asked if there was anything that I would like to have stocked in the fridge or pantry. I asked for fruit and a ph balanced water, like SmartWater. When I walked into the room there was a big bowl of cherries, grapes, oranges and apples, and when I opened the fridge, there were six bottles of the exact kind of water I have at home.

My plan was to relax by the pool during the day, or in the surrounding gardens by the bungalows and cottages, and read or write. At night, to enjoy a good meal in their fine restaurant. To just be.

For two nights friends came through and joined me for dinner. Girl talk fun with my friend Jess on Friday and dinner with long time friends Frank and Kevin on Saturday.

The evenings would finish early enough that I would be able to simply lay in the huge, plush, white linen bed, eat some fruit, and watch television before drifting off to sleep. It was the special kind of weekend that I had wanted, but better due to time spent with friends.

The next weekend was just as special. Celebrated my birthday at Chado Tea room with my sister. It was a lovely time.

I wasn't finished, neither was God.

I still wanted some type of gathering. Sony has weekly happy hour events for two hours after work on Thursdays. Thursday August 22nd was my last radiation treatment!! Seemed the perfect time and another occasion to celebrate.

So, I invited some friends and colleagues to help me do just that. New friends and old friends, colleague friends and personal friends, everyone had a good time and that did my heart good. Sprinkles cupcakes didn't hurt.

Then something happened that was such a touching surprise.

Sony Pictures Television was hosting a Trivia Night inside from where we were outside. My friend and colleague Sophie and I teamed up to play. She named the team, Team Robin. There were multiple rounds and in between rounds I would flutter back and forth to my friends outside and the game inside. On one of my outside visits, Sophie got my attention through the huge picture windows to tell me we had one a round. When I came back in there were cheers. I admit, I thought the cheers were a bit odd, it was just one round. I stayed in until after the last round, while they were tallying the answers I went back outside.

After a little while I noticed through the huge picture windows that everyone was looking at me smiling. Sophie came out to get me.

As overall winners of the whole game, we tied with another team. And selflessly, the other team gave us the win. We walk back inside and there is this thunderous round of applause and cheers, a standing ovation!! What's going on?! Then I got it. I asked Sophie if they knew. She smiled. On one of my excursions to check on my friends outside, she had mentioned to them the entirety of what I was celebrating.

I'm tearing up now thinking about it.

No one could tell that I had pain and soreness.

My adrenaline overtook any fatigue I was having.

I couldn't stop crying.

One of the things I like about working at Sony is the culture of community. My colleagues at SPT didn't know me and I didn't know them. Yet, they celebrated as a form of human connection. It wasn't about me as Robin, it was about me as a person and here's this person who has fought breast cancer and won! They celebrated that with me, a stranger. The other team, selflessly gave up a win to Sophie and me. And Sophie. I was touched by her thoughtfulness, she helped make this night more special.

This was a birthday and a celebration above what I could think of or imagine.

Thank you

for being here with me to celebrate this day, this last day of radiation.

for being here with me to celebrate my birthday.

for being here with me to celebrate LIFE and LIVING!

Thank You God for.......everything!