Elaine Wilson says she's a lucky woman.
She has a great husband of 37 years, wonderful kids, two grandchildren, a job she loves and amazing friends.
She also has stage four lung cancer and a prognosis of three to six months.
But the love she gives and receives keeps her life going.
A surprise gift
When Wilson received an unexpected gift from her coworkers, she was at a loss for words.
The ladies she works with in the office of Manzanita Elementary School in the Catalina Foothills School District wanted to make her dream of staying in a beach house became a reality.
So, they rallied together with her former colleagues at Ventana Vista Elementary and reserved a house on the beach in Carlsbad, California for Wilson and her husband, Larry, to stay in, and paid for gas and food.
"They called me into the conference room and they said 'we wanna give you something," Wilson recalled. "And they made reservations for Larry and I to stay right on the beach. Both schools did this together...It was very amazing."
Wilson cried when she got the gift, and was at a loss for words, which is rare for her said Kim Boling, the school's principal.
"Elaine has touched the lives of many, at both Ventana Vista and Manzanita," Boling said. "It was an honor to be able to organize such a gift for Elaine, and easy to do with both schools being such caring communities. Her CFSD family was more than happy to do anything to bring joy to this special lady."
Cancer diagnosis
Wilson's doctor called her at work after she had an x-ray to make sure the pneumonia she had was gone.
"I need to see you right away," he told her.
"But I'm at work," she replied.
The doctor didn't give in. He needed to see her right away.
She was told there was questionable areas on her lung and was sent to a pulmonary doctor for a biopsy.
The diagnosis: lung cancer.
Wilson found out that it was the tumors that caused the pneumonia.
She was prescribed 33 radiation treatments and seven chemo treatments through an IV in her arm.
"It didn't really hit me right away," Wilson recalled. "We went every day to treatment and then I went to work after treatment."
The treatment was initially successful. Her lungs were working properly and the tumors had shrunk.
But when she had her PET scan about six weeks after her final radiation treatment, she got some bad news.
The cancer had traveled into other parts of her lungs, adrenal glands, bowel and colon.
"So I said 'ok what do I do?'" Wilson recalled.
Not taking treatment
She was sent to her oncologist who said her only option was chemo. But the protocol sounded much worse than the first time around.
"She described the most horrific treatment that anyone would be offered to take," Wilson said. "It would be once a week every three weeks for seven sessions. It would be an eight hour a day chemo and I would be really debilitated doing this treatment. I told the doctor I saw those people that couldn't walk ten feet and I said Larry, Lauren (her daughter) and I would go talk about it, but my guess is I'm not gonna take the treatment."
After talking with her daughter and husband, Wilson decided she would not go through the treatment.
She said it was not a difficult decision to make.
"There are no guarantees and it would have only been a two year life expectancy with no quality," Wilson said. "I have those two grandkids and I wouldn't be able to be with them or to work."
Doctors gave Wilson a prognosis of three to six months.
"But, only God knows," she said. "So I just have to give it to God...I'm ok, but I worry about them (her family). I feel fine. "
Elaine and Larry Wilson hanging out at the ball game.
Gratitude
Though it might be tough to wrap her head around, Wilson is grateful and remains positive.
She does it by focusing on the wonderful parts of her life, spending time with family and friends and taking control of the things she can.
"I can't control what's going on inside my body," Wilson said. "I'm OK because I can't do anything about it, so I take control of the things I can."
Those things include making hospice and funeral arrangements so her family doesn't have to worry about them.
She feels lucky that she has the time to be with family and friends. And, she feels fortunate that she is able to make those arrangements.
"I am very lucky. And lucky to know what's happening," Wilson said. "I mean some people experience things and it's too late to do anything about it or take care of anything and look, I can spend time with friends and family...A lot of people don't get that opportunity."
Work is a community
Wilson plans to work until she can't anymore. Her warmth and loving presence are a welcoming beacon for her coworkers and the families of Manzanita Elementary.
"Elaine exudes warmth. She is positive, funny, loyal and giving," Boling said. "She is very much a part of the wonderful, welcoming presence that we have in our front office. Students, parents, staff, and visitors are quickly put at ease and made to feel comfortable at Manzanita, upon their interactions with her."
Her coworkers are like an extended family to Wilson.
She said telling her boss about her cancer was like telling a daughter.
"Work is a community," Wilson said. "You don't just go and do your time. You want to be there. You want to do what you do...I'm pretty lucky."
Vacation of a lifetime
Elaine and Larry took their vacation last weekend and it was perfect.
"We hadn't been to San Diego that often, but when we did go, we'd look at those places on the beach and could never imagine staying there where you just open things and see the ocean" Wilson said.
Elaine opened the shutters every morning to see the ocean and listened to it at night before drifting off to sleep.
The couple spent three nights there.
"We split food, sat on the bench and watched people pay volleyball," Elaine said. "It was perfect. It was just amazing. We don't talk about cancer all the time, but it didn't even come up. It was a normal weekend. It was great."
On life and faith
Wilson said her faith helps her remain at peace even though she doesn't have a congregation.
"I believe in God, but we will be having a chat when I get there," Wilson joked.
When her son died in a motorcycle crash at the age of 24, she was reminded by a friend that it's not the date of birth or the date of death, but what happens in the middle that matters.
"There's a birth date and a date of death, but it's all in that dash," Wilson recalled. "That's perfect. I've had a very good life. Do I want another day? Of course. Who doesn't want another day. But I have a good husband. Good kids...They all walk on water, you know. I've been lucky."
