Hot on Chemo

This time last year Helena and Anne had moved into a beautiful apartment on Place Stephanie in the middle of Brussels. Helena was full of energy, feeling less pain with her treatment showing some early signs of success.

The apartment had a lovely and large living room with plenty of floor space, and almost everyday Helena would put on a CD and dance around the room. She bounced around to Bonnie Tyler, Roxette, and of course some Dolly Parton.

Helena was proud of her strength, and with her usual humour and positive attitude she suggested that maybe she should make an exercise video, become the Jane Fonda for people with cancer. The title: Hot on Chemo.

Helena doing her Hot On Chemo moves

Cecilia and I loved to join Helena for her dancing sessions when we were there. We spun around the coffee table, sang, giggled, and forgot all the of the very difficult and scary things we were all facing.

A little blurry, but still one of my favourite memories from our time in Brussels

It still amazes me how incredibly upbeat and full of humour Helena was during her illness.  Of course there were times when she was low but they were the exception, and Hot on Chemo is just one of the many examples of her ability to rise above her daunting reality.