<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Echoes of Us]]></title><description><![CDATA[Echoes of Us]]></description><link>https://www.echoesofusri.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2026 20:59:15 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.echoesofusri.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[A Brain Cell Walks Into a Bar]]></title><description><![CDATA[I sat down to write this and immediately, audibly sighed, and typed, “Ahhhh, it's finally Friday.” It is, in fact, not Friday. Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this almost every week. (And something about the time change — and chemo brain — certainly doesn't help.) I used to deny with everything in me that “chemo brain,” the whole idea that chemo makes someone more forgetful or less able to concentrate, was total bull crap. This was, of course, total denial that I had this very...]]></description><link>https://www.echoesofusri.com/post/a-brain-cell-walks-into-a-bar</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aed087f1ea972c4609d6bd8</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 22:57:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/300bcc_d6a04dd7d8f147b0a1051c156220e983~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sarah Downey</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Wheels are Still Turning]]></title><description><![CDATA[I tell myself I don't owe anyone explanations, but when it comes to Echoes, I just can't bear the thought of leaving our community in the dark. It's been quite a few months since I've published interviews, reflections, or really anything on Instagram. And trust me, it's not for lack of ideas. I've had so many things I wanted to do. Expand our community, get back to publishing weekly, introduce our merch, bring new voices into the mix. All the things I've been looking forward to doing. I also...]]></description><link>https://www.echoesofusri.com/post/the-wheels-are-still-turning</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aecf0da1ea972c4609d3aa9</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 21:24:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/300bcc_4197c80c89f24656b8b0d9e1ef77a36e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sarah Downey</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Another Day at the Office]]></title><description><![CDATA[After two weeks away from the girls on Floor Six, I'm back on my Taxol grind. My regimen is three weeks on, one week off, giving my body time to recover its white blood cells before the next session. My red blood cells seem to be the ones struggling. Between what was supposed to be a one-week break and another unexpected week in the hospital, I missed two sessions. I've been anxious to get back to treatment and see whether Taxol is keeping my disease from progressing. A sneak peek during my...]]></description><link>https://www.echoesofusri.com/post/another-day-at-the-office</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aec1a64e1685cd8bd186b0c</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 05:58:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/300bcc_a5b497bb27de417088f08b9d126adf1b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sarah Downey</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Breath by Breath, Minute by Minute]]></title><description><![CDATA[I don't understand how pain can take over the body to the point of paralyzing it, keeping it from getting out of bed or even lifting itself off the floor, wherever it happens to land. Last evening, I set my routine alarms — about five throughout the night — to keep me on track with my pain medications. I've become rather indifferent to waking up to them. If anything, I enjoy it. Each alarm brings something with it, whether it's a midnight snuggle with Valentina or a 3 AM call to my friend in...]]></description><link>https://www.echoesofusri.com/post/breath-by-breath-minute-by-minute</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aebc1684c5b2b2938b5a983</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2026 02:48:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://video.wixstatic.com/video/300bcc_98632704b0984fa89ba91f5a104916f8/1080p/mp4/file.mp4" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Sarah Downey</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Audacity of Some]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sarah Downey Regardless of the pace at which I move, I still move some. I hold onto this some as a reminder that I am still here, still moving, still alive. The last eight days (or did I mean centuries?) have felt like the ocean. Just when I think I've finally gotten my footing, another enormous body of water comes along to remind me that I am, in fact, not in charge here. The water keeps coming, crashing and rolling onto the shore, turning over shells, crabs, and children's sand toys....]]></description><link>https://www.echoesofusri.com/post/a-window-of-good</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ae9115de054e17cb96fef2e</guid><pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2026 22:40:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/300bcc_149a9149125d44ad9bcfd9c86bc7eb03~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sarah Downey</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Window of Good]]></title><description><![CDATA[After eight days of luxury living at Boston's finest, Mia and Valentina have come to break me out. This post goes out to all of you who know hospital life a little too well. Just when you think you've finally made it out, breathing fresh air and reclaiming your freedom, you're back between sterile white walls, DoorDashing Sweetgreen (or, really, anything that doesn't come from the inpatient cafeteria menu). Last Wednesday, I went into the ED with some of the worst pain I've ever experienced:...]]></description><link>https://www.echoesofusri.com/post/test-3</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ae4f49bedd3afcbcfb475e1</guid><pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2026 19:48:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/300bcc_0b3e640ac2f5409b8bb48f1a297aa28a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sarah Downey</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>