“Happy birthday is a miracle song.” Although I admittedly have some issues with the American Cancer Society, I’ve always loved this quote. Every year, I see people complaining that they’re getting old, and I can’t deny complaining at times too. However, when I step back and think about it, getting old is much better than not getting the chance to. My first relapse was scary, because transplant was not something I wanted to deal with. My second relapse was terrifying, because my options were shrinking and I was suddenly faced with trials instead of standard protocols. I spent my 20th birthday in the hospital, really unsure about whether I’d make it to my 21st the next year. Luckily I did, and it was an absolutely amazing weekend. Of course there was alcohol, but more importantly I was surrounded by my best friends, who have stayed by my side through all the craziness and unknowns. We rented a treehouse and spent the day whitewater tubing, because I knew I needed to do something fun and adventurous. I haven’t figured out this birthday yet because it’s still months away but I will absolutely be doing something fun to celebrate surviving another year. No matter how old you’re turning this year, you’ve survived everything life threw at you and made it another year. That’s worth celebrating!
4 Comments
4/17/2016 10:11:15 am
You certainly have experienced much during your life. It is good you are documenting it in a log for others who will face similar trials.
Reply
4/18/2016 04:32:01 pm
What an inspiring post and so true. We need to be grateful for every day, week, month and year that we have.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI’m Karen. I was originally diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in August 2004 when I was 10 years old. When I was working on my college and scholarship application essays two years ago, I wrote about my journey. Although it was a rough few years, it became such an influential part of my life that I can’t, and wouldn’t want to, imagine my life without having had cancer. I called it the worst best thing that ever happened to me. Archives
April 2022
Categories |