Dear Younger Me, Never Stop Living
Jen, hold your life plans loosely. Goals are great. Crushed dreams are painful. Disappointment is hard. Don’t forget that your path will not be straight. I know you love being in control and planning everything out.
Read More...Broken Together
Cancer has left my body. It no longer resides, but it has certainly left its mark. Diabetes, beginning arthritis, fibromyalgia, lung damage, heart damage, neuropathy, anemia, and much, much more still reside with me.
Read More...My Transplant Birthday
I’m sitting here crying at 8AM on a Wednesday morning, and I don’t even know why. Wait…I kinda do. Tomorrow’s my 8-yr transplant birthday. WOW! I should be so excited! Eight years is terrific!! Celebrate life! Do something big! Enjoy all the things!! Congratulations!!
Read More...The Other Shoe
I remember my freshman Honors College Orientation. We were each given a fill-in-the-blank paper. What are your graduation goals? What academic goals do you have? What social groups are you going to join?
Read More...The Cancer Patient: Behind the Emoji
Every morning, I wake up and scroll through Instagram to read the stories posted on The Cancer Patient (TCP) account. This account and online community has personally brought me laughter and comfort on my darkest days.
Read More...The Dreaded Dentist
My dad has amazing teeth. At 50, I think he maybe has had 1 cavity ever, if at all. My mother has had so much work on her mouth, it’s a wonder it’s all still together. I inherited my dad’s teeth (praise be).
Read More...Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is hands down my siblings and my favorite holiday. Even Christmas with all its presents is meh. Yet, even in the midst of a pandemic, and the absence of our normal giant Thanksgiving crowd and traditions, we are happy.
Read More...Reality of Love
I’m a woman of faith. And my faith has gotten me through both cancers, and a myriad of other diagnoses. And in 8+ yrs since my original diagnoses, I have never once asked God to rewrite my life without cancer. I accepted that He allowed it into my life, and trusted that He had a plan. But today my faith is struggling (this isn’t a religious article, so keep reading).
Read More...What Dating Me Means
Dating me means fun. Fun as we sit together in the doctor’s office, and you have to force me to drink the stupid disgusting CT contrast in the time frame. While I pout because I’m hella hangry.
Read More...A Checklist for What to Wear for Treatments
A Checklist for What to Wear for Treatments. Here are some tips I have picked up along the way during my cancer journey going in and out of the hospital
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