Want to Save A Life?

Subtitle: If you read this post, it can save lives.

My First Walk Around My House 6 Weeks After Diagnosis

It’s been more than a month, and saying “I have cancer” still sounds weird to me.  Although, when I want my mom or Scott to get me stuff I’m not against jokingly playing the cancer card.

“Honey, can you get my blanket?  … But I don’t wanna get up. … Please?  *cute whiny voice* Come on, I have cancer.” 

Needless to say, I get my way and they are always there for me with a smile. We move on one beautiful moment at a time, even if I am a bit more of a princess now.

Cancer Is Crazy Weird

It’s weird to talk about it with friends and team members and clients.  It’s weird for them, it’s weird for me.  It’s uncomfortable. It’s awkward. But acknowledging that it is weird somehow makes it less weird, you know?  Let’s just accept it’s weird then move on to having mostly normal moments together.

A New (if scary) Adventure

This whole experience has opened my eyes greater than I could have ever imagined.  Words do not come to me when I try and truly talk about how I have felt since everything that has happened.  But what I can say is that I am a fighter and I’m ready for the challenge.

I started this blog a few weeks ago by saying how very blessed I feel in my life.  Cancer hasn’t changed that.  The amount of love and support that has been shown during this difficult time has left me speechless.  My husband, family, teammates, close friends, and even those I don’t even know are lifting me up and helping give me the confidence to fight this with all I’ve got.

I can’t even begin to tell you how dramatic the impact has been on my life…how the life I knew has been replaced by something scarier and full of a million needles and long nights. But it’s also been replaced by a closer connection with everything I love. “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”  Oh how much I want everyone to realize how true this statement is.  I’ve never really had serious trauma before and it was almost impossible for me to fully understand this until now.  I’ve had equally good and bad cries.  And I’m just now seeing how very beautiful life is in every small moment.  So here I am saying don’t take any of this life stuff for granted, do this for me.  Hug a little harder, laugh a little easier, smile more and kick ass every day because that’s what it’s all about.

I Get by with a Little Help from My Friends

Why This Blog Is So Important – Together Saving Lives

So now the scary part. The doctors have told me I need to have a bone marrow transplant.  They go to the siblings first for this since that’s the best chance of a tissue match.  We are hoping that my older brother will be the answer.  However, if he is not, there is an online site where you can find out how to become a donor.  Best part, even if you can’t help me, you could help to save another life.  A lot of people have asked how they could help and the answer is very simple: register with BeTheMatch.org and give someone like me another chance at life.

BeTheMatch.org

Even if the thought of donating bone marrow is something you don’t feel comfortable with, simply sharing this can have a measurable impact, so please help by sharing this incredible organization with others!

Thanks for listening.  Thanks for caring.  And thanks for sharing some of this life with me. It means more to me than I can express.