My friends always said I was the optimist in our little crowd. I was the one who always saw the glass as half full, the one who never took off those rose colored glasses. Never did that trait serve me better than on November 21, 2005 when, at the ripe old age of 36, I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. I was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
I’m not sure there is any preparation for hearing the words, “You have cancer.” I am certain there is no preparation for hearing them just 3 ½ months after the birth of your only child. There I was, in the midst of the most joyous experience of my life, and the doctor was handing me a death sentence.
So I dawned those rose colored glasses. When the doctor scheduled surgery for Groundhog Day, I nicknamed the tumor “Punxsutawney Phil”. The day they removed my lung I renamed Groundhog Day, “Lung-Leavin’-Day”. My family and I still celebrate “Lung-Leavin-Day” the first weekend of February every year. It is a celebration of life, a celebration of conquering fear, a celebration of turning the bad into good. It is a celebration of hope.
Most people who have gone through an experience like this will agree that cancer is a double-edged sword. While it is both frightening and devastating, the struggle brings you through to a side of yourself that you would never have known otherwise. I chose not to be a victim; I chose to make light of a dreadful situation. In doing so, the fear had no power over me. I also vowed to help others diagnosed with this disease in order to help return the hope that was stolen from them when they too heard the words, “You have cancer. It’s mesothelioma.”
Along the way, I found others, who like me, became mesothelioma warriors. These are amazing, strong, passionate and tough people who are committed to bringing about awareness to a disease that is only known by most people as a commercial on daytime TV. They are wives, husbands, sons and daughters, each of whom I call a friend.
Today I count my blessings and am grateful for both the people and the purpose I have found. My greatest hope is to continue the fight to give hope to those in the midst of this battle.
Author Bio
Heather writes about her experiences as a courageous mother, wife and survivor of mesothelioma cancer on her blog.
