Before I get into the next part of my journey, I wanted to share this graphic. It really hits home for me — it shows the difference between what people see on the outside and everything that’s going on underneath. So much of this experience isn’t visible, even to the people closest to me. Continue reading 10 – Beneath the Surface
🌀 Mood: Nauseous, frustrated, determined, empowered Saturday – A Glimmer of Normal The day after my first chemo treatment, I woke up feeling surprisingly good. I remember thinking, I slept it off. I moved into the day with caution, wondering if the reactions from Friday would come back — but they didn’t. I went and got a facial, ran errands, and felt almost normal. What … Continue reading 9 – The Week After Chemo #1
🌀 Mood: Shocked, scared, exhausted, relieved Walking into the clinic for my first chemo treatment, I couldn’t believe this was my life. I checked in and first met with my oncologist. Just a few days earlier, on Tuesday, he had explained a treatment plan that would follow an 8-week cycle for round 1, using injections instead of IV chemo. Injections typically cause fewer reactions, so … Continue reading 8 – The First Chemo Visit
🌀 Mood: Exposed & Growing I’ve always been a helper. It’s not just something I do — it’s how I’m wired.If you know your Enneagram type, I’m a 2. The Giver. The Nurturer. The one who shows up, checks in, and makes sure everyone else is okay. That instinct didn’t just come from nowhere. I grew up in a house where caregiving was part of … Continue reading 7-When the Helper Needs Help
🌀 Mood: Uncharted Leaving the hospital was weird. Inside, I’d been in a bubble — protected, surrounded by people who knew what to do. Outside, the bubble burst. I was scared, confused, and still not processing that I had cancer. I went in for a blood transfusion, remember? Now I was leaving with cancer. The ride home was quiet. My husband had hurt his foot … Continue reading 6 – The Space In Between
🌀 Mood: Numb but steady In the days after my diagnosis, I was still trying to process what it meant. Each morning in the hospital seemed to bring a new piece of news — some terrifying, some hopeful — but all of it life-changing. I waited until after my husband’s shift to tell him. When he arrived at the hospital, I asked him to sit … Continue reading 5 – The Hospital Days That Followed
🌀 Mood: Disbelief → shock → quiet courage When my doctor called to tell me I needed to go to the hospital immediately for a blood transfusion, I was stunned. I didn’t know much about transfusions — except that it sounded serious. I had questions running through my head the whole drive over: What if I have a reaction? What if I get someone else’s … Continue reading 4-The Night Everything Changed
🌀 Mood: Frustrated, overlooked The first time I sought medical help for my back pain, I went to urgent care. The muscle spasms had become unbearable, and I knew something wasn’t right. They took X-rays and told me my spine looked good — no breaks, no damage. Just muscular. The provider was kind and said she could tell I was in real pain, even if … Continue reading 3 – Seeking Answers
🌀 Mood: Frustrated, confused It started about five months ago — lower back pain and muscle spasms that felt like someone was taking a lightning bolt to my spine. The spasms were excruciating. They would take my breath away, and the scariest part was how unpredictable they were. One second I’d be fine, and the next, I’d move slightly and get hit with pain so … Continue reading 2 – Before I Knew – The Pain That Didn’t Go Away
🌀 Mood: Uncharted I haven’t had a lot of time to process everything yet. Things are moving fast, and to be honest, I’m still trying to catch up—emotionally, mentally, and physically. But even in the midst of all that, one thing has become really clear to me: I want this to be bigger than just me. I want to help other people.I want to raise … Continue reading Why I’m Telling This Story
My Anchor Holds 