After We Beat Cancer

Traveling is everything to me, I love the rush, the excitement, the anticipation, the discovery it all evokes. This past Fall I finally made my dream of traveling to Australia and New Zealand come true. It wasn’t all I’d hoped it to be, falling sick, visiting during a cold spell but there were also amazing moments with some of the best food I have ever experienced.

For me this trip was one of great meaning, and relaxation after a few weeks of chaos. On my 31rst birthday my dad told me he was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive form of tongue cancer. Only 3 months after retiring he was told what one man should never have to hear, you have cancer. My dad informed me when I visited for our traditional birthday weekend; his birthday is two days after mine. But it was such a hard a devastating weekend in all realities. I have never been so scared or at such a loss of what to do and how to coop with what had just been told to me. The thought of never having my dad around for another Christmas or birthday was more then I could bare, but I made sure to stay strong for him, my mother and sister.

I can talk about it now open and freely because after 3 months he is doing better then anyone ever thought, he is speaking and eating and still here for me to call and text whenever I need some news. My dad has always been there for me, so during his surgery I wanted to make sure I was there for him. I had planned my trip to New Zealand and Australia a year in advance so I could get my first class Singapore Suites but in all reality when I was given this news I couldn’t for the life of me see myself going on this trip. How could I think of flying halfway around the world on vacation when one of the most important people in my life was going through the hardest things in his life. But my dad made it very clear to me that I would be going on this trip no matter what happened, and I knew that is what my dad would want. He is not a selfish person in the least, he never asks for anything, and I knew he would be sadden if I didn’t go on my trip. I share my trips with my parents since they have never really traveled. So when I go to Australia, France, Thailand, Bali they love it when I send them photos and emails letting them know about my exciting adventures. For my dad my updates from across the world were a much needed distractions during his recovery.

My life has forever changed since that day, it has made me a stronger person, it has made me appreciate life more, see everything with new fresh eyes. I travel the world and experience and see things most people never get a chance to see or appreciate, but in that moment when my dad told me he had cancer none of my travels and life luxuries meant anything to me, if there was even a small chance I would never get to share them with my dad.

Cancer is hard, there I no denying that. I experienced first hand the strength of a man who fought thru pain and fear and made it through like nothing changed, but I know how much courage it took for him to make it through. My family and I made sure we helped him thru this bump in the road together and we are all still helping him everyday.

I am blessed and so overjoyed my father got to spend another Christmas with us and that he got to see 2017. I am so happy he made it through and will be with us for years to come but for all those out there who have a parents, sibling, friends, aunt, uncle, grandparents who has been touched by cancer and is struggling please know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and you will make it through. It is hard and I won’t deny this will take everything you have within you to make it to the other side, but when you do, you will be a stronger person who will not take life for granted, who will appreciate everyday and be grateful to have those around them.

I love you Daddy xxx

#CancerSurvivor