Just Getting The Hang of It

Part XII

Fitting it is to find that my last part to this gibberish would be 12 seeing as this all started in 2012. The question here is where am I now? As of August 8, 2018: 6 years into treatment, 6 years since my original diagnosis. This is just a small part though. I went back to Philly for my 9 month check up in July and everything was once again negative with an MRD of negative. No B-Cells so T-Cells are still kicking. I'm due back at CHOP in October for my year which we hope to find with the same results. I am in remission, but still do weekly labs and transfusions. I still do monthly doctor appointments and IVIG (for now, hoping to switch to Sub-Q). I still end up in the hospital for fevers and low counts. I return to school in the last week of August. Still following my dreams of becoming an Agriculture Teacher. I'm still gonna go to Philadelphia another 2 years for treatment so I continue to fundraise for that. In December I'm going to marry my fiance, the love of my life, my best friend and the very best part of me, Steven. Lord help us out there.

All in all I'm still me. I'm still learning everyday. I'm still listening to other people's stories, because everyone has a story to tell. If we just listen that is. I try to stay humble. I try to be kind always. I remember to live in the moments, because nothing can take that from us. I learned to be grateful for everyone who's come my way and who has yet to cross paths with me. I learned to be grateful of what life has taught me, what cancer, has taught me: "There are moments in our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroads. Afraid. Confused. Without a roadmap. The choices we make in those moments can define the rest of our days. Of course, when faced with the unknown, most of us prefer to turn around and go back. But once in a while people push on to something better. Something found just beyond the pain of going it alone. And just beyond the bravery and courage it takes to let someone in. Or to give someone a second chance. Something beyond the quiet persistence of a dream. Because it's only when you're tested, that you truly discover who you are. And it's only when you're tested, that you discover who you can be. The person you want to be does exist. Somewhere on the other side of hard work and faith and belief... and beyond the heartache and fear of what lies ahead." -Chad Michael Murray as Lucas Scott in ONE TREE HILL

In the end I got out most of what I felt needed to be said, then again maybe there's more to come or things I've missed. The world may never know, but you know. You know what my life has been like. What you do with that information now is up to you, but I highly advise that you "Smile at the world before it laughs at you." or in my case "Laugh along with it."

Fin...

Or is it?