Celebrate MilesTones!
It would be easy to just continue on with my daily life as if March 13, 2022 is just an ordinary day for me and my family. But that would be remiss. This day deserves to be honored. This is the day my daughter Kelly is considered “cured” from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. It is 5 years from the end of Her treatment!!!! Some doctors consider 5 years in remission to be “cured” because the risk of relapse is significantly less.
Long before Kelly got cancer she was a survivor! She took her survivor kit everywhere! When she was diagnosed with Leukemia at 15- there was nothing in that kit that could have protected her. We were lucky to have an amazing medical team in Denver, Spokane and Portland that saved her life. We are very thankful to you all.
I almost feel guilty celebrating this milestone Because many others were not as fortunate. It is important for us to remember how very much we have to be grateful for. These milestones help us remember how far we have come - even if we aren’t where we want to be. This lesson can be applied to any accomplishment or milestone-not just cancer. Take time to celebrate the joys in life!
Even during treatment we squeezed in some fun.
I am very grateful for the many new memories I have shared with my daughter since her recovery. Her cancer changed our whole family. I can only speak for myself, I know that I am not the same person that walked into that hospital room 7 1/2 years ago . I learned to not take life for granted. I became a better person- I wish I could have had all of these life lessons without my daughter getting Cancer.
These are just some of the many memories that I am grateful for!
Cancer leaves scars- both literal and figurative. I think I will always panic a little when Kelly gets a cold or has anything wrong with her. Kelly has many health conditions that were caused by the chemotherapy or by the cancer itself. Sometimes, I get really angry at the injustice of it all! It is not fair that my daughter has to deal with all this. It’s true, it’s not fair. However, celebrating these milestones helps put it in perspective for me. No one has a perfect life. My daughter is alive!
Obsessing about the past is unhealthy. But using these milestones as times of reflection to see how far we have come - and celebrate that! Take a moment today to reflect on your accomplishments and milestones! Celebrate all those wins- no matter how big or small.
