Letter to the Editor: One Year

September 29th has just passed. What a life changing day this will always be to me now. I don’t think I will ever forget the many thoughts and fear that went through me that Thursday in 2011 when I was told I had leukemia.

I wasn’t sure this was a battle I would be able to beat and I didn’t understand why this was happening to my family and myself. Yet, here I sit one year later and I am now cancer free. I have always thought everything happens for a reason, maybe this was my wake up call to step back and re-look at my life.

I know it may sound odd, but I now look at that battle as a blessing. I was blessed with an out pour of love and support from so many people.

From this crazy time in my life, I was able to find new friendships, reach out to old friends, renew my faith in life, love and most of all I learn to take each new day as a blessing and to be thankful for my second chance.

Last year my family and friends kept me up beat while I would sit many weeks at a time in the hospital. They reminded me I had to stay strong and that they were not ready to let me go, so I had to fight no matter what. I can honestly say my cancer has made me a stronger person.

I am so excited that this year I will be able to walk beside my family and friends at the Light The Night Walk and be able to wear the survivor t-shirt with a smile. I will never be able to put into words how grateful I am.

All I can say is that my life has took me down a crazy path, but I still here ready to see what the future holds. Thank you everyone for standing beside me, picking me up on my down days and showing me there are still amazing people in the world. ~ Julie Farmer