Chapter 10
Eyela
Six Months Later
Today was a joyous occasion. I’d beat cancer a sixth time and got to ring the bell at the clinic.
All my and Karrington’s family was here, and our friends were too.
As I held Gio, I rang the bell with tears running down my cheeks.
I’d meant it when I said I didn’t want to do chemo again, but I also loved my family, my life, and I couldn’t not fight to be here with them.
Regardless of how it weakened me, depressed me, changed me, .
. . if God saw fit to heal me, I’d fight to stay.
I wasn’t sure why I was given this lot in life, but every time the cancer left my body, I felt a bit closer to Him yet more grounded to the Earth. More alive. Happier to still be here. More grateful for this thing called life.
When my doctor closed the incision where my port was, she was hopeful it wouldn’t come back.
The last time it did, they gave me a 96 percent chance that it wouldn’t come back if I had the surgery.
This time around, it was smaller, and it didn’t spread, so that was a good thing.
Even with her being hopeful that it wouldn’t come back, I knew that was really up to God.
As soon as I was done ringing the bell, I made my way to my husband. He took me and our son into his arms and kissed me. After thanking me for fighting, he set me back on my feet and allowed everyone else to embrace me.
This time around, I had a strong will to live.
Between my husband and son and the friends turned family I’d gained through Karrington, I had people praying and supporting me every step of the way.
I was often too overwhelmed by gratitude of their support to be consumed by fear or depression.
My symptoms, though light, were present.
I didn’t lose my hair this time, and the nausea and lack of an appetite didn’t cause me to lose a large amount of weight like it did in the past.
I didn’t know what was in store for our future, but in this moment, I was taking life day by day and determined to make the most of it.