"Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength."
I read that quote and I immediately thought of Dad- true strength. He has never complained, never stopped fighting and has continued to hold everything together during his treatment, I am just so incredibly proud of him.
Dad started another round of chemotherapy last night and will have another Avastin treatment today. We just continue to pray the treatments are working, we continue to pray Dad continues to feel good throughout his treatments, and we continue to pray for a miracle- complete healing.
I can't tell you for certain if the treatments are working, if the cancer growth has stopped or if Dad is in remission- what I can tell you is how all of this has changed me, how all of this has changed my family and how all of this has been more of a blessing than a curse.
I know it's weird for me to continue to say 'blessing' when it comes to a cancer diagnosis, and please don't get me wrong- cancer sucks. The situation sucks. Chemo sucks. Radiation sucks. Surgery sucks. Oncology appointments suck. There is nothing glamorous about cancer, there is nothing fun about cancer- but all the energy it takes to hate this disease, all the energy it takes to be angry, mad and upset at cancer could be used towards something much greater- hope. When hope and hopelessness are both an option, why not chose hope? And that's exactly what we have done.
Our family is different. My immediate family has changed, we appreciate life, we appreciate one another and we have a bond that can never be broken. My aunts, uncles, cousins- they have all changed, and I've seen it first hand. Maybe they don't all see it, maybe they don't all see the wonderful impact they've had on our lives, but I do, and I appreciate it more than they will ever know. And my friends are different. They too sometimes tell me that they don't feel like they've done enough when I thank them for something, but they have all gone above and beyond for me. They have listened to me cry, helped me laugh and supported our efforts to bring awareness to brain cancer research.
I think that's why I'm picky with who I give my energy to. I want to reserve my time, intensity and spirit to those who reflect sincerity, to those who have been there for me. I like to say that life is too short to be wasted on bad coffee and people who don't care- so I don't drink bad coffee and I like to surround myself with people who influence me to be a better person, who impact my family in a positive way, and who truly love me for me.
Continue praying for Dad, as he continues his fight to BTHO Brain Cancer!
*Don't forget to #GoGrayInMay to support Brain Cancer Research!*
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