As a mother in my early 30s, it was natural for me to think I had a whole lifetime ahead, with years of memories yet to come. I was so excited to watch my kids grow up and achieve their dreams. It’s what any parent hopes for.
But the future I envisioned was seemingly ripped apart in one moment, when, at the age of 32, I was handed a death sentence. In 2016, I had been experiencing abnormal bleeding outside of my periods, pelvic and back pain, and was extremely fatigued. By May of that year, everything changed when I received a diagnosis that rocked me to my core.
Nothing can ever prepare you to hear “you have cancer,” especially at 32 years old. Stage 2b cervical cancer, to be exact. I was a young, single mother with three children who depended on me.
When I heard those three words, I was devastated by the thought of leaving my children. I wasn't thinking about myself. I was thinking about them, and how I would navigate something so frightening while still being their mother.
There was fear, disbelief, and so much uncertainty. I had an entire life I was supposed to be living, and suddenly, I faced the possibility that it might be cut short. Treatment had to start almost immediately, and it was brutal at times.
Initially, I had chemotherapy and radiation, and it definitely took its toll physically, but I had to keep going. I didn't have any help at home or with my kids, so I made modifications to get through the day. Sometimes I had to cook sitting in a stool, and it took a long time to do daily tasks because I was so fatigued.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
