My Adventures with Mantle Cell Lymphoma: 7/1/21

Friday, July 16, 2021

A Happy 13 Year Anniversary

07/17/21 – It is 13 years since I was first diagnosed and all I can say is life’s been great for me. Back in 2008 I was 47 years old, unsure of what the future held for me. This year, in 2021, I celebrated my 60^th birthday and my future is looking very bright.

At my last appointment, my favorite APN Melissa said “you could now consider your check ups as social visits”. I will happily admit that my health has been nothing but excellent. On top of this I was able to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic unscathed.

Other than that, my family life has been fantastic. I just had the wonderful opportunity to spend a week with my family and granddaughter. To add to our blessings my daughter is expecting her second child in September.

As I say this, it makes me think about the many people who have not faired as well as I have. At times I do experience feelings of survivor’s guilt or even remorse. I just do not know why God chosen me to recover so well while other still suffer and others have not survived. It is a mystery of life I will never understand. I will always keep the people in my heart who are no longer with us. At the same time, I will never stop celebrating the wonderful gifts of life, survival and good health that God has given to me. I must always remember and be thankful for this gift and never stop trying to make a difference with the time I have been given.

So, today is July 17^th, the 13th anniversary of the day I was first diagnosed with MCL. Me and my family choose to celebrate this day. It is a day that reminds us of how fragile we all are and that every moment we have is a gift from God.