My Story
I was 18 years old when I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. Prior to my diagnosis, I was a normal kid like anyone else. I had plans for college, a girl I wanted to marry, and was just looking forward to starting my adult life. A few months before I was going to leave my parents home and get on with life, I started having some extreme stomach pains. The doctor recommended I get a colonoscopy. I came out of the procedure to the bad news.
With the news, it led to my family getting me genetically tested because it didn't make sense that someone my age would have my type of cancer. The genetic results came back showing I had lynch syndrome which prompted the rest of my family to get tested. My mother and brother both carried it as well. For the next two years I started treatments that involved surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation. During this time my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I ended up beating mine and surviving. She passed away with it shortly after my treatments finished.
I was in a dark place for about a year after these experiences. I was depressed and heavily addicted to the narcotics I had to take for years. I got to the point where I knew I wouldn't be able to come back or I could change my outlook on things. I decided to choose happiness. I met with a therapists, I joined support groups, and I started sharing my experience to others going through similiar things. It was a lot of hardship but focusing on the good that came from it gave a lot of purpose to the suffering. Life goes on, it is a blessing to wake up every morning and I am grateful for the love ones who supported me in the process.
