The Three Little Words That Changed Everything

By Jill

An Inspiring Story And Her Thanks To Cancer

2 years ago.

On 1/13/2016, I heard those three little words that changed everything.

“You have cancer.”

(It was something like that...I was so nervous that I don’t remember the exact words).

Looking back at the past 2 years, I realize how much life has changed and how much I have changed. Mostly good changes but some not so good changes too.

Thanks to cancer, I’ve become a little more adventurous and have learned to spend more time with, and be more appreciative of, my family and friends.

Thanks to cancer, I got my butt off the couch and started leading a healthier lifestyle.

Thanks to cancer, I’ve met some pretty great people, both in person and on social media. My oncologist, my infusion nurses, my running girls and an amazing group of other survivors. I truly believe that people come into you life at the right time and for the right reason and I am so thankful for all of these new relationships.

Thanks to cancer, I have learned to be thankful for every moment that adds to my story.

Some days are difficult and I have a hard time thinking about anything but cancer, worried that I’m going to be so busy enjoying life that I miss some subtle sign of recurrence.

Other days, I don’t think about cancer much at all.

There are other days when I’m not even sure I had cancer, like it was all a dream or something.

I am thankful for family and friends that are sticking with me. I know I’m more complicated than I used to be, and I know that I can be a moody pain, but you are trying to understand me as I struggle to understand myself.

So here’s to another year of:

Health, happiness, and embracing the hot mess that I am.

The Sunshine Bag started out as a way to celebrate my 40th birthday by donating hats to my cancer center.

Since tomorrow is never guaranteed, this has become an annual celebration. Thanks to the generosity of friends, family, and strangers, I started receiving yellow items and have been able to donate 90 Sunshine Bags to 2 cancer centers, and send a few to personal requests of people who know someone battling cancer!

Thank you for sharing your story, Jill. SBC loves you.

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