My Story

Not so long ago I was a young, happy 19 year old woman.
It was a hot summer night thirty days before I was to be married.
My fiance, a military guy hundreds of miles away at the time, called.
He was breaking off the wedding, the engagement, the relationship.
I was crushed.
In an instant, I had gone from bliss to oblivion. I cried for days.
On top of all of this, I hadn't been feeling well for a while.
I had had pneumonia twice within a few months.
Couldn't seem to shake it, and I had a hard place on my neck.
Doctor seemed worried. Did a biopsy.
Came back malignant.
I was 19 years old, broken-hearted from a sudden breakup, and I had CANCER.
My mother cried as she told me the news.
The hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life
would come just minutes later.
I was only 19 and I had to ask my mother if I was going to die.

Obviously, I didn't die. It's now 10 years later.
It was a long, hard road full of alot of suffering and horrific experiences.
But, because of my pain and anguish, I am a better person today.
I am in love again, and have two beautiful kids, a boy and a girl.
Having cancer taught me many things.
I am a survivor, not a victim.

I have created this place to give someone else hope.
An understanding place to come.
A place to find help and assistance.
A place to go when reality is a little too real.
A place to feel normal for those people currently suffering.
I have been there, and I know how bad it hurts.
If I can help just one person feel a little better,
even if only for a moment,
all of my suffering will have been worth it.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
-Lori

Note: I have created a page to try and capture into words and images how I felt when I was sick. It was a very depressing time in my life then, I have tried to create a page that reflected that. This page is not for everyone, but if you want to know how I felt, take a look.
On the Dark Side.