Stephen Collums Stephen's Fight

Life was finally coming together for me.  I really started to live at 47. I had went from homeless to working hard everyday, faithful in church,  having my own place,  rescued my two dogs deacon & rascal, bought my own furniture, and even found some cool art at local yard sales.  I was truly standing in my own.  On my 48th birthday,  I began having stomach troubles what I thought was IBS. I didn't have time to take off for the Dr to have it checked and really didn't want to hear bad news.  My advice,  don't avoid your health!! I had these painful,  vomiting episodes that seemed to be more frequent and longer recovery with certain foods. I went to work many times vomiting through the day and weak. It would go on 2-3 days and I would begin feeling better.  This went on over a year.  Then January,  2017 I became so weak at work my friend was called.  She took me to urgent care and it was found I had lost so much blood it could be fatal.  I was sent to the emergency room,  admitted and after a few test was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer which had spread to the lymph and liver. There was a tumor in my colon that had completely blocked my colon and had been bleeding. I was given 7 blood transfusions prior to surgery. 
After a colon and liver resection and small intestine bypass I was in recovery.  I went home a few days later only to re-admitted  3 days after going home.  I had a 103 fever,  an ecoli infection and fluid built up from surgery.  A stent was inserted for a blocked bile duct,  two needle drain aspirations and two drainage bags placed to remove infection. It was 26 days later in the hospital before I was released to go home with both drainage bags in place and daily iv infusions with antibiotics. I begin chemotherapy on March 21st. I spent my 49th birthday in the hospital fighting cancer and all the complications that can come with it.  I've lost over 60lbs to date but I am still fighting one day at a time.  My biggest lesson is,  never procrastinate when it comes to your health. My journey continues.