Journal entry by Bluma Sussman —
Growing up, fairytales always had a happy ending. The hero faces a foe, slays the dragon, gets the girl, and they all lived happily ever after. As a kid I was fully bought in to the fairy tale. As an adult you learn that real life doesn't always deliver happy endings. Being told you have cancer has a way of shaking up your confidence in happily ever after, even for those of us who are given a good prognosis.
From the start, I took on cancer the only way I know how - head on, with determination, grit, and a commitment to myself and those around me to show up and give nothing less than 1000 percent. I surrendered control of so much in my life and just focused on getting through each day, one step at a time. Lucky me….In this story, I slayed the cancer dragon with the help of my doctors, family and friends. Giving up or giving in was never an option. I'm not super-human (well, maybe a touch of She-Ra or Barbie ;)), but I am a survivor. #wegirlscandoanything 💟
And so this story ends with the happily ever after that I'd dreamed of. After nearly a full year of procedures and treatments and appointments I was cleared to fly away into the sunset with Jeff and the kids for a magical vacation in Greece, visiting Athens and the islands of Naxos and Crete. Much needed time to relax and recoup and remember what life was like before cancer. We ate and drank, explored the islands, swam in the sea, read books, picked seashells, and watched sunsets and sunrise. We goofed around, laughed a lot, forgot what day it was, and hardly mentioned cancer at all. We are returning sun kissed and restored and ready for whatever life throws our way. And while we may be back to life as usual, I am forever changed by this experience.
The best part of this story, though, is that it's not my end; there's a whole wonderful life ahead of me and so many more chapters I have yet to live…. Much love and appreciation to each of you for sticking with me through it all…
...And they all lived happily ever after…The End. 💜 xo, Bluma
From the start, I took on cancer the only way I know how - head on, with determination, grit, and a commitment to myself and those around me to show up and give nothing less than 1000 percent. I surrendered control of so much in my life and just focused on getting through each day, one step at a time. Lucky me….In this story, I slayed the cancer dragon with the help of my doctors, family and friends. Giving up or giving in was never an option. I'm not super-human (well, maybe a touch of She-Ra or Barbie ;)), but I am a survivor. #wegirlscandoanything 💟
And so this story ends with the happily ever after that I'd dreamed of. After nearly a full year of procedures and treatments and appointments I was cleared to fly away into the sunset with Jeff and the kids for a magical vacation in Greece, visiting Athens and the islands of Naxos and Crete. Much needed time to relax and recoup and remember what life was like before cancer. We ate and drank, explored the islands, swam in the sea, read books, picked seashells, and watched sunsets and sunrise. We goofed around, laughed a lot, forgot what day it was, and hardly mentioned cancer at all. We are returning sun kissed and restored and ready for whatever life throws our way. And while we may be back to life as usual, I am forever changed by this experience.
The best part of this story, though, is that it's not my end; there's a whole wonderful life ahead of me and so many more chapters I have yet to live…. Much love and appreciation to each of you for sticking with me through it all…
...And they all lived happily ever after…The End. 💜 xo, Bluma
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