Thursday marked the one-year "anniversary" of my last day of Chemo.....July 23, 2019. When you have - and then beat - cancer, you remember milestone days like they happened today and not "X" number of days/weeks/months/years/decades/etc - ago.
I have attached a pic:
On the left was taken July 25, 2019. It was taken 2 days after my last Chemo session. I was at my lowest weight of 153 gaunt, skin-and-bones pounds. I used to weigh 190 so we are talking about a 20% loss of weight, and all muscle I had. I needed the crutch to get around since I did not have the strength and ability to walk on my own without a real fear of falling down and hurting myself. On my first 3 visits I had a yellow wristband indicating I was a "Fall Risk" - since I was. I do not have one hair on my body. NOT ONE!
The right was taken yesterday, July 23. The one-year anniversary of my last Chemo day, I am about 185 and have hair on my body. Sadly - hair on parts I do not wish to have it - including my back. Oh, well. I am able to walk without a crutch and that is good since I take the dog on 2 walks a day totaling well over 2 miles.
Whenever anyone goes thru a traumatic experience they have a 0% chance of overcoming it without help from an incredible support staff of family and friends. I am 100% sure Vanessa Bryant has not been alone for one second since Jan 26. I knew my family would "step up" and provide support. And they did. Well beyond what was expected. I had friends step up, too - and for that I am grateful.
I have not met many here. I have met some, though. All I did meet were awesome and for that I say THANK YOU! If you - or a loved one/friend - ever get diagnosed with this awful disease you will see how important it is to have people there in your time of need (And I have let all know I am more than willing to be a support staff for anyone who needs it, I can be called 24/7/365 and I will drop whatever I am doing to help anyone who needs to talk to me or have me come over - during "normal" times - and be there for them). Like all Chemo patients after I went thru Round 1 I said: "FUCK IT! I am DONE! I don't care what happens but please no more Chemo!" Thankfully those who were of a more sound judgment than I was at the time would no let that happen. 367 days later I am grateful for it.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE who helped me get thru my "Nightmare Journey From HELL!" It may not have meant much to you but it meant everything to me.
THANK YOU!