3 Life Lessons Learned Battling Cancer
Living is a fickle concept. At the end of each day, there are two constants: ourselves and the fact that we are all going to die someday. I know that sounds bleak, but it is all too real. Many of us brush over the fact that every interaction we have is a chance to bring others up. The thought of consistent and honest positivity may seem far-fetched, but it is integral to the quintessential idea of humanity. My experience with cancer taught me what it means to be human. Having experienced with the ordeal of leukemia at the young age of 17 until I was 21, I garnered a newfound appreciation for people and our ability to not care about how others perceive us in being comfortable with anything we say or do, the ability to show appreciativeness in any given situation or interaction, and finally being honest with ourselves and those around us.
#1. In Acceptance of Humility
Humility is a quality I learned from having my family and friends look at me every day for 7 weeks at Kapiolani Hospital in room 215 as they watched my body swell from my face to my feet; as the hair on my head, eyes, and legs slowly fell out with every passing day. They looked at me as they saw a lifeless body with little soul and even less fight to live. There’s something about being 19 years old and one’s mother having to assist their son in showering themselves and wipe their ass while sitting like a ragdoll on the toilet. There’s something about having one’s friends come to visit them while all they do is sit there lifelessly fighting back the nausea with their green puke bag in hand attempting to hold a conversation with their discolored skin, swollen lips, and a mouthful of infections because they no longer have an immune system. I learned that if these people could see past that, then I can see past it myself. Cancer is a joke.
#2. Appreciate All That Life Offers
Gratefulness is another quality that I learned because at 19 years old, you would typically think one is living a carefree life, yet I had to accept the very likely possibility that I would die. There is no way around the type of leukemia I dealt with. I could have gone my whole life taking pills as I slowly felt my body desiccate from the medication, or I could put my entire life on the line in one go. Every day I wake up, there is a chance that things may relapse. Nights were difficult as I would go to bed with eight IV lines attached to a central port in my chest. Hearing the beeping of the machine as I had fluids and nutrients pushed in me to keep me alive was disheartening because I could not swallow anything without puking up blood. This was around the 2nd week of my treatment and lasted until the 6th. Each day is not promised. Every night I would pray and tell myself who I am living for. Every moment I experience, I am thankful for.
#3. Genuineness
Having gone what I went through, I understand how precious every individual life is. I know what it’s like to feel as small and hopeless as I did. I was taught by the people whom visited me, the essence of being genuine. They understood the severity of my situation and they acknowledged that I needed somebody there for me while I couldn’t even be there for myself. These people taught me how to be genuinely kind to myself and because of that, I am able to treat others the same, straightforward with my words — saying what I mean and meaning what I say with no remorse, and to sincerely stand resolute with my beliefs because if not at least for my will to want to live longer with amidst my family and friends, what else did I have?
As human beings, we all live for something. After my experience with cancer, I came to understand that we must do things for ourselves or don’t do it all and that simple, genuine, kindness carries everybody to being a better person. At the end of the night, I am able to sleep at ease at the thought that I am sincere in every breath I take. The takeaway from this is not that of sympathy, but rather the idea that loving more and having a positive mental attitude will carry a person much further in life.
While this is my first time sharing on Medium, I am happy to have a place for this piece. I’ve spent many months here now and I am honored to have had this read by at least just 1 person. I am a photographer, writer, and content creator that aspires to be able to continually share and touch lives through the essence of humanity. My website houses much more of my content (photos, writing, and videos) that I hope to reach many more people through the years to come via publications and my newsletter.
