I always thought I understood resilience. Life has tested me more times than I can count—poverty, abuse, addiction, loss. I have fought through it all, clawing my way forward when the world told me to lie down and surrender. But nothing has tested me quite like this. Stage 3 rectal cancer. A full APR surgery….
I’ve been in my share of toxic relationships—ones where I didn’t respect myself enough to set boundaries or walk away from disrespect. I kept hoping this time would be different. But it never was.Romantic relationships that were abusive. Friendships that were one-sided. But the hardest? Family—the people who should love you unconditionally.When you don’t receive…
How anyone thinks privatizing health care and letting insurance companies dictate treatment and support is a good idea… baffles me.Insurance companies are FOR PROFIT, which means their goal is to pay out as little as possible—that’s how they make money. They’re not ‘good neighbors’; they’re businesses.I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer in August…
I don’t want anyone to mistake my sense of humor or positive attitude for happiness. I’m not happy. I’m not happy about any of this.In fact, I’m pissed right off.I’m angry that my mother never talked to me about her symptoms, disease or treatment. I’m angry that my sister and I don’t talk so she…
In just five days, I’ll be heading into surgery to remove my cancer. PIMA (pain in my ass), my tumor has shrunk to just under 3 cm, but because she’s less than 1 cm from the anus, my surgeon won’t know until he’s in there if I’ll be able to have a reconnection that will…
During my cancer journey since being diagnosed in August 2024, I’ve never been so aware of my privilege, so grateful for being Canadian and more so being Manitoban. While dealing with the emotional, mental and physical challenges of this disease, going through radiation, chemotherapy and now a life altering surgery, the one thing I haven’t…