Do Not Give Up.

Being diagnosed once, is a scary and life altering thing. Not only to you, but to family, friends, colleagues and partners. So, 9 years later and 5th time sitting down with my oncologist, whom is now on speed dial, christmas card lists and know his birthday without even looking at his facebook or calendar now, he tears up as he tells me I have been hit with the cancer stick again. I laughed and said "seriously? with all the chemo and drugs and treatments my body has absorbed, this disease has the nerve to show up again??" Mark then began to go over a treatment plan of action.

Something was different this time. I let the disease get to my spirit. I walked out of Marks office thinking, If it keeps coming back, maybe I should take this as a sign and just give up... what kind of life do I have where every 1.5 years I keep getting hit with this.

Without thinking, 2 days later I packed up and moved to the West Coast to hide. I ignored family, friends, doctors and figured I would just come out here and die. I was blessed enough to have a job where I can do it from anywhere, or they could fly me in for voice work etc. For the first time in my life, I gave up on myself. My friends reached out to one of my idols/inspirations. W.Brett Wilson. He called me at 730am one Monday morning in November. He was kind, funny and real. He encouraged me to get treatment and to look at other options....most of which I just ignored. After emails etc ... something clicked. He shared the link of F*** Cancer Embrace Life with me.

I started caring. I started to realize.. I was letting Cancer win. I have never done that. I am a woman, who has beat this disgusting disease 4 times before...and I won! This 5th time ... is it going to be harder?? Yes. But if, a man like Brett, who doesnt know me from a whole in the wall can show me how he embraced life, why wouldnt I consider that for myself. I reached out and purchased a bracelet and wear it like a badge of honour and love explaining it to those who ask what it is.

My Oncologist asked me to fly into see him a little before Christmas, and suggested I look at quality of life, not quantity. I told him I would stay in touch, knowing I will still keep going with my homeopath and naturopath back home. As fate would have it, later that same day, I was doing some work at the CBC downtown Toronto that was also taping a segment with Brett. The stars aligned and we met up for a quick hug and hello, and he made me remember that it is truly about my journey. That it really is about embracing life no matter how long or how short. I cannot thank him enough for that.

I am currently going through holistic treatments, drinking my Chagga and with a trip to Vancouver every month to get a medical check up and status, my spirits are up, I am laughing, smiling, traveling, doing things I have wanted to do and have never done ... I like to think as soon as I put that bracelet on for the first time.. I started embracing my life.. and all the mountain and valleys it has for me.

What you guys have is not just a way to raise money for cancer or a really fashionable bracelet, you are helping people remember why life is a great, beautiful thing that should be embraced and lived to its fullest every day.

Thank you.
S