Gratitude

 Is it a cliche? Do have profound gratitude around holiday time? For me it is truly a time of year for sincere gratitude for LIFE.

December of 2010 I was gravely ill. I was about to start a 2nd battle with melanoma. My first melanoma was a stage one, the second melanoma was stage four. At that time, only 10 years ago, a stage four metastatic melanoma diagnosis was fatal. There were no proven treatments. Every time I write this, I try to not be melodramatic. But, after the pet / CT  scans, brain MRIs, blood work, on Christmas eve of 2010 I received a call that the cancer was in my lungs (along with the 16 cm tumor) and simply removing the tumor would not be enough. The truth is, I had less than a year to live. 

I was sent to the Angeles Clinic the first week of January, 2011 and I met Dr. Hamid. He said I will try to save your life and if the shit hits the fan, I will tell you, but it has not yet!  I can tell you, I felt like I was dying. My tumor was HUGE and the pain was horrible. The cancer was spreading. 

October 2020 with Dr. Hamid

Needless to say, the experimental biochemotherapy treatment saved my life. I do not know why I was spared when so many others die after receiving a similar diagnosis. I am an ordinary person. I am not doing anything exceptional. I will always try to spread HOPE to others and hopefully by sharing my story of HOPE I can give back for the gift of life I have been given. 

Today, I remember that day, when the news came how sick I was and change it to GRATITUDE. 

Love each other as LIFE is FRAGILE. 

For the fighters: BE BRAVE and Hold Up HIGH, there are prayers for you from people you have ever met.