19th GTBAD Letter

October 22, 2016

Fall is here. The leaves changed. We saw the bugling elk. We hunted for and found the Great Pumpkin. The nights and early mornings are cool once more, and as I write this, fog is still lingering, unwilling yet to let go of its hold on the world outside. Kind of like me this morning unwilling to leave the warmth and comfort of bed even to write you this letter. So here I lay, breathing deep thanks to my friend Vinny, my portable ventilator. Despite my overly relaxed state, my wishing you a very Happy 19^th Glad to Be Alive Day is no less earnest.

Life plodded along this year as it does every year. A brief recap of events this year includes: starting a new job working full time for my dad’s company as an office assistant (so grateful for learning more about his life’s work as well as his everlasting patience even when he catches me still asleep at 9 in the morning); continuing working part-time for my cousin Chris and his two thriving and expanding companies, Rowan Electric and Rowan Technologies (his entrepreneurial spirit and knowledge is amazing); welcoming my youngest niece Charlotte Emily Willey, daughter of my great friends Bre and Erik, in January (she’s so cute!); turning 30 (unfortunately I was sick); going to Vegas to meet my second cousin from Germany (again, I was really sick); and spending a lot of time with my family especially with my other niece and nephews, Sarai 17 months, Rowan 2, and Titus 4.

By far one of the biggest excitements was my continued involvement in One Cure, an initiative that focuses on translational/comparative oncology, meaning comparing naturally occurring cancers and treatments used in animals (dogs and cats) to those in humans and vice versa. One Cure is based out of the Flint Animal Cancer Center (FACC) at Colorado State University, where I interned for a summer. Those at the FACC and I have extremely close ties thanks to their involvement in my own treatment. Since last year, the FACC took huge steps to become a more prominent part of the conversation on how to treat and cure cancer in both humans and animals. To continue making a national impact, a brilliantly done short documentary made by my friend Joe Vasos was filmed and aired semi- nationally in 30 different PBS markets. My parents and I were asked to share our story and ties to translational oncology and our belief and hope in One Cure for the video. If you have not yet seen it, I urge you to watch the trailer on YouTube while we wait for the full video to be released online: search for “The Answer to Cancer May Be Walking Beside Us.” You can also learn more about One Cure and my connections to this wonderful organization at www.csuanimalcancercenter.org/onecure.

This year emphasized how the little things in life are often the most beautiful and miraculous! From the changing of leaves in the fall to breathing and walking, life is full of wonders and little miracles. Next year will be my 20^th GTBAD, and I find the anticipation building. I truly hope to celebrate big next year in some way.  It boggles my mind that it’s been twenty blessed years since that fateful day when doctors gave me three months to live, and I continually thank God for all the support and love I continue to receive! As always, you all are one thing that keeps me going every day, so from my heart to yours, Happy 19^th Glad to Be Alive Day! May your days be filled with love and laughter as mine are.