I was living a normal life working, paying bills, taking care of my family. Then one day I had stomach pain that sent me to the ER, and that’s where I first heard the words no one ever wants to hear: you have cancer. Life literally flipped upside down in an instant. From there, everything moved fast. After a week in Conway, we went home for just a few days before heading to UAMS, where treatment started almost immediately. Nearly all of 2024 was spent in the hospital. Chemo, radiation, a stem cell transplant. Round after round, one fight after another. I lost my hair, my beard, my weight, and my strength. Anxiety and PTSD from hospital stays became part of my reality. The pain was constant, and honestly, there were days Dilaudid was my only friend. But I wasn’t fighting alone. My family was my lifeline.

     

     Karrie never left my side, pushing me forward when I couldn’t push myself. My job made sure I didn’t have to worry about bills, and my family and friends kept me grounded with calls, texts, and prayers that brought small reminders of normal life into some of the darkest days. Cancer took so much of my health, my sense of control, my peace. The treatments left me frail, and I lost a tremendous amount of weight. Regaining it was a long, difficult process, but through determination and support, I’ve overcome that struggle and rebuilt my strength. Still, some scars remain. A blood clot from treatment caused permanent damage to my shoulder, a daily reminder of the battles I’ve fought and the ones I continue to face.

 

     But cancer didn’t take my chance to fight. That fight continues, one day at a time. Even something as small as a stomach ache can be a warning. Trust your instincts and your body never ignore the signs, because it might just be something serious. Today, I look at life differently. I know how fragile it is, but I also know how powerful love and support can be. Cancer doesn’t get the last word. Hope, survival, and the strength to keep going that’s what gets the last word.