After the official diagnosis, I descended into mourning for the life I had lived before. But also, for the life I had envisioned for myself in the future. It’s a long and grueling process. 

Before my cancer diagnosis, I was a principal who had been very involved and active. I also held several positions in my local community where I could be a servant to others. I was constantly on the go. 

Since my cancer diagnosis, I’ve spent more days in bed than ever before. I call them the “bed days.” These are the moments I don’t want to share with anyone. These days resemble some of the deepest sorrow in my life. Struggling through the bed days, I knew I had to find something that was going to reinvigorate my purpose in life. It was just a matter of what.