My acceptance cycle started with the words “You have cancer.” Those words sent me into days upon days of grieving and crying. I didn’t hear a single thing after those three life-altering words because my mind went straight to “How long do I have to live?”

My old way of life came to an abrupt end. The busyness, the community, the sense of purpose my life had before just wasn’t there anymore. Due to medical reasons, I could not be around people. I essentially had no immune system and went into a huge bubble. My body was under fire because I would get sick when someone around me had a simple cold.

That part of my journey was one of the most difficult seasons of my life that spiraled into a long time spent grieving my past and future life.