A year on...

Tomorrow is September 24th and it will be one year since I was diagnosed with cancer. I still can't decide whether it is a year I would rather forget or remember. Through all the pain and suffering and the rollercoaster ride, I have proved to myself how strong I can be and how resilient my body actually is.  I would never have made it this far without my amazing family and friends, the ongoing support of my employer, The Heart Foundation, and all the people who have continued to send me good wishes and kept me in their prayers.

Having cancer as a young adult is really tough.  Not only do you have to deal with so many physical changes, it is really hard not to be able to do all the things you want to... like going out with friends, pursing career paths, or just doing little every day things that you take for granted.  My mind constantly tells me it wants to do this and that, but my body physically can't.  I keep forgetting that my body has been to hell and back, especially in the last three months, but I will get there eventually. It is just going to take time for the 'old' Jac to be back.

All in all, everything with the transplant is going ok.  I'm not kicking goals but I'm not lagging behind. Just going along nicely.  I'm up to day 66 out of 100, so not much longer to be trooping into the hospital day ward three times a week.  After day 100, if all is well, visits will be cut back to once a week.  I won't know what to do with myself - hopefully I'm well enough to go shopping!!  I will definitely be treating myself to a new summer wardrobe! xxx

This is my little friend Hudson.  He was born on July 19th, the day I had the transplant.  We are both new borns together, as my new immune system is the same as a baby's.  Hudson has a little more hair than me! Not happy!

A Tribute

They say it's the people you meet along the journey that count.  I met a very special person, Ryan Gunn, an 18 year old boy from the country.

I first met Ryan last November on the ward at Peter Mac.  It was great to finally meet another young person who could understand what I was going through and be interested in some of the things I was interested in.  Ryan's family were terrific to me.  They would spoil me by bringing in McDonald's and buy me DVD's.  They would always encourage me to keep my 'chin up'. They were a family that just wanted their boy to get better and would go to any lengths to achieve this.

This week sadly, Ryan lost his battle with leukaemia.  He fought for as long and hard as he knew how.  Ryan had a fighting spirit like no other person and his life has been cut way too short.

I will never forget the advice Ryan gave me and the laughs we shared together when things seemed pretty glum.

One thing Ryan taught me is that there are always people out there worse off than you, so don't sweat the small stuff.

Rest in peace Ryan.  xox

www.leukaemia.org.au