How Cancer Survivors Changed My Life For The Better

I will never forget the day. March 17, 2000. The day that changed me and my life. I received a call from my brother telling me that my mom was being taken to the hospital. She told me she was dealing with the flu so I thought maybe she just got dehydrated or something.

The doctor came out of the room and told us he wanted to talk to the family privately. It is the flu I told myself and she probably has to stay over. Boy was I wrong.

Stage 4 breast cancer. What? How? She was working up until the previous week. She never gets sick. How can it be?

Well it was and after a hard fought battle my mom succumbed to the horrible disease.

All the while this was going on my dad ( who was the sick one all my life), also was ill. His long fight was finally over 3 years after my mom.

I found myself a changed person.

Angry.

Drinking.

Just pissed off.

Hating life.

I had been working at the local YMCA helping people get healthy and here I couldn't do anything for my own parents. I really lost interest but kept working.

In April, 2011 a new program was coming to the YMCA. Livestrong at the Y it was called. A program that teaches cancer survivors about the importance of having exercise in their life. It is a 12 week program that people will meet twice a week.

At first I didn't want any part of it. I was all set as I watched my mother battle for 4 years and seen some horrible things. My dad had his kidney removed because of cancer. I didn't want anything to do with cancer.

I knew I was wrong. I decided maybe my experience in life and in fitness could help.

I went away for training and realized this is something I have to do.

I found a new purpose in life. I stopped being angry. I stopped drinking. I found myself being alive again in every aspect of my life. I had a purpose and it was to help these people who have had such a tough road, to regain a little bit of their life back.

The pay is little in terms of money but the pay in possibly helping cancer survivors is worth more than anything.

Fast forward 5 years and I have met so many awesome people in the program. I see their struggles. I hear their fears. I also see them getting stronger and feeling a little bit happier with themselves.

I see many, after they finish the program, that have continued to exercise and express how much the program helped them. The funny thing is they all think I have helped them but little do they know how much their fight has helped me. Here is a photo of me and a previous group.

I am getting ready to start a new group, I still get nervous with the start of every group because I want it to work so bad for them, but I wouldn't want it any other way.