We were exhausted and drained, but those were great words.
There were definitely days we were not sure we'd make it through to the end. Our family had been split, again, with Mum and Dad taking it in turns to sleep with me.
We were isolated from many family and friends, because my immune system was suffering and it was often 'easier' to stay away.
Our lives shifted to a new path. We made some new friends and we lost some old friends. Cancer is hard.
We were beyond exhausted. We'd cried countless tears. We were drained and empty. But, finally, we were done.
We'd shared my cancer journey on facebook. (It was after my diagnosis that this website and my facebook page were started.) So many people were relieved and excited for us. So many people celebrated with us. There was so much love.
Thank you.
We always chose to tell the cancer story from the perspective of a cheeky little boy. We thought it made the story a little gentler. A little kinder. A little less scary.
We're glad we did that. I think it helped us to stay positive... to continue to find the lighter side... the silver lining.
Here we are, on the End of Chemo Day and the Great News Day:
You can't 'unsee' a cancer journey. It changes you.
And so, every anniversary was remembered' getting the central line out, the diagnosis day, the start and end of chemotherapy treatments, surgeries...
And, we remembered the day they shaved my hair.
The first time, they were forced to shave my hair.
A year later, we did it, 'just because'. So there, cancer!
And, for a week, we had fun with my shaved Mohican hairstyle.
Remember these?
There are days we convince ourselves the cancer has come back. The chances of me developing leukaemia are higher, because of my chemotherapy treatment drugs. Knowing that, we will always carry the thoughts and dread of cancer.
My scars are all fading. Sometimes, we almost don't see them.
The exhaustion and fear are also 'fading'. We're finding ourselves again.
#turningfive Birthday countdown