Hi! I'm Lydia

In the Fall of 2015, I had finally reached a fantastic place. It was a place I always imagined existed.. For the first time in my life, I felt content and happy. I no longer felt a strong desire to continue to amass an incessant amount of materialistic things. The peace that I found within began to fuel a desire for good health and a fit lifestyle. I felt so amazing and inspired. I remember thinking this is must be what it feels like to be a superhero. I was filled with hope and ideas for the changes that I wanted to make. 2016 would be my best year yet. Unfortunately, unknown to me at the time, my future held a different story. 

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2016 started with a series of medical test that started with the an examination of a lump in my right breast. Which also happened to be the same area I had a malignant mass removed from 15 years earlier. My previous experience gave me a false sense of security and at the time it all seemed pretty routine. That is until a nurse called to reschedule my post-operative appointment to an earlier day. Despite my questions seeking an understanding, she offered no added information except a suggestion that I bring family and friends. It's funny how a simple conjunction like "and" can instill such fear. Seriously, why would I need family and friends to come to my follow-up. I'm sure she said more, but my brain kept trying to make sense of the words, I’d just heard; “friends and family". I snapped back to reality when she asked if I was okay. I recall my reply became a summation of our call and the reality of my life right at that moment; it’s Friday morning, you tell me you are moving my appointment from Thursday next week to Monday, you offer no information on results, you ask me to bring family and friends to an appointment that is not until Monday late afternoon. No, I’m not okay.

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That weekend, I tried to come to terms with the breast cancer diagnosis I would receive on Monday afternoon. I spent the weekend fearing my mortality. I felt an eerie sense of despair and sadness. 

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Fortunately, I had a much better experience with my doctor. I appreciated that she never said I had breast cancer. Instead. she referred to the cancer as a foreign object that needed to be excised from my body immediately. After a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, and several reconstruction surgeries, I am beginning to feel whole again. I kicked cancer in the ass and most days I work to improve my body and mind.

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Everyday is a challenge, but I feel confident that I have the strength and determination to overcome every challenge. On the days that I feel my strength failing, all I have to do is remember the group of amazing family and friends that have my back.

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