"Everything I needed to know was right in front of me" by Adrianne Jouet

An excerpt from Adrianne's story:

"After surgery, and surgery and then another surgery, I had this feeling of, “Will it ever just end? How will I be able to get back to my old self and when will I feel and look ‘normal’ again?” I had run a ½ marathon just 4 months after my first initial surgery release date but, I wasn’t myself yet. I had tons of compliments and friends telling me how great and, such I had appeared on the outside…. But really, it was from the shoulders up that I was longing to have back to myself. Then, my now 10 year old daughter knocked me back into reality when at my 1 year mark she made me realize that the “New Me”, was the “Old Me” – just cancer free and even better because I was here – ALIVE. I had slowed down, learned to take time, literally stopped to smell the roses, appreciated who I spent my time with, stopped telling everyone “yes” before I told myself and my family “yes” and just relaxed a bit. I will forever be in Sylvia’s debt for what she has done for me – she will never know her true strength and super power.

Lastly, the wisdom I hope to share is that diagnosed or not – just use your time here on Earth wisely. Spend it with those you love and do things that make you happy. If you want to volunteer, do it. If you want to travel, do it. If you don’t love your job – get a new one. Find something that MAKES YOU HAPPY! Life really is short and we don’t know when it will be over. Enjoy life and be sure you have no regrets! I can tell you that I make the choice every single day to be happy and spend my days with folks I love and doing projects and ideas that make me feel better about my life. Just go for it – because you have nothing to lose and everything amazing to gain! Hell, you may just end up on a runway one day!"