Despite growing up abroad for the first six years of my life, I was blissfully unaware of how much of my life would be defined by living in strange corners of the world. My brother, mother, and I moved to the US when my mother was first diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer, leaving my dad behind.
As a kid, my only conception the US was Saturday morning cartoons and New York City. It was only in my early 20s when I had the capacity to appreciate how much of my life had been shaped by her diagnosis. Whether it was another surgery, shyly explaining to friends why she wasn't feeling well, or navigating the complexities of two polar cultures, her diagnosis became an integral part of how I grew up. Cancer wasn't just about one person in our house—it was about all of us. My brother and I had to grow up fast, take on more responsibilities, and face unique home life challenges far from many of our peers' carefree childhoods.
While I'm grateful for the opportunities afforded to me by growing up an American, I've also come to appreciate the deeper impact of gowing up in a house with a cancer diagnosis. The emotional strain, the financial burden, and the sacrifices made by the patient and their family can be taken for granted. I have come to realize that a diagnosis isn't just about the individual—it's about the collective journey that shapes us and tests our resilience. It's like being on a rollercoaster that you never signed up for, with unexpected twists and turns that leave you shaken and breathless.
Through it all, I feel incredibly lucky to have had my mother in my life over the last three decades. Her strength and resilience have been a beacon of strength, and I'm grateful for every moment we've been able to continue sharing.
So here's to anyone else on the sidelines, holding together the emotional complexity that goes hand in hand with diagnosis of a loved one. And here's to recognizing all the unseen impact of a diagnosis, the ripple effect that touches us all. It's not always a smooth ride, but it's a part of life's messy, bittersweet symphony that makes us who we are.
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