I am free from chemotherapy now for one full year and so far I do not need to go back for another set of treatments. I know it might not seem like much, but in my heart and in my mind it is a BIG victory over something so huge, that at times it just crushed me and raised doubts on how to deal with such a monster.

And I want to thank everyone – all of my dear friends – that were there for me “through thick and thin” and never let me believe that I might lose this fight for my life… I could’ve never come out a winner if it wasn’t for you… every single one of you, my dear friends, who deserve an enormous “Thank you!” for being there; for being so understanding and supportive; for going out with me when I had no eyelashes and no eyebrows; for offering your own bed – just to make me more comfortable; for treating me as a “normal” Human Being; and for loving me just for who I am.

Thank you, my dear friends, for all the encouraging words; for your continuous support; for your insistence on getting through to me – even when I did not want to talk to anyone or to hear from anyone. Of course, now I do understand that I did not want to be left alone, I really didn’t. I just did not know at times what to do and how to talk about that exhausting road to recovery; that long journey from diagnosis to freedom; that day-to-day battle - to get up, to take a shower, to dress and take another step, when every step echoes pain throughout your whole body.

That pain at times was such a strong entity that I would lose my belief that one day I can be pain –free. I did not know how to deal with it, but I learned and did my best along the way… And yes, I talked about it in my previous blog pieces, at times I felt like I was painting on the wall with water – I was trying to get my message out, but I wasn’t necessarily heard. Or I thought I was not. But yet – now I know – that I was heard, and I felt your support, my dear friends – every step of the way. Thank you for being there for me; thank you for being who you are; and thank you for finding love, kindness and care to share when I most needed it… even though I know that some of you were going through very difficult times yourself.

Yet, here we are – we came out of our battles and we came out Winners! Salute to that! Salute to every one of you! And Salute to everyone who continues to fight – day after day proving to us that it is possible, it is doable, and it is achievable. Thank you, my dear friends, thank you from the bottom of my heart!