Let us all stand and salute those who support

I've been trying to decide where to begin with this site, and how to make it something that can help others in similar situations. So I asked myself "What is the first thing I think of when I remember all this starting?"

And the answer is "My support."

When I got my initial diagnosis in 2010, I can remember almost feeling a little overwhelmed at how much support I had. In the first couple weeks after I made it publicly known I was sick, my phone rang constantly. I received calls from friends I hadn't seen in 5 years, Emails from people i'd worked with when i was 20. Everybody was sending well-wishes, offers of prayer, words of encouragement, and uplifting stories of their loved ones' own triumphs over illness.

Every last one of those well wishes, and kind words played such an integral role in my beating this thing. From the smallest of "Sorry to hear" messages, to those more directly involved.

And you know, Throughout this entire experience, support has been the one constant.

It's there from the second you find out.
It's there holding you up while your world spins out of control, telling you "You can do this"
It's there through the pain, the tears, the laughter, and the fear.
It's there to celebrate your progress, and to carry you through your setbacks.
It's there when you wake up, telling you everything went well.
It's there to help tend to your wounds, and it's there as you start to recover.

And it's always there, happy to remind you "You did it."

So for any of you who have ever found yourself offering up a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold, or something as simple as a smile, and a word of faith... To you I stand and salute.

The love, care, and compassion that so many of you, so willingly volunteer, is the motivation to push forward,

You are the constant reminder that no matter how dark the road may be, we are never walking alone.

So please, take a moment to thank someone in your support group, they probably don't even realize how much they matter.