Megan

I am a beautiful work in progress, gifted with the opportunity to break open through illness and experience and trauma. While there may be darkness in the story, the light of hope pervades.

I have traveled to far corners of the world in search of myself. I have chased experiences that I’d hoped would lead me to believe in myself. But, it was through 21 days of radiation that I realized my inner strength.

My annual mammogram in October 2021 snowballed into a series of tests over five months. In between, I contracted COVID that evolved to bronchitis and pneumonia. There were moments I felt I was taking my last breath. COVID has stayed with me for the long haul, burdening my body and mind. After healing from pneumonia, I was given a weeklong reprieve before I was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2022.

After opting for surgery that March, I again caught my breath to ready myself for the next step in my healing journey. I took inventory of my five treatment options and methodically investigated them one by one. Upon serious health diagnosis, you are encouraged to get a second opinion. I got ten.

Over the next six months, I researched like my life depended on it. Statistics are more meaningful when they apply to you.

I spent countless hours earning an honorary degree in Healing from Cancer, pouring over medical journals, combining online support groups, formulating lists of questions for appointments with each specialist across disciplines at three local facilities. Once my mind was satisfied with the information, I sat with my options - cross-referencing my head and my heart. I received wisdom from resources both earth-bound and beyond.

I finally found peace in my decision-making and started radiation on September 12, 2022. Armed with wrists full of gemstone bracelets, doused in essential oils and serenaded by mantras over the treatment room’s speakers, I integrated my brand of healing into my daily radiation sessions. The angels on my treatment team and my fierce heart guided me through daily panic attacks until my final session at 10:10am on 10/10 (so auspicious). Radiation taught me how incredibly strong my tenderhearted self actually is. 

Seventeen months later and almost 2 years to the day of my diagnosis, I found my way to my first Hope Afloat practice. This is my first season as a Hopie and my first time dragonboating. As the youngest member of the team (for now), I marvel at the resilience of my teammates. I'm reminded every time I'm on the water with my Hopies that there is, indeed, life after cancer.

Hope Afloat provides our bodies with a great workout to stay healthy, calms our minds with the gentle water upon which we practice and bolsters our hearts with a loving community in which we all belong.

I'm so grateful to be a part of Hope Afloat and encourage every breast cancer survivor to join us on the water.