Everyday Heroes

Over the course of my lifetime, many people have asked me who my heroes are.  Since becoming sick, I have been asked more frequently.  I always find it hard to pinpoint just one, because heroes are all around us.  I encounter heroes everyday.

Usually the question of my heroes is prompted by my positive outlook on life.  I don't know how many times I have heard that I MUST hold the secret to happily dealing with cancer.  Let's get one thing straight...there is NOTHING happy about cancer, but I have found a lot of happiness since receiving my cancer diagnosis.  That is because I surround myself with heroes.

All of my fellow cancer patients are my heroes.  They have been dealt a similar hand to mine, and yet they are always there to comfort me when I need a helping hand.  We can relate to one another on a level that many cannot.  We laugh together, cry together, bitch & moan together, but most of all we love each other.  United we are stronger than the terrible illnesses that try to defeat us.  Everyday when I walk into the Cancer Center I know that I am among heroes.

The nurses, and all of the healthcare staff that treat, and care for patients day-after-day are my heroes. It is not an easy job taking care of the sick.  I will be the first to say that, as a patient, I am a gigantic pain in the ass.  The doctors, nurses, technicians, etc, that help me pull through the pain, and constant challenges that come with illness will forever by my heroes.

Lastly, and most importantly, my family and friends are my heroes.  I would not be the person I am today without all of you.  Through the good, the bad, the ugly, and the even uglier, my family and friends have loved me, embraced me, and accepted me for the person I am.  Never once, have you tried to change me, or have you treated me like "the sick girl".  I have remained Meg, or Megan, or to my mom, her MegPie, or to my dad, his little Meggie.  All of you provide the sense of normalcy that I crave.  Being surrounded by medicine day-in-and-day-out is exhausting.  My family and friends take me away from that part of my life.  I am able to escape the misery of being a cancer patient, and when I can't find my way out of the misery, you all are there to dig me out.  Boy, am I lucky to be surrounded by so many heroes.

To me, a hero is someone who provides hope for the future, finds the strength needed at your weakest moments, and turns sorrow into joy.  There are heroes all around us.  I'm sure all of you reading this are heroes to more people than you know.  Even if you don't think so, you are a hero to me.

Sidebar:  The booster campaign is running for a couple more days.  Please consider purchasing a shirt at www.booster.com/hopeformeg.  Thank you!