Living like I’m cured

Days before my Glioblastoma diagnosis I was a fun-loving mom of 3 young children: a 4 year old daughter and 11 month old boy-girl twins. I loved to be active, explore, and squeeze the most out of life alongside my loving husband of 14 years, Ryan. I was upbeat, optimistic, faith-filled, high-energy and thriving in my career as a Pharmacist. So when the doctor told me I had one year to live I went numb with shock. How can that be? I thought, "I’m a healthy 34 year old!" The numbness gave way to grief and middle of the night sobs on my husband’s shoulder, “my kids, my kids, who’s going to look after my kids when I die?”

After my crainiotomy and completing my chemotherapy and radiation treatments, grief morphed into terror that the brain tumor would begin growing again soon. This was no way to live. In fact, it hardly felt like living at all. So, at that point I decided to begin living like I was cured. My life wasn’t over yet! And I needed to watch my kids grow up!

Here I am six years later. I’m a miracle. I’m a force of volition, grit and determination, I am lucky and privileged and loved. All these things have brought me to this place of health - some I can take credit for, some I cannot. While I don’t fully understand why the universe has placed the gift of life into my hands, I take it with gratitude and hold it as a beacon of hope for others, but also as a handshake of compassionate understanding. I’ve been there taking the broken pieces of my life and making them into something beautiful. It is possible! Never lose hope.

For more information about my treatment/lifestyle and to read my blogposts check out my website www.cherylrostek.com You can also follow me on Instagram @cherylrostek and on Facebook @authorcherylrostek xo Cheryl