I feel as if I should have something incredibly inspirational to say today.

12 years ago today my surgical oncologist removed a dead appendix cancer tumor from my body after months of chemo and previous surgeries. All I can attempt to relay is a sense of gratitude today — gratitude that I’ve been around to experience all the happenings of the past 12 years.

I remember the day my surgeon came by with the full pathology report that screamed “no malignancy identified” in both the tumor and surrounding areas. We missed each other as I was up walking around the entire P5 unit floor when he came to see me. I was following orders and doing my exercises so I could make a faster exit from the hospital.

When I returned to my room, the nurses said he had been looking for me. Before he left to visit other patients, he wrote “this is GREAT news!” on the top of the report. I was stunned as I read each line. No evidence of disease. He had removed a dead tumor. This was not expected by anyone on the team. We had all given it our best effort and, miraculously, the best scenario happened!

I have so much to be thankful for these extra 12 years. Things I could have missed out on. From the mundane to the important. But instead I have been around to:

• Watch my 2 daughters graduate from high school and head off on new adventures.
• Share a whopping 32 years with my husband.
• Welcome my niece and nephew to our family.
• Mentor other appendix cancer patients.
• Walk with my mom on her intense cancer journey this past year.
• Grieve and honor my father’s passing.
• Be loved unconditionally by 3 dogs.
• Laugh, laugh, laugh with my girlfriends.

Good memories on my 12th surgiversary!