Survivor?

The other day my wife mentioned to me that there was a cancer walk coming up in the near future and that I should go and be a part of it. It seems that the cancer walk starts off with the first lap being completed by survivors of cancer. My first reaction to her comments were, "Why should I be a part of that?" I say that not because I don't think it's a worthy cause or an important way to celebrate and start a cancer walk, but because I don't think of myself as a "Cancer Survivor." I guess I should. Currently I am cancer free and don't have to really think about it for another five months. But did I really survive anything? I look back at my journey over the past year and a half and count my blessings that what I've been through has done more for making me a better person than making me feel like I've survived some traumatic event. I quickly think about my friends Ashley and Wayne Salter and the struggle they face with Ashley's stage 4 breast cancer. I think about my friend Randy and what he and his family have gone through with his daughter and their fight with cancer. I see and hear stories of chemotherapy, hair loss, vomiting, weakness, bone marrow transplants, plane rides to places like Texas and Arkansas, and yes, even about death. What did I do? I swallowed a pill and sat in my room for a week watching movies and putting jigsaw puzzles together. I ate comforting food from my friends and family that was brought to my door on a tray by my wonderful wife. I sat in a machine that looked at my body to see if there was any cancer left. I went to doctors appointments from Newnan to Emory, all with pretty great results and outcomes. Honestly, I feel a little weird thinking of myself as a survivor. There are so many other families facing greater struggles and tragedies that to me seem to be the real survivors. I just thank God that for the time being that my burden has been pretty light, and He's done most of the lifting. And I will continue to pray for those that are still in the fight of their lives to be called "Survivor."