Wakanda Forever

Besides having to go through chemotherapy, the hardest thing about cancer is fighting the fear. It doesn’t matter where you are in your cancer journey. Recently diagnosed, 3 years in, or 10 years out in remission - the fear silently lurks in the background. A good analogy I heard yesterday goes like this...

Russian roulette

Let's imagine you’re going about your everyday life when you feel someone breathing down your back. Before you can turn around you feel pressure on the back of your head and your ears are met with a terrifying whisper. "Don’t move, just listen. Yes, that's a gun you’re feeling pressed against your head. From this day forward and until you die, it's going to remain there and follow your every move. Sometimes you’ll forget your precarious situation and even try to live a 'normal life.' But just when you start getting used to it (because that’s what humans do, adapt), you’ll feel the barrel of the gun pressed harder against your head to remind you of your clear and present danger. Just make pretend this isn't happening. But remember, one day which could be today or perhaps in 20 years, I might just pull the trigger... or maybe I won't. Sounds like a fun game right?"

Just listen

I’m that woman you now all know diagnosed with cancer but you probably know more people than you think. I chose to talk and write about it because it’s therapeutic for me. Others deal with it in the different ways they know, and this could mean silence for them.

My advice to you is to just listen. Even if they’re not using words. We’re not asking you for a solution (science and the medical community is still working on that). All we’re asking is to be there for us any way you know how while we deal with our rollercoaster of emotions.

Wakanda Forever

As a relatively young mom dealing with stage four lung cancer it’s always a crushing blow to learn about other parents succumbing to this horrible disease. My heart dropped when I found out about Chadwick Boseman passing.

How do I tell my kids that Black Panther died from the same disease they’re scared of mommy dying from? My son isn’t really into superheroes except Black Panther. The only time I can get him to listen to his sister read out loud is when she reads the early reader Black Panther book to him. His favorite sweatshirt is, you guessed it, Black Panther. What he gave to my kids and countless others is immeasurable.

Chad Boseman was battling villains on-screen while battling this awful disease in real life. Strong doesn’t even begin to describe his character. Imagine having to go through chemotherapy and all the nasty side effects while trying to save the world from bad guys. The irony of it all. We were watching Chad portray people we look up to when in reality he was in front our face the whole time. He was our real-life superhero. I will use his life, work ethic, and strength as testimony of what having an impactful life looks like. Rest in Power ??

Editor’s Note: We are extremely saddened to say that on May 26, 2021, Angie Brice Hessbruegge passed away. Angie's thoughtful writings and advocacy efforts will continue to reach many. She will be deeply missed.