Living Fully After a Lung Cancer Diagnosis

A lung cancer diagnosis can feel like a sentence, but for me, it became a wake-up call to live differently. Faced with the possibility of limited time, I chose to fill my days with adventures, memories, and moments that mattered.

From final adventure to a new beginning

When I was diagnosed with lung cancer, the doctors gave me 18 months to live. My husband and I decided we wouldn’t waste a moment, so we took out money from one of our retirement funds and planned a family vacation to Costa Rica.

We wanted one last big adventure together before I died. The trip was incredible: sunny beaches, lush rainforests, lots of sightseeing, enjoying the Costa Rican food, and unforgettable family memories. We laughed, swam, and soaked in every moment, thinking this would be our final hurrah.

But life had other plans. It’s been almost 10 years, and I’m still here. I’m now stable, and we joke that our “last” family vacation turned out to be just another chapter in our story.

Creating memories

After my diagnosis of lung cancer and thinking I have about 18 months or so to live, I decided to record videos for my kids to watch throughout their lives. I planned one for their high school and college graduations, congratulating them on their accomplishments, and another for their first day starting a new job, offering words of encouragement.

I even planned messages for their wedding day and for when they had their first baby. I wanted to be there, even if I couldn’t physically be. I also decided to record a video for my future grandchildren, telling them, “I’m sorry I’m not here to meet you, but I’m your grandmother, and I love you so much.

Letting them know that I’ll be their guardian angel. Also, I will give them words of encouragement and advice, and I will help them strive for success and live a happy life.” Those videos were my way of staying present, even after I was gone.

Turning dreams into reality

I decided I wouldn’t just count the days. I would make every single one of them count.

I set a goal to take as many vacations as possible to the places I had always wanted to visit. Travel had always been a passion of mine, but suddenly, it took on a deeper meaning. It became my way of truly living, rather than just waiting for the inevitable.

Each destination represented a dream fulfilled and a chapter of my life I didn’t want to leave unwritten. I wanted to feel the sand between my toes in Jamaica or the Bahamas, go visit Dubai and see the Burj Khalifa and Palm Island, and soak in the vibrant cultures of Europe.

So, I created a bucket list, and together with my husband, we mapped out our adventures. We started booking trips right away, knowing time was precious.

Every plane ride, every new city, felt like a victory over the ticking clock. It wasn’t just about escaping reality; it was about creating memories, living boldly, and making sure that when the time came, I’d have no regrets.

Each trip was a celebration of life, love, and the beauty of the world.