Starting Over Again...Again

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Lisa Moran on June 6, 2023.  As a cherished member of LungCancer.net and a source of inspiration, Lisa generously and bravely shared her journey, touching and inspiring many in our community. Her courage fuels our mission, and her legacy will endure in our work. Her absence will be deeply felt, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to all who held her dear. We consider it a privilege that Lisa allowed us into her life, leaving an indelible mark on our hearts and our community.

About fifteen years ago I got a divorce and started life over. A fresh start. New beginnings, adventures, and experiences. At the time, I decided to stay in Colorado instead of moving back to Ohio.

Lung cancer was unexpected

One of those experiences was not planned and included a 2015 stage IV lung cancer diagnosis. When that happened, I didn't know what life was going to bring. I didn't even know if I was going to live or die.

"So nobody believed you could be a five-year survivor with non-small cell lung cancer that was stage IV, and now we have them. We have people who have said, 'Well, I'm not dead, I'm still here. I'm going to plan my vacation for next year. I'm going to get married. I'm going to adopt a child. I'm going to seek a promotion in my job.' And that is happening." ~David Ross Camidge, MD, PhD

You know that's an old quote. It mentions the possibility of five-year stage IV lung cancer survival. Today, you could easily replace five years with ten or fifteen. We are living longer with advancements in lung cancer treatments and developments of new medicines and targeted therapies.

Reevaluating my life like many others

Lung cancer survivors are reevaluating their lives and making changes. It took me three years after my lung cancer diagnosis and reevaluation to take action to make major changes happen.

I was inspired and motivated by social media updates from survivors that had built new homes and prepared to move. It was time for me to downsize and move. I decided I wanted to move back to my hometown in Ohio after living in Colorado for 22 years.

I online dream shopped with the realtor app for Ohio houses daily. I knew what areas I wanted and what house features I was looking for.

Building a new life together

In the meantime, I met my person in Colorado and fell in love. I was always upfront. He knew my plan was to move and that plan wasn't going to change.

Eventually, he was on board with the idea of a move to Ohio too. I downsized with an estate sale, a garage sale, and giving items away. We packed up a moving truck, loaded our belongings, the dog, and made the 4 day journey from Colorado to Ohio.

We are in our 50s, starting over again and living like we are in our 20s, footloose and fancy-free. And it isn't a bad thing. It's fun and refreshing to start over. When I was younger I just did it and just got by. Now, I'm doing it my way and with a purpose to move on (pun intended), change environments, and improve my mental health and overall quality of life.

I am home

Before the move, I wondered how long it would take to stop feeling like I'm on an extended Ohio vacation instead of living here permanently. It feels kind of strange right now to see and visit with friends and family and not go to the airport to fly home to Colorado after. I am home.