We asked Lauren to share her #strokeofgenius story, that moment when your life changes and puts you on a completely new path. This was her answer;
15 years ago, I was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma. I went through 3 1/2 years of chemo and month-long radiation treatment. Hair was lost and many tears were shed, but there were many things that I gained from this experience. Strength, hope, and a positive outlook on life are just a few.
When you go through a scary situation like cancer, you look at the world through different eyes. You take time to cherish the important things. As I approach my 15 year anniversary of being diagnosed I wake up each morning and reflect on how grateful I am to start a new day. During the month of September, we celebrate Childhood Cancer Awareness. Being a childhood cancer survivor, I try to give back to that community as much as possible. Even if it is just a smile and to let someone know you are there for them is a great way to make someone’s day when they are going through a difficult journey.
Being in remission now, I feel honored to celebrate the milestones in my life. This year I celebrated my 30th birthday and will soon be getting married. Cancer is a scary thing, but out of the bad can come good. I have made lifelong friendships from this disease and learned to stop and celebrate the good things in life. Never give up and be like Dory in Finding Nemo: Just keep swimming!