Dawn Hamilton

We’ve all heard those clichés…Everyday is a gift. Seize the moment. Stop and smell the roses. We nod our heads knowingly, but living life that way...well, that’s a lot harder. At least it was for me, until I was diagnosed with breast cancer. To say it was a shock when I was told I had breast cancer – actually stage four, metastatic, incurable breast cancer – is an understatement. It rocked our worlds, mine, my husband’s, my family’s and friends'. But being alive is like being pregnant, you either are or you’re not. And as long as I am alive, I want to live. I want to make a difference. I want to savor every moment. It’s easy for me to see things differently now. It’s been two-and-a-half years since my diagnosis and I have the benefit of time and perspective. These are my truths.  

      • The scans show where the cancer is, but they only capture a moment in time. No test, no doctor, no one knows how long I will live. So I live.  

      • Cancer is a part of my life, but it does not define me. The cancer only has power if I give it power, and that I won’t do.

      •  I am responsible for the choices I make. I don’t let others decide how to treat my cancer. I value the research and learned opinions of my doctors, but I do my own research. I discuss the benefits and side effects of the different treatments with my doctors, but ultimately, I decide.  

      • Each of us must find our own path. For me, it’s a combination of the best that Western medicine has to offer and the best naturopathic medicine. Plus, I do Pilates rehabilitation, see a chiropractor, exercise daily and walk every morning. I do Reiki. I eat healthy and organic, avoiding foods that feed the cancer and feasting on those that fuel and heal the body. I work because it’s an opportunity to make a difference. And I listen for God’s guidance in my life. That’s what works best for me. Find your path.  

      • Life is a feast. I am happier now that I have been in years. I worked too hard. I was too busy. There was always something that “had to get done.” I didn’t realize what I was missing. Now I delight in the sounds of the birds at dawn and my husband's laugh, the unconditional love of my dog every time I come home, and the taste of dark chocolate.

      • Don’t let anyone take your hope. You can be afraid, you can be discouraged, you can be in pain. You can cry; you can yell; you can pull within yourself, but never give up hope.

      • Every day is a gift. I thank God for every beautiful day, for the privilege of being in it, and for my family, my friends, and the angels he has brought into my life to help me live. 

...and I live!