A year ago today, August 21, a nice and sunny Tuesday, I was sitting at my desk when the phone rang. I looked over and saw it was Kaiser, and had a flutter of nerves. Thirty seconds later my life had irrevocably changed.
I had cancer.
I don't know how long it took to sink it, but I'm sure I made my dermatologist repeat things over and over again on that call. A lot of it is a blur when I think back to it. What I mainly remember is being told that they caught it super early, it was only .25mm thick/deep, and that the plastic surgeon's office would be calling within the hour to set up an appointment for later in the week. If they didn't call within the hour, I needed to call them.
I was numb. I took notes, but they didn't mean much at the time.
Less than an hour later, the plastic surgeon's office called and I had an appointment set for 2 days later. The next thing I remember doing is calling my mom and telling her. I waited to tell my dad until I got home. I don't think I got any more work done that day.
On my way home I remember sitting on the bus and having to hold back tears. All I could think was "cancer, cancer, cancer." I had my workout stuff with me, but there was no way I was going to the gym. I made it home, calmed myself, and called dad. I don't remember much of the conversations I had with either of my parents, other than one of them, maybe both them, mentioning that children shouldn't get cancer or major illnesses before their parents.
I don't remember anything else about that day, the day that started as a normal day and ended as one that would change the rest of my life.
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