Video Update: Navigating My Latest Cancer Challenge

Walk with Me Through My Latest CT

(Warning: Video update is 8 minutes long!)

I haven't posted here in a while because I've been deeply immersed in the rollercoaster of life! Following my mission to the West Bank to support the brave legal aid lawyers defending Palestinian youth, I caught COVID, recovered, and then embarked on a soul-enriching Coral Reef Monitoring Expedition to the Tubbataha Reefs in the Philippines on a liveaboard. Here’s Adrian and I messing around after we finished one of our reef surveys:

On our way back to the U.S., we did a long weekend stop-over in Kuala Lumpur to reunite with a cherished friend and her community. I also gave a talk which focused on the interplay of peace and justice and reflected on some of the values by which I try to live (replay). FWIW, I also wrote an article last month on some of the challenges I faced while serving on the UN Panel of Experts from 2014-2019.

On our way back to the U.S., we made a long weekend stopover in Kuala Lumpur to reunite with a cherished friend and her community. During this visit, I gave a talk focusing on the interplay of peace and justice, reflecting on some of the values by which I strive to live (replay available). Additionally, I wrote an article last month on some of the political pressures I faced while serving on the UN Panel of Experts, highlighting the broader pattern of erosion in the institutions and norms that support the international order that we see today.

Getting COVID before the trip was a reminder of the universe’s perfect timing. While it was both miserable and inconvenient, I was fortunate to fall ill when I did. Surrounded by the virus throughout our travels and within my friend's family, it would have been much worse to have contracted COVID on the road. For the first time since I started treatments that leave me immunocompromised, I found myself less anxious about everyone coughing around me, knowing I had finally built up some immunity. Silver linings, right?

Right now, I'm embracing something new by using Substack's video function to share a health update about the possible spread of my cancer (first video above). What began as a simple idea, to take you along on my recent CT scan after a friend's last-minute cancellation, evolved into a deeper reflection following the less-than-encouraging results I received yesterday. The whole experience reinforced my decision to fully embrace the fact that I am still alive in this moment, cultivating awareness and gratitude for the present, rather than being consumed by fears of what might come. After all, we all know how this story ends! (In case you missed the memo —or rather memento mori— I’ve got your back).

The video includes scenes from a party I attended last night hosted by the creator of the brilliantly dark and necessary humor of the @theCancerPatient Instagram page. There, I ate, drank and belly laughed with beautiful souls who have experienced or are still experiencing cancer. There’s something incredibly moving about spending time with those who resonate with your experiences and whose journeys with illness are deeply inspiring, without the pity or unhelpful projections that can often come from those who haven't faced cancer themselves (whom we in the cancer community lovingly refer to as “cancer muggles”).

Turns out laughter really is the best medicine!

Together, we celebrate life and resilience, finding joy in each other's company and strength in our shared experiences. We laugh, we cry, and we support one another through the highs and lows, creating a sanctuary of understanding and compassion. Connecting with others who have walked the same path reminds us that we are never alone in our struggles, and that together, we can navigate the journey with grace and courage. I am deeply grateful for the profound friendships I have forged within the cancer community. Without my cancer diagnosis, I almost certainly would have never met so many incredible souls who bring so much light into my life.

I’ll have a few posts on the way soon on some of the challenges and lessons from recent journeys, including my struggles to keep my heart open amid the persistent violence and suffering in our world.

I hope you are finding the strength, community, and grace to navigate this world with a full heart. Much love and light to you all and a heartfelt prayer for peace everywhere.

Questions for Reflection:

1. How do you stay present and find gratitude in the midst of life's challenges?

2. What strategies do you use to maintain a sense of peace and resilience during difficult times?

3. Have you found community and support in unexpected places? How has it impacted your journey?

4. How do you balance awareness of global suffering with maintaining an open and compassionate heart?

5. What lessons have you learned from your own experiences of illness or supporting someone who is ill?

With heartwarming, belly-laughing friends in KL!