25 years cancer-free!!!!!

It’s a little hard to even type that.

25 years ago, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

At the time, you’re just thinking about getting through the next treatment — 12 chemos, to be exact — the next appointment, the next scan, all while Mandy is carrying our next gift in her womb.

You don’t really understand what 25 more years of life is going to mean.

It was stressful, emotional, draining and, honestly, a blur.

Today, I do understand.

It meant getting 25 more years with my family.

It meant watching my girls, Abby and Gracie, grow up, become amazing and prosperous young women, and even getting the opportunity to work alongside them and watch them build their own lives and careers.

It meant 25 more years with Mandy.

Birthdays. Anniversaries. Vacations. Holidays. Ordinary Tuesdays.

Laughing around the dinner table. Building businesses. Making memories.

And thousands of little moments that probably didn’t seem important at the time...but looking back, they were everything.

I know not everyone who hears the word cancer gets the outcome I was blessed to receive.

I don’t know why I did.

But I do know this: God gave me a gift.

And I KNOW part of my responsibility for receiving that gift is how I choose to use it.

People who know me have heard me say, “Make it a great day.”

That’s VERY intentional.

I don’t say, “Have a great day,” because a great day isn’t always something that just happens to you.

Sometimes you have to make it one.

Find the good.

Help somebody.

Encourage somebody.

Laugh.

Love your family.

Be grateful.

Spread a little positivity wherever and however you can... à la Stay Positive News.

Don’t wait for life to give you a reason to enjoy it.

Twenty-five years ago, I was fighting for more days.

Today, I get to live them.

And as long as God keeps giving them to me, I’m going to keep trying to make them GREAT!!!

Thank you, God, for 25 years I wasn’t promised.

My parents, Don and Sherry, loved this post every year. My dad didn’t get to see this one, and my mom didn’t either, but I know they, as well as I, are so grateful for all your prayers of healing so many years ago.

25 years cancer-free!!!

And grateful beyond words.

Editor's Note: Thank you to Donnie for letting us share his message and for helping start this very platform. Read more about our beginining here.