This year has without a doubt, been the wildest ride I’ve ridden. It started off with a shock leukaemia diagnosis, and then went on to be filled with extremely wonderful highs in my music life, that left me feeling more proud than ever about the music and magic happening within Runaway Angel.
Since February 12th, life in between these joyful professional highs has felt like a perpetual space of uncertainty while I navigated multiple failed attempts at the typical course of TKI drug treatments for CML. While his has been both an experience of reflection and growth, it has also of course been a struggle of fear and faith.
I know that sometimes when people say things like ‘Everything happens for a reason,’ it seems preachy and annoying, especially in the face of hard, dark, emotional moments. But I have always believed, and found that this really is true. Sometimes it’s hard to see the reason at the time, like a camera zoomed tightly on to a single event. But as you grow and evolve from the experience you understand and appreciate the subtle nuances of how each heartbreak, hurdle, hill and mountain helped slowly create the amazing person you became. That is how I feel about this past year.
I’ve been quiet for the last couple of months as I haven’t really been able to provide much of an update. It’s been really nice to take a little tiny break from Music for the first real time in five years. I’ve been enjoying time with my family, and I even distracted myself throughout November by participating in NaNoWriMo (6000 words to go, hopefully will finish by Friday, it was insanely harder than I expected lol).
Today It is with a lot of hope and a big dash of fear that I share the news that due to a hematological intolerance, multiple drug treatments have not managed to get my leukaemia under control. I am being typed for a bone marrow transplant on December 12th, exactly ten months to the day of my diagnosis. I don’t know any more than that yet, but I’m very much looking forward to the light at the end of the limbo, even in the midst of the challenges that now lay ahead.
Some of my family members will be tested, but if no match is found I will be turning to the Onematch bank to look for a donor. If you’re 35 or under and in generally good health, please consider registering to give the gift of life this Christmas! You can visit onematch.ca to learn more.
I just really wanted to say a huge thank you again to everyone in my life that has held my hand, given their encouragement, made me laugh or supported me in any way along this journey. Each step has been an adventure instead of a war, because of your presence. I am forever humbled and grateful for the good in the world, and in you. ❤️❤️❤️
*Originally Posted on Facebook
