Lightning Never Strikes Twice

They say lightning never strikes twice. But I’ve lived through two life-changing diagnoses, Cystic Fibrosis in my thirties and Free Light Chain Myeloma, a rare and incurable blood cancer, in my early forties. So yeah, I’m living proof that sometimes it does.

When Myeloma hit, it had already done serious damage, fracturing my spine and overwhelming my kidneys. Treatment was intense: chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, biopsies, and more. But the hardest part wasn’t the physical toll, it was the emotional weight of knowing the cancer will always come back.

That’s where Ending Life’s Taboo came in. They offered me rapid-access counselling, something I didn’t even know I needed. Those sessions helped me process the fear, grief, and uncertainty, and gave my family and me the space to focus on living, not just surviving.

When treatment shifted to maintenance, I thought life would go back to normal. It didn’t. I had to find a new normal, one shaped by fatigue, slower days, and a different kind of clarity. Cancer doesn’t just leave your body; it lingers in your mind, your relationships, your sense of self.

Still, I’m here. I’m parenting, laughing, and walking the dog. I’m straddling the “kingdom of the sick” and the “kingdom of the well,” and learning to live in both. Some days are hard. Some days are beautiful. But every day, I’m still writing my story, one slow, simple, messy, hopeful day at a time.

Key Messages:

A terminal diagnosis doesn’t just affect the body, it deeply impacts the heart and mind.

Getting emotional support early can transform the experience of young adults living with life-limiting illness.

Life after cancer treatment is often forgotten, yet it brings its own emotional journey that deserves attention.

Even when a cure isn’t possible, moments of joy, connection, and hope, still shine through.