I’ve been among the missing with regards to my blog and yoga life, and with good reason. Last month, I was diagnosed with a rare form of bone marrow cancer called aggressive myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with a very high risk of it rapidly turning into acute myeloid leukemia.

I will undergo a peripheral blood stem cell transplant at Jersey Shore’s Hope Tower in early January using donor cells from a 100% match located through the National Marrow Donor Program. Transplant is the only cure for MDS, and a very lengthy and complicated process. I will be in isolation in the hospital for at least a month pre and post transplant, then recovery afterwards is a long haul with strict nutritional, environmental, and social protocols for up to a year or more. The end goal is to grow a brand new immune system that will extend my life by decades versus months and, hopefully, be cancer and lupus free.

I will be on medical leave for the remainder of the school year after my last day on December 20. Provided I do not experience major setbacks during recovery, I intend to return to both the classroom and the yoga studio next fall. I also aim to write about my journey here, provided I feel healthy enough to do so.

I am open to questions if you have any, and good thoughts if you can spare some, but please don’t tell me you are sorry for me. While this path is quite unexpected and one I might not have chosen, it is my truth and I accept it. Since being diagnosed, I’ve experienced the full range of emotions except one: fear.

I am not afraid.

Like the caterpillar liquifies then isolates itself to emerge as a butterfly, I will be as strong as my body, mind, and spirit allow as I also undergo a similar metamorphosis to grow new wings. Not many people get the chance to rewrite their narrative and experience a second chance at life with a brand new origin story. I am one of the lucky ones, and I can do hard things.

There’s a quote that has been giving me strength since all of this began: “Fate whispers to the warrior, ‘You can not withstand the storm.’ The warrior whispers back, ‘I am the storm.’”

I am the storm, dammit, and I’ve got this.

Thanksgiving weekend is the perfect time to tell you I am grateful for your role in my life, and I wish you abundant joy. Written with love.

Thank you for joining me on my journey. I’m so glad you are here.

With light and love,

Jill

“An Announcement” was posted on jillocone.com on November 29, 2024. Views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the writer, who was not endorsed or compensated in any manner by any entity; views do not represent any of my employers. Copyright 2024, Jill Ocone. All rights reserved. Contact Jill with reposting, licensing, and publishing inquiries using any of the links below.