Part 2: Rising from the Table

Emergency Surgery and the Decision to Fight

Three years ago today, I was wheeled into an operating room for emergency surgery that would change my life forever. Right hemicolectomy – they removed a foot of my colon and 61 lymph nodes. The reality of Stage 4 colon cancer was no longer theoretical; it was carved into my body with surgical precision.

The Fear

I remember the terror as they wheeled me back to surgery. The powerlessness was overwhelming. I didn't know how my body would function after this. Would I be able to go to the bathroom normally? Would I ever feel like myself again? The surgeon had explained the procedure, but nothing could prepare me for the existential fear of not knowing who I'd be on the other side.

The Awakening

When I woke up in recovery, something had shifted. Yes, my body was different. Yes, I was in pain. But somewhere in the fog of anesthesia and morphine, a decision crystallized: I was going to do everything in my power to slay this cancer.

The first weapon in my arsenal? Movement.

Walking Toward Healing

The nurses said I needed to walk to prevent blood clots and aid recovery. They suggested a few steps around the bed. But I knew something they didn't – I wasn't just recovering from surgery. I was training for the fight of my life.

Day 1: Five laps around the hospital floor. Each step was tough, but each step was also a declaration: I am alive. I am fighting. I am not giving up.

The nurses were amazed. My surgeon was pleased. But this wasn't about impressing medical staff. This was about reclaiming power in a situation where I felt powerless.

The Science of Movement in Healing

What I instinctively knew then has since been validated by research. Post-surgical movement:

• Improves circulation and reduces blood clot risk

• Enhances immune function

• Speeds wound healing

• Reduces hospital stay duration

• Decreases complications

• Improves mental health and mood

But beyond the physical benefits, walking gave me something even more valuable: agency. In a hospital where everything happens to you, walking was something I could do for me.

 

The Metaphor

Those five laps became a metaphor for everything that followed. Each step was choosing action over despair. Each lap was proof that even when your body is broken, your spirit can be unbreakable. Each circuit around that hospital floor was practice for the longer journey ahead.

Lessons for Every Warrior

Whether you're facing surgery, treatment, or any major life challenge, remember:

Start Where You Are: Five laps might seem small, but they were my five laps. Your movement might be different – a few steps, some gentle stretches, or even just deep breathing. What matters is that you move.

Movement is Medicine: Every step sends signals to your body that you're choosing life, choosing healing, choosing to participate in your recovery.

Reclaim Your Power: In situations where so much is out of your control, find the things that are in your control. Walking was mine. What's yours?

Progress, Not Perfection: Some days you'll walk five laps. Some days you might only manage one. Both are victories.

Three years later, I'm not just cancer-free – I'm stronger than I've ever been. It started with five laps around a hospital floor and a decision to never stop fighting.

Your body wants to heal. Sometimes you just have to show it the way. One step at a time.

May you Live Long and Lucky.