As some of you know, I was recently diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia.

CML is a blood cancer that occurs due to a random genetic mutation. It is not inherited, not caused by anything, and there's nothing that I could've done to prevent it. The average age of diagnosis is 65. Thankfully, this was caught relatively early and is treatable.

These past few long months have taught me a lot about myself and life. Dealing with a cancer diagnosis is not something I ever expected to experience, but my support system has been amazing. I am so grateful this was found when it was, and I'm grateful for the people in my life.

Tell those you love that you love them and truly make the most of every day that you have with them. It takes so little to lead a good life; make the most of yours.

But also, it comes with some debts. No matter how hard I try to keep up, sometimes my body doesn’t let me work as much as I want. It simply shuts down. And that’s why I am reaching out to those that can contribute and help me cover some medical and personal expenses. Sometimes pride will take over, but then you realize that it is okay to ask for help.