Dakota Graves

Wow. How do you start a blog like this? I’m writing this on my iPhone as I’m leaving Indianapolis (a good a place as any to start I guess).

As many of you know I was referred to a testicular cancer specialist, the same who attended to Lance Armstrong. This Doctor’s offices are at Indiana University’s main campus in Indianapolis. As I said in my last blog, Waiting…, I finished chemotherapy at the end of September. Friday the 9th I went to Louisville to confirm test results and today I came here to Indy to get official answers. THE official answer on where my life goes from here or if I’m still sick. Or the most important question, whether or not my life belongs to me again.

Ok. Deep breath.

The answer is yes. My life belongs to me again. I am officially cancer free. After 4 1/2 months of surgeries, chemo, plastic things in my chest and hardships, I am finally free.

There are 8 spots left in my lungs but they are all extremely tiny. The largest on being under 6 milimeters. Not even large enough for a biopsy. However, the doctors are confident that these are just dead tissue left over from the cancer and chemotherapy that will fade away in time. Both my lungs and my brain are completely clean. No spreading, not even scar tissue

I did it when I was 16 and now I have managed it again. I have beaten cancer for the second time in my life, something that will never cease to amaze me and make me proud. After the doctor congratulated my parents and I he left the room. I stood to stand and walked a few paces. I stopped in the doorway and it hit me. I started crying right there, the only time in my entire life that I have felt that way. It is an unbelievable, overbearing and amazing feeling. It dominates every sense you have while you experience it. This may seem terribly overdramatic but unless you’ve had cancer yourself it’s impossible to articulate.

I am so happy and so thankful to all the people who have supported me through this. All of the guys from A Nerd’s Guide To The Universe(S) and the rest of my best friends, all of the people from Northern, my family, Caitlen Driver, everyone from Baptist East and CBC in Louisville, my professors and the staff at NKU for understanding. I am so grateful for how supportive everyone has been and that they have been a part of my life. Thank you. There are not words in any language that could possibly convey that properly.

I’m sorry I couldn’t get this to everybody sooner. My phone died and I didn’t mean to scare anyone with my statuses earlier, I love you all for helping me through this.