One Amazing Family
There's an old, well-known saying, "When the going gets tough, the tough gets going." This phrase very accurately describes my family.
Recently, my family has had the opportunity to show how tough we can be. And, by golly, we are pretty darn strong.
When someone you love is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, two paths present themselves. One is that of a victim and the other is the path of a survivor. Every member of my family decided to walk down the trail of survival and because we've done so, hand-in-hand, we are more than surviving. We are flourishing.
This journey is teaching us about life. It's teaching us about love. It's helping us embrace the moments we have on this Earth and accepting the ones we may not.
My sister, Traci, is the heart of this expedition and she has definitely become the captain of our ship. She is taking charge of the storms that life sends our way and ensuring that each of us have the inner strength we need to weather these challenges and come out better and stronger on the other side.
My parents, Mary and Terry, brother-Michael, and I are all sailing on Traci's ship. We're joined by Traci's husband, Andy and their three amazing children, Aedan, William and Finnegan. Together, we are following Traci's lead as she navigates our ship through the muddy (and rocky) waters of metastatic ocular melanoma.
The physical and emotional roadblocks of cancer are huge. Physically, there is surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and just trying not to barf all over the brand new carpet. Emotionally, there are the highs and lows that come with each visit to the oncologist, with the prospect of what the future might bring and with trying to ensure each person around you has what they need to be okay in life. These obstacles are big, but they are not dead-ends. Together, we can find ways around, over, under, or through these seemingly concrete walls.
The road to recovery is long and sometimes it takes unexpected dips and turns. But when you are surrounded by those you love, suddenly nothing seems so bad. Traci is leading us through some of the darkest moments of our lives, but I know that it is in these places that, sometimes, we find the most beautiful things--like discovering just how strong a family can be.
And when things seem to be at their worst, just remember, "Fortune favors the brave."
Recently, my family has had the opportunity to show how tough we can be. And, by golly, we are pretty darn strong.
When someone you love is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, two paths present themselves. One is that of a victim and the other is the path of a survivor. Every member of my family decided to walk down the trail of survival and because we've done so, hand-in-hand, we are more than surviving. We are flourishing.
This journey is teaching us about life. It's teaching us about love. It's helping us embrace the moments we have on this Earth and accepting the ones we may not.
My sister, Traci, is the heart of this expedition and she has definitely become the captain of our ship. She is taking charge of the storms that life sends our way and ensuring that each of us have the inner strength we need to weather these challenges and come out better and stronger on the other side.
My parents, Mary and Terry, brother-Michael, and I are all sailing on Traci's ship. We're joined by Traci's husband, Andy and their three amazing children, Aedan, William and Finnegan. Together, we are following Traci's lead as she navigates our ship through the muddy (and rocky) waters of metastatic ocular melanoma.
The physical and emotional roadblocks of cancer are huge. Physically, there is surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and just trying not to barf all over the brand new carpet. Emotionally, there are the highs and lows that come with each visit to the oncologist, with the prospect of what the future might bring and with trying to ensure each person around you has what they need to be okay in life. These obstacles are big, but they are not dead-ends. Together, we can find ways around, over, under, or through these seemingly concrete walls.
The road to recovery is long and sometimes it takes unexpected dips and turns. But when you are surrounded by those you love, suddenly nothing seems so bad. Traci is leading us through some of the darkest moments of our lives, but I know that it is in these places that, sometimes, we find the most beautiful things--like discovering just how strong a family can be.
And when things seem to be at their worst, just remember, "Fortune favors the brave."
Embrace Life!
My name is Crystan and I love my life.
Sure, life is full of ups and downs--heartache and headache, but that doesn't make it any less fabulous. What makes it so great? The people. The adventures. The laughter. The unexpected pleasures that come from living right now.
This site is a place I hope to capture some of the highs and lows of my little bubble in the world. The joys of being an auntie to my sister's three amazing kids. The laugher that comes with being a middle child. The gratitude I have for my perfect parents. And the struggles I have to stay positive through the muddy waters that are sometimes dumped in my path.
As I venture through life, I hear my older sister telling me, "How wonderful! How wonderful! All things are perfect, just as they are." No matter how bad things seem, things are just as they should be. We will grow stronger, wiser, and happier with each passing moment. And, with each tick of the clock, we encounter another chance to be happy in this life.
Sure, life is full of ups and downs--heartache and headache, but that doesn't make it any less fabulous. What makes it so great? The people. The adventures. The laughter. The unexpected pleasures that come from living right now.
This site is a place I hope to capture some of the highs and lows of my little bubble in the world. The joys of being an auntie to my sister's three amazing kids. The laugher that comes with being a middle child. The gratitude I have for my perfect parents. And the struggles I have to stay positive through the muddy waters that are sometimes dumped in my path.
As I venture through life, I hear my older sister telling me, "How wonderful! How wonderful! All things are perfect, just as they are." No matter how bad things seem, things are just as they should be. We will grow stronger, wiser, and happier with each passing moment. And, with each tick of the clock, we encounter another chance to be happy in this life.