30 is the new 20

On Monday I will be 30 years old. I think my Mom said I was born around 5:30 p.m....perhaps why I enjoy dinner so much? 

I know many of my friends have had a difficult time turning 30, but while I was enjoying a luxorious soak in my bath tub the other day I was reflecting that five years ago on May 31, 2007 I did not know if I would make it to 30.

I was scheduled for surgery the following day to do a biopsy of a mass in my neck.

The surgeon also performed a bone marrow biopsy since the first mass was declared malignant.

I was told I had an 80 percent chance of beating Hodgkin's Lymphoma Stage IIA....but a 20 percent chance I would not live to see my 30th birthday.  Six months and 12 rounds of chemo later I was declared in remission.

Upon hearing this news I decided in my head that I would be a survivor and placed myself in the 80 percent group.  And, now almost five years since I was diagnosed I have decided I am going to enjoy my 30's.  After all, I heard 30 is the new 20.