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Marie Ritz

Cancer Survivor: Marie Ritz, Therapist for Cancer Patients; Professor, California State, Los Angeles, Age at diagnosis, 33, Thyroid cancer, 2005

 

In the movie Crash, Don Cheadle’s character says, “You have to crash to feel anything.” That was profound for me. I needed to be hit hard to grow and heal. Having cancer is a journey that continues. There are always blood tests and medications to take. But it is a constant reminder for me to feel joy and gratitude for my health and family.

 

The biggest gift I have taken from having cancer is complete acceptance of self and not worrying about other people’s opinions of me. It is very liberating and was a tremendous shift in how I lived my life. A friend of mine put it very simply, “Oh, you mean you’re telling me you’re human?”

 

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Uploaded on December 24, 2013
Taken in January 2014