Keep your shoes on, this is just a canker sore!

*Photo by Margie Hess, posted with permission

I have a canker sore.

Nothing more.

Just a canker sore.

Small as it may be, it is trying to hijack my life. It started as the slightest puncture, caused by eating too voraciously, and quickly developed into a gaping, oozing, infected mess. I can't eat. I can't talk. The right side of my body hurts from the top of my head down to my collar bone. My lymph nodes are swollen and my jaw feels like it is rotting. Even still, it is just a canker sore.

As I am tempted to complain, and believe me I am tempted, I keep thinking of my friend Ryan. In recent weeks while his body has been fighting cancer and trying to accept a bone marrow transplant he lost all the lining in his mouth. His whole mouth. Oh, and so many other awful side effects to go with it. I would have to multiply my canker sore by...actually I don't think there is a number high enough. My canker sore doesn't even register. It is just a canker sore.

While adjusting to life with a canker sore this week I saw the most beautiful picture ever on the Team Ryan blog. It was just a close-up of Ryan's shoes. His daily walk was interrupted by the need for some medication. He climbed in to his hospital bed to accept the meds with his shoes on. Left on as a reminder to get up and keep walking.

Now Ryan is home and improving daily. He is winning because he is not letting cancer hijack his life. He has his shoes on and he is fighting. I think that picture should be on every poster for hope and faith and determination. If you want to win you keep your shoes on.

I HATE that Ryan is going through this. I LOVE that he is fighting this. I LOVE the faith and strength that he gives me every single day. Ryan is not this cancer. He is more and he will overcome.

So I've got my shoes on because this is just a canker sore. Thanks Ryan!