“Rachel pushed through chemo, radiation, and unsuccessful cell transplants to buy more time with her kids. In a situation that spun out of control, I saw one thing I could control: my weight. I didn’t need to have diabetes. I didn’t need high blood pressure, cholesterol. It was all a choice. When my father got cancer, I ate my way to obesity. When my sister got cancer, I changed my life for the better.”
‘My sister was dying. I had no choice but to be healthy for her kids. They would no longer have a mother.’: Man’s sister dies of Ovarian Cancer, loses 125 pounds to ‘be around’ to raise her kids
‘I kept thinking, ‘If I make more money than my husband, he won’t want me anymore.’ Why was I so afraid? I thought it was normal to fight about money.’
“I remember always being alone in my room, barbies in hand, my parents screaming profanities at each other. ‘Where is all the money? How could you have spent it all?!’ My dad had an expensive drug habit that kept him awake for work. As a child, I learned that money meant I was invisible.”
‘The doctor has my husband bend over, takes one look and says the words you don’t EVER want to hear. WHAT HAS HAPPENED? We were hiking just weeks ago.’
“We came home and I made him scrambled eggs and toast for dinner. He fell asleep on the chair. About 8:30 or so, I thought WOW he’s been asleep for a while now, and I tried to wake him up.”
