In September 2019, I was diagnosed with stage IIIc rectal cancer at age 47. I suffered a perforation of my upper colon in June 2021. The perforation caused waste to spill into my body, and within 48 hours, I was fully septic. Doctors told me I was three to four hours away from dying. After four blood transfusions and forgetting 10 days of my life, I awoke with seven wound sites so deep that in order to heal, I was sent to a wound treatment facility for six weeks. I ended up with a permanent ostomy thanks to that fun! I had brain surgery in December of 2023 thanks to a tumor from my CRC. It has given me quite the scar! Through this process and fight I have torn down every aspect of myself and my life – my faith, my thoughts, my image of myself. I am now in the process of rebuilding all aspects and hope to share my thoughts, observations, feelings, and changes as I do.