The other day, while receiving some treatment on my back, I overheard the problems of another patient. I get physical therapy on my back a few times a week and I have seen this woman several times. We have shared gripes about our therapy sessions and teaching kids all day long. I have watched her struggle regainning strength in her legs and thought perhaps she wore a hat to hide the effects of cancer treatments, thought I never knew her real issues until this one particular day.

It turns out this woman, name and age unknown, has spine cancer. She has had more than one round of chemotherapy, including a procedure involving the brain. The hate she wore because her hair had not grown back, unlike after the first chemo treatment, when it came back after six months. When asked to perform a certain body movement, she said she could not because of her colostome bag. All day long she teaches children in an elementary school.

What lesson could I learn from this woman? Only a thin curtain separated us and I could well hear her entire conversation. Her story doesn't change my life, change my daily habits or outlook on things. But here is this woman with this horrible story, a tragic story trying her best to go about her life and regain whatever disease has taken from her.

Two women I work with have been diagnosed with cancer in the past two months. My grandmother recently found out she has breast cancer.

All these stories, all these people suffering life-threatening, life-changing illnesses that they simply woke up and discovered one day.