For the past few weeks, Jenn has been asking me what I want for my birthday and I tell her the same thing each and every time. “Nothing.” There’s nothing I NEED or WANT. I don’t NEED or WANT any presents for my birthday. Granted, we canceled all of our plans for my birthday due to my current job situation, but that was something more so for my bucket list anyways. Why you might ask do I not need or want anything for my birthday? It’s simple really. It’s because I already got what I wanted.
You see once when you’ve diagnosed with and treated for cancer, there will be lots of “firsts” that will come afterwards from your first vacation to your first Christmas to your first New Year, etc.. And that is exactly what Friday will be for me. You see this Friday will be my first birthday since my testicular cancer diagnosis and just like next month will be my first year since my diagnosis.
The fact that I was able to get to get diagnosed and treated so quickly and the fact that I was given the chance to have my first birthday since my diagnosis means there’s nothing more I could need or want for my birthday; no gifts, no money, no nothing. I got what I already wanted because #cancerismybitch.
What I got was the opportunity to wake up each day with a 90%-94% chance that the cancer never comes back. What I got was the opportunity to wake up to someone you told you wanted to spend the rest of your life with. What I got was the chance to spend more time with my family and spend more time to spend with my friends. What I got was the chance to continue living life to its fullest, to grab the bull (life) by its horn so-to-speak.
Given the fact that month after month, I keep hearing about people I know being affected by cancer in some way makes me appreciate all of these firsts for me. So you see no birthday present can beat that! I’m more than happy with what I was given instead; after all it’s not your average birthday present. 
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awesome post casey. I’m so glad you shared this and I’m so proud of both you and Jennifer! Congratulations on your first birthday!!
Thanks Carrie!
SO, of course you know that I’m sitting here with tears streaming down my face. My love language is gifts. It makes me so happy to give people gifts. I know that we have been given the best gift we could could of ever asked for. But, I will still buy you a birthday gift despite whether you need or want one because I love you, more than I can ever say. I am so grateful and happy that we get to share this first birthday together that I want to shower you in the presents. It broke my heart that I couldn’t deliver your bucket list item. You ask for so little, it makes it even more important to me to give you anything you may want. This was a really amazing post and I hope you know how proud and amazed I am by you every single day.
So am I Jenn…I should have known not to read it now
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