Naomi Lee Cheeke

Purple Warriors

Before my cancer diagnosis I was working as a Registered Massage Therapist. I was doing really well and I was excited planning to buy my first brand new car. My life was all about family, friends and work. I kept active and I felt physically strong. I was overall a healthy young adult – which made my cancer diagnosis that much more shocking. Now a year and a half out of treatment, I still suffer from side-effects of my chemotherapy. The biggest two being fatigue and the effect of my cancer journey on my mental health. I’m not working and I didn’t get that car, but I can honestly say I’m not focused on the material things in life. I have a new outlook, cancer has opened my eyes to what I want and don’t want in my life. I’m not sure if massage therapy will always be my profession but I’m also open to potentially exploring other career options. Whatever I decide to do, I promise to myself that I will incorporate more enjoyment in my life rather than getting caught up in daily routine. I will take time for me and put myself first.

The biggest challenge for me has been moving forward. You hear that cancer is just a chapter, but it’s actually rewritten my entire book. I take it day by day and reach out to my supports to get through. I try not being too hard on myself and let my story play out the way it’s supposed to.

I heard about Light the Night just prior to finishing chemo in 2018. I debated if I was in the headspace to participate, but I had seen videos from LTN walks in other cities and knew I had to do it. I’d like others to know that if you’re hesitant to participate because you fear it will be too emotional, I felt that too and you’re not alone. Being vulnerable is hard, but the benefits of participating in Light the Night outweigh any sadness you feel. It will be worth it.

Light The Night is a very sentimental event for me. I will always remember it as my first event as a cancer survivor. Going from chemotherapy to Light the Night was a celebration, like coming out the other side. It’s so encouraging to see others who have been on the same journey, as well as all the supporters who come out for us.
I’ve made new friends at Light the Night, other “thrivers”. The term survivor can be viewed many ways but I feel we’re all “thrivers”. I like this word to describe the transition between patient and survivor; it makes us all feel equal. Last year was special because a friend I made through a cancer support group joined my team. From one thriver to another, I encouraged her to attend Light the Night for the first time. It was a wonderful experience for her.

It’s hard to see the gold lanterns at Light the Night. My hope is that by supporting research we will see less gold lanterns each year and more white ones. The numbers of new diagnoses might not decrease, but together let’s change the number of people who can beat blood cancer.