For the first time, I'm going to make an appearence on here.
Cancer was peculiar for me- I spent the majority of time denying that I had it, or just not realizing it. You hear cancer and it just devastates you. Personally, I had grown tired of thinking about it from the onset and just put it away. There was no way that I had this terrible disease. Not me, couldn't happen. I go to Carolina, I had just started making new friends, things like this don't happen to healthy 18 year old males. Maybe at State or something, but not me.
And now I've beaten it. That hasn't hit me yet- no way I could get cancer and beat it within a few months. I'm still waiting for the whole "I've seriously got cancer" and "I just beat cancer" thing to sink in.
As for the past few months, they have been the absolute best and worst of times. I could not have ever realized how much I impacted people around me without something as dramatic as this happening, and my eyes were opened. I felt unbelievable knowing that around every blood check and MRI, everybody associated with my upbringing for the first 18 years of my life had my back 100%. And that right there makes the difference. Every card sent, gift, dinner, prayer, thought, time spent, and question about how I was sent bursts of hope through me. No one person actually beats cancer. A large group of people all rallying towards one goal beat it. So now, we can all take a deep breath: I'm done. Chase Jones, that kid who randomly got a brain tumor, is now that kid who randomly beat a brain tumor.
My thanks goes out to everybody, literally everybody, that had ever known me. That is the only way I would have ever managed this. Cliche- yes. Unmeaningful- never. I am indebtted to everybody in the best way possible.
Most importantly though, I have to thank my family. It was funny- I spent my entire senior year dying to get out of my house. I was ready to jump to the west coast, live on my own, forget the past, and never look at North Carolina ever again. After being in Houston for 6 weeks, I realized there was only place God created for me: home. To my mom: my only hope is for you to get cancer one day so I can possibly ever take care of you half as good as you have for me. Given, sometimes I have grown tired of seeing you at my side every day. But nothing will ever compare than the love that you've given me. You made me hot dogs when that was the only thing I'd eat, and you made me everything else when I could never stop eating. It takes a special person to do what you did, and if I ever become something, you made me it. Aunt Beth- I think your writing made more people interested about me than I ever did, and I thank you for everything that you have helped with. I don't know how you put up with me being cranky throughout this thing, yet there was still a blog to check all the time. And to the rest of my family- Dad, Jacob, Grandma, Memaw, every Uncle and Aunt, distant family, cousin, pet, and every one of my friends- I am where I am today because of your support. There is no way around it; without a family to lean against, I would have fallen a long time ago. And to God- well, needless to say we had a lot of long talks during a lot of sleepless nights. It gets awkward to pray to not wake up, to pray to just be done with everything at that time. I am alive, and could not be happier. Folks, if you ever doubt there is a God or that He loves, look at me. I'm a perfect example. After that, there is no argument.
On that note, this was probably the longest post of all time. Again, thank you to everybody for the support. Ragsdale- I'm speechless. I did not think announcing the lunch menu would bring this many supporters. But I always knew if I was ever low, I could walk into my former high school and immediately be cheered up by anybody there. I hope I did not kill everybody's time reading this, but I could seriously go on thanking all day.
I beat it. Check that. WE beat it. And that is the best feeling I've ever experienced.
