The afternoon of April 10, I had finally made the time to see the doctor for a stomach pain that had been bothering me for a few days. The thought was to go in for a routine visit. I had planned to go to the office in the morning, and then in the afternoon get the lab tests done before seeing the doctor. 

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Calm and ready, with a plan for the day, I never stopped to imagine the twist life would take. 

 

As I described the symptoms to the doctor, she thought it be best if I went immediately to get an ultrasound. That pain, as she said, was not normal in any way.

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Like the good boy I am, I went immediately to get the exam done. 

 

I waited for the results, now with a doughnut and orange juice in hand. I sat back in front of a new doctor with the results in hand. In that moment his face read like a tragic poem. He scanned the images and only said, "I'm sorry. I need to run these results with one of my colleagues".

After 25 minutes the doctor returned, looked me in the eye, and with a firm voice said, "we need to get to the point. This could be cancer. And you need to see another doctor immediately".

 

In that very moment I didn't process what was being said. I just sat there. Completely alone. Stone cold, just processing the possibility. My first reaction was indignation. I just couldn't understand how they could say cancer from a simple ultrasound. I barely listened and immediately left in order to call my brother Miguel.

 

Once outside, and without uttering a simple word, with the phone on my ear and tears streaming through my face, I could only hear his voice say, "get to the point and tell me what's wrong".

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In between sobs, I was able to explain what that bitter afternoon had prepared. But it was in that moment that I also felt for the first time true love, as I listened to my brother say, "do not worry, we will do whatever is needed. I am here for you".

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From that day onward, that love I felt, would repeat time after time: from my parents, siblings, friends and girlfriend. After that day, all I felt was unconditional love.  

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And it's here where a new day begins...

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