Hot Off The Press….
This just in: Kelly “sells” a story. Details on the 6 o’clock news. Before we proceed any further, there was no exchange of money. No Pay To The Order Of – Kelly U’Ren Moody, Freelance Writer.
And, Now – The Backstory…
Well, who are we kidding? Isn’t there usually a “story” behind most stories? I began following an organization on Twitter that provides gifts to help those affected by cancer. Lo and behold, they followed me back. I also received a message from a doctor that works for the company. She asked me about my writing. Ah, she read my profile. I’m still not quite accustomed to – Occupation: WRITER. But, I digress. She explained to me that they occasionally publish stories from individuals that have a cancer story to tell. Do I have a cancer story to tell? Do I? I have several. A few final words from the good doctor – it had to be an original and in lieu of payment, I should provide the link to all of my social media platforms and my website. Get my name out to the masses instead of greenback? Okay. Yes, of course, exposure is a good thing. I repeated this mantra, if you will, over and over – “It’s not about the money. It’s not about the money.” Until….I actually read the story. These people did what??
The Moral of This Story Is….
Don’t change my story. Do not, under any circumstances, change MY story. Why? Oh, yes, because it’s MY Story. Yes, immunotherapy did save my life to this point, but In Remission? Did I say that? No Evidence of Disease is not the same as “Remission” or “Cancer Free”. It simply means that the cancer is not visible on the CT scan, but immunotherapy is a tricky devil and how long will it continue to work, hmmm….My oncologist told me in no uncertain terms that he’d never lie to me and that these are not terms that he was taught in medical school. I know plenty of folks, in my head and neck FB group, that have said they’ve been told these words by their respective doctors. I simply congratulate them and move on. That being said, I am Grateful for my doctor’s honesty. I don’t dwell on the what-ifs. My life is a One Day At A Time kind of life.
One Final Note – Or, Maybe Two….
1. I reached out to this organization to no avail. No retraction of the story.
2. For those who developed this website, that provides products that help comfort those who just want to rest after a long day of treatment or a surgery – Thank You!! I mean no disrespect.
*This is just a simple reminder that words are not just words….
With Love, K xo
*And now the link to my story