Dancing Through Cancer: How Losing My Leg Led Me to the Screen
When I was 18, in March 1989, I was diagnosed with bone cancer. I even wrote a rap song about it – about losing my hair and staying positive. After almost two years of chemo and eight major operations, including losing my left leg above the knee, I beat six tumors and came out clean!
During my hospital stays, I tried to keep things light. I'd walk around with chopsticks in my nose and ears just to make people laugh. Other patients and I would have little parties during our chemo sessions. Making others smile helped me forget the pain.
Before cancer, I was a dancer on Soul Train. The doctors said I'd never dance again – but they were wrong! I still dance, with plenty of soul. Two years after my recovery, I started taking acting classes in Southern California. My first audition landed me a lead role on Northern Exposure, playing a wheelchair racer named Kim Greer. Later, I even got a bigger part on Beverly Hills 90210 as a campus activist.
Cancer couldn't stop me from pursuing new adventures. I learned to snow ski on one leg, and now I race and teach others to ski. While I have goals in acting and writing, cancer taught me not to take life too seriously. Life is temporary, so I'm determined to have fun with it!
The physical and emotional pain taught me to love life with a passion. I don't wish cancer on anyone, but I wouldn't want to forget what I went through. It taught me that suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope. God has used my experience to help others, and I'm grateful for that.
Adapted by the story “From Chemo to on Camera” written by Kristine Kirsten featured in Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul.
For more information on how HuMOLYTE can support your gut health during chemotherapy, visit our product page or consult your health care provider.
This blog was reviewed by Dr. Sourabh Kharait.
This blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment plan, hydration strategies, or diet. The information provided here is based on general insights and may not apply to individual circumstances.
