Still me, half a thyroid less ❤️‍🩹 I recently had the left side of my thyroid removed, because of a cancerous nodule. A number of gifts came from this: we discovered the lump early, it was contained to my left side, and no further treatment is needed.

Quite a bit of testing alongside the advice of multiple doctors led me here, and I am grateful to my village of health experts and the endocrine team at UCLA for guiding me through an emotional process. From the initial finding, to biopsy results, to the surgery itself and pathology reports, it’s an overwhelming process. I was surrounded by health leaders who allowed me to ask questions and be certain of my treatment.

Our health is our greatest asset, and while I’ve always believed it, nothing is more terrifying than feeling like it’s jeopardized. I have been reminded that one of the many reasons we do so much for our bodies — why we self-care, move, meditate, forgive, and nourish ourselves daily — is so that when things happen outside of our control we are best able to confront it all physically, emotionally & mentally. This experience has been a testament to that.

Lastly, thank you for your virtual light. This community has been alongside me for nearly a decade now, and you feel like home. A lot of kindness lives here, and I think it’s a beautiful corner of the internet. 🤍