It was Sept. 1, 2009, when I received the call that I had thyroid cancer. I was just 26 years old and 14 weeks pregnant with my second child. 

That day marked the beginning of my cancer journey, one that I am still on almost 12 years later. In the beginning, I longed to hear the words "cured" and "remission" or, in thyroid cancer terms, "no evidence of disease." I thought those were the words I needed to hear in order to earn the title of survivor. However, after four surgeries, countless scans, and two radioactive iodine treatments, I still have yet to hear that the cancer is all gone. 

What I have learned is that survivorship begins the first day you are diagnosed. No one's journey with this disease is the same. I know now there isn't a specific day or test result we should wait for to celebrate. We should celebrate now…celebrate every day that we are here. Each victory, each day, each moment should be celebrated. That is survivorship – a title I earned from that very first phone call. 

I share the title of survivor with my family – because that phone call 12 years ago changed much more than just my life. I'm blessed to share this journey with my husband and four children – this includes the child whom I was pregnant with at the beginning of my story. My son, Leo, is now a very healthy 11-year-old and is a daily reminder to me of the preciousness of life. 

Today, I'm still monitored for thyroid cancer because my bloodwork does continue to show microscopic disease, but it is stable. I'm told I'm probably never going to hear the words "cancer-free" or "cured." But, I'm okay with that. I have learned enough now to trust God and not let the fear of tomorrow rule over me. It's really a gift to live with the reality that this life is short and we should spend our time enjoying the life right in front of us. That is survivorship.