Recall the song, “I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky?” A moving inspirational anthem especially in school musicals, singing out life affirming words. I wish I had it piped into the sound system in the treatment room.

When I consult a patient and discuss therapy, I often see the eyes cloud over and a stare replaces engagement. Some patients or families take notes avidly, others really do not want all the information. Not everyone believes they can see it or believes they can do it. The ability to have faith in themselves doesn’t automatically happen when the diagnosis or some life drama appears.

Take Shannon, she gets the children to school, herself to work, stops midday for radiation then reverses her day. There is lots of drama, enough for a reality show in between her footsteps. Does it sound like your life without the lunch “break” ? With the life altering diagnosis that upends their world I am always relieved to see patients who accept and continue moving forward. I want you to know what reality stars these patients are to me. Shannon like others on this path are not intending to inspire others. They all just have a vision.

They want to be healed, a simple plan. They crave normalcy. They want to live an uneventful, uninspiring, quiet, peaceful, boring life. They didn’t sign up for the drama but they work at it everyday. There will be no awards but there will be rewards for their efforts.

Shannon’s simple vision is to be a working mom. She fulfills that everyday. Her goals are not in some distant future. Vision happens with each moment empowering the next.

I admire Shannon and other patients who work for their wellness, taking steps to solidify their own vision into reality. I believe that with vision and belief in themselves, they can all fly.