Celebrating Life - A Sarcoma Awareness Month Special
- Maddie Cowey
- Jul 31
- 4 min read
Well, I've not been blogging regularly at all. I do have lots to say, but very little time/energy to write and share. To be honest, I have just been trying to live a little more 'normally' recently, giving less of my focus, time and energy to cancer - it already takes so much. But, as July is Sarcoma Awareness Month I feel a pull to write something.
Most years I've spoken around the topic of Sarcoma Awareness, and got much more involved in the campaigns. I don't really feel the need to duplicate that stuff right now, so let me just point you in the direction of some of that content and move on to what I want to share today...
2023 - Meet Maddie
Onto today's blog! Buckle in, it's a reflective one...
I feel it is fitting to end Sarcoma Awareness Month with a bit of a celebration. Having cancer is shite. The past year has been really tough at times and it can be hard to find time to see the good stuff. We often get hung up on the tough times but I always try to hold more space for the good. I don't want to give too much energy to how cancer has impacted me this year.
That said, for a bit of context... back in November last year, my wonderful friend, Jen Eve Taylor, died of sarcoma. Jen was a force of nature and achieved so so much in even her short life (we're talking publishing a Novel and releasing an album levels of cool). Jen had very few treatment options and was told time and time again that she was likely to die soon, yet defied expectations again and again. In the end, the disease was too aggressive and the treatment options lacking. A sadly too common tale where Sarcoma is concerned. Then, back in February, a very close and dear friend of mine died of breast cancer. Sukhy. She was a true superstar, one of the best people I've ever known. I miss her every day. I was fortunate enough to be there the day before she died to say goodbye and tell her how loved she was.
Losing two great friends quite close together has really hit home to me how short life is, and has reminded me about the important things in life. Sukhy was laughing and joking right until her last moments. Even in her suffering, she was still able to smile. She was also so deeply loved. Sukhy was a huge cheerleader for all the fun and joy in life. She lived and loved her closest people so loudly. Sukhy, Jen, and the other incredible people I've met since my cancer diagnosis continue to inspire me every day and motivate me to live my life in a way that brings me joy.
Sukhy's death has spurred me on to do more of the stuff that brings me joy, and has made me feel even more grateful for any time and health I get. Sukhy knew she was dying, but in the end it happened so fast that it was such a shock and I feel reminded that nothing in life is guaranteed. In that awfully cringey, soppy vein, I want to reflect on my highlights from the past 12 months. All the big and small 'life' things that wouldn't have happened if it weren't for Sarcoma research and the treatment I've had over the past 9 years, keeping me alive. Time goes by so quickly as an adult and we rarely give ourselves the chance to reflect - so instead of focusing on the boring details of Sarcoma Awareness, I'd rather do this.
In no particular order, here's some things (photos included) that I feel lucky to have lived through this year since last July, (from a girl who never believed she'd make it to 27 let alone be healthy enough to enjoy life like this!):
Watching my sister graduate; Festivalling with friends; Seeing Taylor Swift at Wembley (twice...); Many many other gigs (incl: Finneas, Lizzie McAlpine, Rizzle Kicks; Bastille; Martin Luke Brown; Jojo Siwa; Billie Eilish; Olivia Rodrigo; Noah Kahan; Gracie Abrams); Theatre trips (Hamilton; Girl on the Train; The Devil Wears Prada; Thanks for Having Me); Celebrating my 9th Cancerversary with a humungous chocolate cake; Being photographed and interviewed for The Guardian; Spending time with family; Celebrating a new arrival to the family; Celebrating another new arrival; Visiting new countries/cities (Malta, Porto, Mallorca, Riga, AND Vietnam); Turning 27; Campaigning at Parliament, including getting to share my story with Politicians and getting to see the Assisted Dying Bill through 2nd and 3rd readings; Seeing one of my besties get married; So many sunsets; Many swims in lidos and dips in the sea; Eating so much good food; Making new friends; Taking singing lessons for the first time; Watching certain live sports for the first time (Rugby at Twickenham and Tennis at Wimbledon!); and honestly so much more.
Obviously, there are lots of huge things in that list (like Vietnam! I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to do that!), but honestly the small daily things have brought me so much joy, too. I would highly encourage you to reflect on your past 12 months - it has been a really fun exercise for me, especially looking through photos. List out some of the happy moments and put your focus on those rather than the low moments. Of course, it is important to reflect on and process the sad things that happen, to grieve losses properly and let yourself have the negative emotions, but also life flies by and is too short to spend wishing things were different.
So this has felt extremely self-indulgent and cringey to write, however, I stand by the sentiment of this post. I'd much rather give my energy to the joys in my life than force myself to write a dreary awareness post.
Thanks for reading, and as always, until next time,
M x
P.S. I was featured in The Guardian! Check it out here:
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