Christmas and New Year should have been a time to celebrate—but cancer doesn’t take a holiday. From missing out on simple things like a drink at Christmas, to the emotional weight of leaving 2012 behind, this chapter reflects the quieter challenges of recovery.

In this episode, I share my first hospital appointment of 2013—where I was told the words I’d been waiting for: I could go back to work. A moment that hit harder than I expected, and felt like I was finally getting my life back.

But it didn’t stop there.

From stepping back into Scouting and taking on a major leadership role at Kandersteg, to rebuilding my strength in the gym, this was about more than recovery—it was about taking control again.

This chapter is about progress, purpose, and proving to myself: cancer does not control my life.