Two Sleeps Away from Phase 2

Well…my next surgery — which will include skin grafts — is scheduled for Friday morning. I have to be at the hospital by 6 AM. I am TERRIFIED — much more than I was when I had the surgery to remove my breasts two weeks ago.

Luckily, I work with some pretty amazing people who, before my last surgery, shared some encouragement, support, and love with me via written (well, typed) messages. So I’m re-reading these now.

I wanted to include these in my blog because they are such an important part of my journey. While I have my wife (who is an absolute ANGEL), her family, and our friends — I really don’t have my family. I’ve never had a relationship with my mom. My dad basically stopped speaking to me after I announced I was trans. My brother doesn’t speak to me. All of my aunts are basically MIA to me because they are Trump supporters, and I don’t understand how they can support someone who wants nothing more than to take away my rights and treat me like some second-class citizen. He hates LGBTQ people — but especially trans people. Thankfully both of my sisters are checking in on me, and have been accepting.

Knowing that I have so much love and support from my Cisco family means the world to me. So, of course, it has to be included in my “journey” that is my blog.

Alright…lunch break is over. Part 2 to be written later in a separate story.

I’ll end this with a Brene Brown quote:

You may not have signed up for a hero’s journey, but the second you fell down, got your butt kicked, suffered a disappointment, screwed up or felt your heart break, it started. It doesn’t matter whether we are ready for an emotional adventure — hurt happens. And it happens to every single one of us. Without exception. The only decision we get to make is what role we’ll play in our own lives: Do we want to write the story or do we want to hand that power over to someone else? Choosing to write our own story means getting uncomfortable; it’s choosing courage over comfort.

Fitting for me right now, don’t you think?

✌ and 💜,

Liam