My Terminal Life

Book excerpt: If you were diagnosed with a terminal illness today, what would you do with the rest of your life? People sometimes ask themselves this question theoretically as a kind of inspirational exercise. And most say things like quitting their job and traveling the world, or going skydiving, or any number of things that might make them feel more alive. But for Amy Lyn Schnitzler, there was nothing theoretical about the question. Amy was first diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2016 when she was 26-years-old. By November, it had progressed to metastatic; a terminal diagnosis.For Amy, her terminal diagnosis was everything you might expect - heartbreaking, fear-inducing and painful - but it was also a wake up call. She didn't want to go skydiving or traveling. She wanted to live. Not for adventure, but for herself and those who loved her. She decided to catalogue her journey through blogging. These posts and other writings have become My Terminal Life: Cancer Habitation and Other Life Adventures. Her stories are funny, raw, and honest. They take us from her body shame to walking a fashion show runway in lingerie, and from the depths of her despair to a determination not only to live, but to thrive. Through it all, she portrays a heroic willingness to be transparent about her experiences so that others might better understand.