Joan Durnell Powell

I am so glad to be given this opportunity to share my voice and expressions as a patient with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). MDS is a rare blood disorder due to bone marrow failure. I was diagnosed in October 2014 with this cancer.

This is an incurable disease only with a bone marrow transplant. I am not a patient candidate. I am receiving treatment with medication and red blood cell transfusions.

Sharing my feelings in my poem, I had to learn a new normal in my life journey:

I had to learn how use my voice to sing again.

I had to learn how to spread my wings again.

I had to learn how to truly trust in love again.

I had to learn how to embrace a hug again.

I had to learn how to cherish the wind and run again.

I had to learn to feel the warm touch of the sun again.

I had to learn how to wipe the tears and try again.

I had to learn how to get busy living and fly again.

I had to learn how to struggle to live again.

I had to learn how to let my heart smile and give again.

I had to learn how to fight this inner war again.

I had to learn how to open wide the cure store again.

I had to learn how say, "Never give up my dear."

This poem was originally submitted for the CURE® 2021 Poetry Contest. Submissions are open until August 15 and poems can be submitted

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