A friend's simple gesture of visiting the speaker during tough times, not discussing medical issues but instead focusing on the speaker's personal dreams, aspirations, and identity, helped in maintaining a sense of hope and self during the challenging period of illness.
Suleika Jaouad was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia when she was 22 years old. In this special two-part conversation, she talks with Maya about why she sees survival as a creative act, the problem with narratives that frame illness as a "hero’s journey," and the messy space that exists between illness and wellness.
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