“We spend too much time hiding illness. There is an assumption that I must always look the same. Being sick is no fun. But you can have fun while you’re sick. ..cancer of the salivary gland spread to my right lower jaw. A segment of the mandible was removed. Two operations to replace the missing segment were unsuccessful, both leading to unanticipated bleeding. A tracheostomy was necessary so, for the time being, I cannot speak.