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most emotionally trying issues haunting

my thoughts during my first 15-day hos-

pitalization.” However, a blood test on

Jan. 1 indicated that her blood count was

in a healthy range to lift. Wasting no time,

she immediately hit the gym, developing

a schedule to fit her very regular chemo

treatments.

“Not only do I exercise while connected

to chemo in the hospital, but I continue

to lift whatever I can when my immune

system is up and running. I urge everyone

to seek some form of physical fitness that

excites them!”

2

MENTAL FITNESS

Writing has always been a private

form of therapy for Saleebyan.

She uses writing to channel her

thoughts and her feelings through lan-

guage, and her love of writing led her to

pursue a degree in English.

“Mental fitness comes with keep-

ing your mind active, and reflecting on

my journey was key for me,” she says.

“Everyone deals with life’s challenges in

different ways. Some cancer patients try

to ignore their diagnosis. I embraced it,

reflected on it, contemplated and stared

directly into its eyes, all through my writ-

ing. Being honest with myself about what

I am undergoing and then deciding what

to do about it has kept me motivated at

every turn.”

Saleebyan urges everyone to seek their

own unique channel of expression to keep

motivated and inspired.

3

GOOD CARE

“When your life is in the hands of

experts, you can focus on living,” Salee-

byan says. She credits her recovery to the

expertly trained medical staff at GAMC.

She says, “They literally saved my life.”

While at GAMC, she received treat-

ment from her primary oncologist,

David Shin, MD, who led her through her

chemotherapy.

“Bliss received an intense combina-

tion chemotherapy that is continuously

administered around the clock for several

days inside the hospital,” explains Dr. Shin.

“She endured six hospitalizations every

three weeks.”

She immediately received the most

aggressive and effective form of chemo-

therapy available.

“Over the course of her treatment I

got to know Bliss very well. We formed a

strong bond instantly. She has such a tena-

cious character, she was an ideal patient,”

says Dr. Shin. “Because of Bliss’ positive

character, she was adored by everyone:

the nurses, staff and anyone that met her.

She was like a star on our oncology floor!”

She says this about her care at GAMC:

“The exceptional care of nurses, doctors

and even non-medical staff at the hospital

has made me not only confident in my

care, but feeling almost at home during

my regular six-day hospital stays.”

Saleebyan’s refusal to let her illness

define her everyday life is what kept her

constantly moving forward.

“Fitness, both mental and physical, is

a state of mind, and despite the severe

attack my body is under, I have been

fighting not just for my life, but for my

strength and my dignity, which is more

than intact!” she says. “I could not have

done so well without all the love, the

lifting, and—of course—some good old

fashioned stubbornness!”

Source: International Powerlifting Federation

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