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I’m not going into too much detail, but I’ve spent the last ten months chasing life. I admit I’m stealing that phrase from the new ABC Family TV show, which I just happen to be watching right now, but when the shoe fits……
On the show, the main character is given a scary diagnosis just as she’s kicking off her career as a writer. She’s hesitant to tell her family and she wonders how it’s going to impact every aspect of her life.
Well, I had the same thing happen to me not so long ago, the difference between she and I being age. I’m older, I have kids, I’m not starting out. However, I have a family that the diagnosis impacted, and as I wait for the lead character to tell her mother, I completely relate to her dilemma.
I couldn’t tell my mom either when my diagnosis was confirmed. I knew it would hit her like a rock falling from the sky.
And it did, I won’t lie. I don’t think she’s ever fully recovered, as much as I try to convince her that I’ll be fine. But there is no way to know that for sure.
I’m Chasing Life
However, my prognosis is good. I feel great, and to be honest, I have a new lease on life. In the short time I’ve known about my condition, I’ve ridden in a 40-mile bike ride, gone swimming with dolphins, taken my family on a cruise, gone back to graduate school. Talk about a 360 degree turn!
You know why? I am chasing life. I’m chasing it so fast that I worry about catching up. Things happen in life that we can’t control and this was one. I have two young children who need me, a husband I adore, a life to live and so many places to travel. Next month I’m traveling to Brazil, and I’m already secretly planning that trip to India with a friend of mine (Shhh…don’t tell my husband!).
The moral of my story: ENJOY LIFE. Appreciate every moment. I had a wake-up call, and I’m not sure how long the call will last.
Frequently asked questions
What is Chasing Life about?
Chasing Life was an ABC Family (now Freeform) drama (2014-2015) starring Italia Ricci as April Carver, a 24-year-old Boston journalist diagnosed with leukemia. The show followed her career, family relationships, romance, and treatment over two seasons before its cancellation.
Why was Chasing Life cancelled?
ABC Family cancelled Chasing Life after two seasons due to declining ratings — a common fate for serialized cable dramas. The cancellation prompted a vocal fan campaign, with creators wrapping the final episode with as much closure as the truncated runtime allowed.
Where can I watch Chasing Life?
Chasing Life is available on Hulu in some regions and through Freeform’s streaming archive. Used DVDs of season 1 and 2 are available on Amazon and eBay. Availability varies by region — check current streaming guides.
How does Chasing Life portray cancer?
Critics widely praised Chasing Life for portraying cancer treatment realistically — hair loss, chemo fatigue, fertility worries, and the complicated dynamics of being a young person inside a medical system designed for older patients. Italia Ricci’s performance was singled out.
Why do mothers connect with Chasing Life?
The show’s depiction of a mother (April’s mom Sara) navigating her adult daughter’s illness — the helplessness, the role reversal, the work of letting an adult child handle her own diagnosis — resonates strongly with mothers of young adult children.
What other shows are like Chasing Life?
For young-adult illness drama: A Walk to Remember (film), The Fault in Our Stars (film), Everything, Everything (film), Five Feet Apart (film). For mother-daughter drama with health themes: Gilmore Girls (lighter), This Is Us (broader), Parenthood (family illness).