Part 2 Fifteen Years Later :
Healing and Recovery , and Dealing with Self-doubt
By Ma * Shuqa Mira Murjan Photos by Carl F . Sermon
Will I ever dance again ?
Most dancers don ’ t know I ’ ve been bald or thought I purposely restyled my hair in shorter styles . To celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of cancer survivorship , it ’ s my responsibility to share my continuing recovery and healing experience and process as a health educator . This article is written for every dancer who has experienced self-doubt after undergoing either physical or mental trauma in their life . I intend to give you hope as I share my own experiences of the journey of recovery , healing , and a return to the state of receiving joy when dancing . The question should be : When will I dance again ?
Moments of panic and thoughts of “ Will I dance again ?” have run through my mind several times in my life . Numerous times this experience has occurred for me as I held my breath with worry . Now I have these memories of trauma and diagnosis etched in my brain as if frozen in time : post dual bunion surgery on both feet at the same time , broken ankle surgery times two - first to repair and then remove a metal plate , a fractured wrist , cancer surgery and chemotherapy , and back pain from several severe falls . This is a laundry list of injuries and medical issues , but the healing journey and the mental and physical recovery process are behind each incident .
A bit of levity to share with you . I ’ ve taken the opportunity to ask several doctors who treated me , “ Will I play the violin ?” They assumed I had played in the past and responded encouragingly , “ Of course , you will play the violin again .” I had the opportunity to laugh and say , “ Well , this is great news as I ’ ve never played the violin .”
May 2022 � The Belly Dance Chronicles 11