I am sure your parents and family must be so proud of you.
Will keep it short and sweet and say the first thing I thought of when reading your post was;
What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." -Friedrich Nietzsche
Good luck with your achieving your goals but somehow I just know you will make it happen.
Way to go Dave cool

History Leukoplakia bx 8/2006 SCC floor mouth T3N0M0- Verrucous Carcinoma.
14 hour 0p SCC-Right ND/excision/marginal mandibulectomy 9/2006, 4 teeth removed, flap from wrist, trach-ng 6 days- no chemo/rad.
6 ops and debulking (flap/tongue join) + bx's 2006-2012.
bx Jan 2012 Hyperkeratosis-Epithelial Dysplasia
24cm GIST tumour removed 8/2013. Indefinite Oral Chemo.

1/31/16 passed away peacefully surrounded by family