There was a time not all that long ago, when I truly believed I wouldn’t be here. Not only in the general sense of still being alive, but also here in this moment: whole, hopeful, and healed. As a stage four lymphoma survivor, I’ve known fear so deep that it made me question everything. I’ve stared down hospital ceilings, prayed through the pain, and held onto faith even when hope felt like a whisper in the dark.

But then came this moment. This unexpected, unbelievable, joyful moment on The Jennifer Hudson Show, what so many lovingly call “the happy place.”

I wasn’t scheduled to be on stage that day. I was simply in the audience, soaking in the positive energy and being thankful just to witness the magic and energy of Jennifer Hudson. But then, my name was called. Me… Shanee’ Wilson.

In a flash, I was standing before Jennifer Hudson, the powerhouse herself, who was so graceful, warm, and genuine that it disarmed every nerve in my body. I was invited to share my story. For the first time, on a national stage, I spoke not as a patient or survivor, but as a woman reborn, one who refused to let cancer steal her voice, her joy, or her purpose.

In that exact moment, all my troubles washed away. It felt like time paused just long enough for God to whisper, “See? I told you I’d make a way.”

You want to know something even more miraculous? The show filmed on March 17th, which was St. Patrick’s Day, that also just so happens to be our daughter Heavenlyee’s birthday. A day of luck. A day of life. And now, a day I’ll forever remember as a turning point, not just in my journey as a survivor, but in my walk as a dreamer, a doer, and someone fiercely determined to live up to my God-given potential.

To some, it might have seemed like a brief TV moment. But for me? It was the opportunity. The dream. The light after years of fighting through shadows.

What made it even more magical was having my family there with me—my husband, our children, and my incredible mother. Their support carried me through the hardest nights, and now, we got to celebrate in the brightest of spotlights, together.

It wasn’t just TV. It was healing. It was purpose. It was proof that joy really does come in the morning. It was yet another reminder that trouble doesn’t last always.

To anyone still in the fight, still waiting on their moment: hold on. God will make a way.

And as for me? I’ll never forget what it felt like to stand in the happy place and finally feel like the most purposeful version of me.

Stay strong. Keep dreaming. And remember that sometimes, joy finds you right when you least expect it.