There are things in life that we encounter that will leave a mark on our souls and leave us changed. For me it has and seems it will always be cancer. Cancer is a scary word, it makes a lot of people really uncomfortable. Something that people refuse to talk about or when it is mentioned...awkward silence tends to follow. It is such a hush hush thing in our society, even though it is a major leading cause of death in Americans. We all know someone who has been touched by cancer, whether it be directly or indirectly. If you know me...you have been touched. I just wanted to share a bit about my story...if you don't really know it... and maybe you can understand why the causes I am going to share with you are important to me.
My maternal grandmother had melanoma five times in her lifetime, although that is not what she died of. My mother was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma when I was ten. It was a long battle that did a lot of damage to my immediate family. She went into remission when I was twelve or thirteen. I was diagnosed with melanoma when I was fifteen, hereditary....I will most likely have it again according to the doctors. I went into remission when I was sixteen and proceeded to lose my mother of complications from her cancer when I was seventeen. My last year of college my grandfather... my favorite man...was diagnosed with lymphoma and melanoma at the same time...he made it through okay...thankfully. Recently I have watched my best friend's mom struggle with the loss of her sister to cancer and a couple of months ago I found out that a friend from college lost her battle.
That is just a cut and dry run down of my relationship to cancer. I did not want to put to much emotion into it because...well...you would be reading all day. It has been apart of my life more than I ever dreamed it would be. I have seen it affect people surrounding me and I know what the mere word does to my emotions. I know that everyone is touched by it and that is why I am passionate about it...better to consume it than to have it consume me. That is why I wanted to share to websites that are near and dear to me and to this topic.
www.standup2cancer.org: The mission of this non-profit is to bring together the funds for research so medical doctors and researchers can stop fighting for research dollars and work together to find the cure for cancer. Each doctor is their own island of research, battling it out over money and time. It is time that we take a stand, let these doctors have a chance to share their knowledge and to work together. Some of you may have seen the big tv-thon that they had to kick off their organization last September. It was star studded and they had some amazing stories to share. I cried. It was so forward thinking and so amazing. It made me wonder why this had not been done years before. But it has been created and I hope that through this organization that we can see doctors and researchers working together so no one ever has to hear the words....you have cancer....ever again.
www.orwish.org: This is the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon. This organization helps children under the age of 18 with a life-threatening illness see a dream come true. I have had a wish granted through this wonderful non-profit. They help as many children as they can and do the most amazing things for them. I am starting the volunteer training with them in April and could not be more excited. Finally my chance to give back to such a wonderful group that helped me.
I know that all of you have something that has impacted you, something that has left a scar. Most wear their scars on the inside...I wear mine on the outside. This becomes your passion. Something that makes you want to give it all. I just wanted to share a few of mine with you. I hope I never have to hear the words, you have cancer, again in my life. Odds are not in my favor...but I pray that I don't....but if I do...I want an advocate, someone who will fight for me when I can no longer fight for myself. Until that time I will be someone to fight for that person who just cannot fight anymore.
"Time is shortening. But every day that I challenge this cancer and survive is a victory for me."
-Ingrid Bergman
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Katie, I have told you before and will tell you again... you are amazing. We have had many talks about cancer and your cancer and your families cancer. You have an amazing strength (I know you don't like that word used....but it best describes what you exude). I love you so much and thank Heavenly Father every day for your presence in my life!
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