February 4, 2013 - - - - World Cancer Day
Cancer knows no borders
Neither do those determined to
STAND UP!
When your life has been affected by cancer, your whole world changes. Most people go right to the negative impacts it has (unfortunately there are a bunch), but today I would like to focus on the one positive. Yes, I said positive. Now I would like to add a disclaimer before you all think I'm nuts - I would give ANYTHING for my brother not to have cancer. But since I cannot change that, I would like to take today's post, on World Cancer Day, to focus on one positive.
The Cancer community is the strongest community I am a part of.
When I say the 'Cancer Community' I mean the people that have been affected by cancer and have chosen to stand up - the patients, the parents, the sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, husbands, wives, cousins, doctors, friends, co-workers, teammates, neighbors, the list goes on and on...
The Cancer community is the strongest community I am a part of.
When I say the 'Cancer Community' I mean the people that have been affected by cancer and have chosen to stand up - the patients, the parents, the sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, husbands, wives, cousins, doctors, friends, co-workers, teammates, neighbors, the list goes on and on...
On July 18th, I entered into the cancer community kicking and screaming (some days I mean that literally). And on that day when I said out loud or typed "My brother was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer" I was instantly embraced by the 'community'. Whether I was on a colon cancer blog searching for answers to my million questions or when I put a blue ribbon as my Facebook profile picture, the 'community' reached out to first comfort me and then to say 'we're standing next you throughout this fight'.
Along the way I have met people that have left a footprint on my heart and will remain there forever. I have met survivors, I have met those in remission, I have met those that are on their 3rd and 4th cancer occurrence, and unfortunately I have met and corresponded with people that have not survived this awful disease. The strength and resilience of this community is beyond any word or phrase I can type. We didn't choose to be a part of this community, it unfortunately chose us. This community is strong and mighty and will not rest until we find a cure for all cancer.
So, for today, I choose to find the one positive that has come out of my brother having cancer. I choose to acknowledge the brave people that have embraced me into their community and have given me the strength to STAND UP!
Sox it to it Lar...
Along the way I have met people that have left a footprint on my heart and will remain there forever. I have met survivors, I have met those in remission, I have met those that are on their 3rd and 4th cancer occurrence, and unfortunately I have met and corresponded with people that have not survived this awful disease. The strength and resilience of this community is beyond any word or phrase I can type. We didn't choose to be a part of this community, it unfortunately chose us. This community is strong and mighty and will not rest until we find a cure for all cancer.
So, for today, I choose to find the one positive that has come out of my brother having cancer. I choose to acknowledge the brave people that have embraced me into their community and have given me the strength to STAND UP!
Sox it to it Lar...
