So, Friday night was the big event, the Relay For Life I was participating in in honor of my sister! The night was amazing. It meant so much to have my sorority sisters there to back me up, and the night was filled with lots of fun and some very touching ceremonies. I could write a whole post about how great the night was, but sometimes words just don't sum it up. I couldn't do it justice. Amazingly, I was given the opportunity by the Staff members that were running the event to speak at the Fight Back ceremony; a ceremony dedicated to the fight against cancer. They asked me to speak about how cancer has touched me through my sister, and what I've done to fight back. I thought this is the best way to sum up the night and why I worked so hard for Relay For Life.
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Cancer is a word that you never want to hear in reference to someone you love. Unfortunately, that word has been assoicated with someone I love.
On November 25, 2009, my world was turned upside down when my 16 year old sister was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. Suddenly, all the things I took for granted like being in each others weddings, and having our kids grow up together were being threatened. Suddenly, I was imagining a world without my sister and my heart was breaking. Instead of her life being consumed with boys, gossip and prom like it should be, her life was consumed by radiatoin, chemotherapy, and blood transfusions. Instead of being in and out the hippest parties, she was in and out of the hospital.
Ever since she was diagnosed, I had the overwhelming urge to do something. I wanted to take away her pain, and most of all her cancer. Although I couldn't do that, through Relay For Life I found something I could do. I found a way to fight back against her cancer. I put together a team in my sisters honor with my sorority sisters help. Immediately, I reached out to friends and family who knew what my family was going through and told them what I was doing to help. Through my efforts, I was able to raise over $1000 individually. Relay For Life gave me the opportunity to fight back, and I couldn't be more thankful I got involved.
Watching my sister fight cancer has taught me so much. I learned not to take things for granted and not to take everyday for granted, it taught me how to be strong, and not to give up.
I know that next year at Relay For Life, I am going to watch my sister take that Survivor's Lap after all of this is behind her, and I'll never have been prouder.
