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Our reason for relay
Topics: events
Posted by bwebb0703 Mon May 5, 2008 09:50:27 PDT
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Everything happens for a reason. That's what I tell myself everyday. When my father in law John was diagnosed with Cancer 3 1/2 years ago it was a tremendous blow. You wonder why him? Why did he get cancer? This is a man who married a woman with three small children and raised them as his own. A man with a family that adores him. A man who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. Why John? If you heard John speak of his cancer you would never know what he was going through. Not once did he complain of pain or expect you to feel sorry for him. He just saw it as a battle. A battle he planned to win.  In January 2007 John had a stem cell transplant as a last ditch effort to try and rid his body of the cancer. It was a rough road to say the least. Eight months in and out of the hospital. In August John was put in the ICU and put on a ventilator. During this time we received bitter sweet news. John had won his fight against cancer but was loosing his fight for life. The treatments had taken such a toll on his body that John lost his battle on August 17th, 2007. 

           Three years ago when John was diagnosed with cancer we decided we would start a Relay for Life Team as our way of honoring him and everyone else battling this horrific disease. As a caregiver for someone battling this disease you often feel as though your hands are tied. Raising money to help find a cure was our way of fighting back. It has since become a family and friends effort year after year. But this year has been especially tough as our original reason for relay (John) is no longer with us. This year my children have become my inspiration and a huge part of our relay team. The girls and their friends started a team under ours called "Cancer Care Cuties" and are recycling every Thursday at their school with all the proceeds going toward the team. The girls also grew out there hair this year and asked for donations as well as donated 24" of hair to Locks for Love. To say I am proud of my children and family is an understatement. Everyday they inspire me to be a better person and do all I can to help those battling cancer. The little things I watch and see them doing in order to try and get friends involved amazes me. I believe we will find a cure for cancer one day and it might just be because families like ours decided to get involved so that others do not have to experience the pain and heartache we did. Please don’t let John’s and countless others battle be in vain. But yet an inspiration to all of us to get involved. Join our team “The Wild Bunch" and many others on May 3rd and 4th at CSUB for The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Event. "There is no finish line until we find a cure"

For more information about Relay for Life please contact The American Cancer Society at 661-327-2424

 

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Comment From: sunnica

Thank you for sharing your story--John's story--and for making this paper yours. Comment From: mandidarrin

Wow...This story would be touching for anyone to read, but especially hit home with me. I lost my grandma just one month ago to cancer. You feel robbed...not only to lose such a caring and giving soul, but the first question that I asked was the same as yours..."Why her??" Being that her battle was a short one (just finding out in Oct. 2007 and leaving us on April 1, 2008) we really didn't have much time to get a team together for the Relay 4 Life. Not to mention that we were a little preoccupied with worrying about her. I plan to get together with my family and start planning now for a team in her honor next year!! I can only hope that we run into eachother next year and can share stories of our dear loved ones that we've lost to this horrible desease. The good thing is that we have lots of good memories that we cherish so much and hold close to our hearts!!

Comment From: bwebb0703

Thank you for your kind words. I am so sorry for your loss. I hope your memories bring you comfort in these upcoming months. I definitely hope to see you at relay next year. Relay is such a big help in dealing with cancer. It is definitely a sobbering experience to realize we are not alone in this and how many people have been affected. It is what inspires me every year to do our relay team. Look forward to meeting you.