My first REAL Relay

KathiM

So, Saturday was the first real relay for life I have attended...last year I was only strong enough to go around on the survivor lap, having been discharged just 4 days earlier from my bowel surgery.
I had many people come up to me (I'm still very hairless) and just start talking, wishing me the best, asking when my treatment would finish...a real extension of my online family here.
I never realized how much my life has changed, in many GOOD ways, since I came face-to-face with the beast. I must say Thank You to the beast for that.
But, I stood there during the opening ceremonies and cursed this disease as well. One of our fellow survivors, after 3 years, lost her fight. So that brings anger to me, and a lack of understanding of how such a horrible thing can happen. Her family was there, her dad said to me in a stunned voice, "It just was so quick". NO ONE should have to bury a child, regardless of their age.
Anyway, I thank you for tolerating my rambling...it was a very inspirational experience for me.
Hugs,
and MANY GOOD VIBES to all!
Kathi

cruf

Hi Kathy! Congratulations on your amazing experience! I'm getting ready to have my 6th Relay Team in a few weeks. It's been an amazing experience! HUGS!! Cathy

LesleyH

Hi Kathi,

Congratulations. You are an inspiration. I have heard other people talk of the good things that have come since the disease. I have not experienced that. I feel that I lost everything with the diagnosis, and may never recover. My life was wonderful one day, and in pieces the next.

I do enjoy your ramblings as you call it. It helps me try and put things in perspective.

Hugs.

Lesley

KathiM

LesleyH said:

Hi Kathi,

Congratulations. You are an inspiration. I have heard other people talk of the good things that have come since the disease. I have not experienced that. I feel that I lost everything with the diagnosis, and may never recover. My life was wonderful one day, and in pieces the next.

I do enjoy your ramblings as you call it. It helps me try and put things in perspective.

Hugs.

Lesley

Oh, Lesley, I'm hugging ya right now! Sometimes finding the good things in the bad are like an egg hunt...not all are easy to find. I frantically search for them, trying to find a small thing to laugh or smile about every day. It keeps me going, and ANYTHING I can do to help, please let me know...
BIG HUGS,
Kathi

KathiM

cruf said:

Hi Kathy! Congratulations on your amazing experience! I'm getting ready to have my 6th Relay Team in a few weeks. It's been an amazing experience! HUGS!! Cathy

WOW! 6! I'm tired just thinking about that, Cathy! Are you headed for D.C. this year? (Celebration on the Hill). Thank you for all of your help in fighting the beast!
Hugs,
Kathi

katcam

LesleyH said:

Hi Kathi,

Congratulations. You are an inspiration. I have heard other people talk of the good things that have come since the disease. I have not experienced that. I feel that I lost everything with the diagnosis, and may never recover. My life was wonderful one day, and in pieces the next.

I do enjoy your ramblings as you call it. It helps me try and put things in perspective.

Hugs.

Lesley

Hi Lesley, i felt the same way when my cancer returned. i know personally of one really good thing for you - when you responded to my first posting i was sooo depressed and thought that i was going crazy, but your words encouraged me so much. i felt like a huge weight had been lifted from me just knowing someone out there knew what i felt. i'm sure you have helped so many others feel better. i just hope that i can be half as encouraging to others as you have been to me!! you are an inspiration!! :-) kat

LesleyH

katcam said:

Hi Lesley, i felt the same way when my cancer returned. i know personally of one really good thing for you - when you responded to my first posting i was sooo depressed and thought that i was going crazy, but your words encouraged me so much. i felt like a huge weight had been lifted from me just knowing someone out there knew what i felt. i'm sure you have helped so many others feel better. i just hope that i can be half as encouraging to others as you have been to me!! you are an inspiration!! :-) kat

Oh Gosh. I didn't mean to sound like a whine. You are both so incredibly kind. I just meant that you seem to find good things from this situation we are in. I find that so hard to do. I know it could be worse and I am so grateful it is not. But my life before... Sigh...I miss my life before... It was wonderful. I had a job which I lost and a home which we had to sell. I was finishing up my PhD eventually and had job offers galore. Then I was diagnosed and everything came crashing down.

Hugs to you all.

Lesley

KathiM

LesleyH said:

Oh Gosh. I didn't mean to sound like a whine. You are both so incredibly kind. I just meant that you seem to find good things from this situation we are in. I find that so hard to do. I know it could be worse and I am so grateful it is not. But my life before... Sigh...I miss my life before... It was wonderful. I had a job which I lost and a home which we had to sell. I was finishing up my PhD eventually and had job offers galore. Then I was diagnosed and everything came crashing down.

Hugs to you all.

Lesley

Hey, gal, don't think I haven't had MY moments...I cursed everybody and everything for awhile...and on just this Thursday when I tore some of my adhesions (It HURT like the devil) I let myself have a HUGE pity party...Brave? NOT ME! As I am fond of saying, Brave means you have a CHOICE, and decide to go into battle. Cancer gives you NO CHOICE...and takes no prisoners...I just hate to lose more than I hate anything!
Hugs,
Kathi

katcam

LesleyH said:

Oh Gosh. I didn't mean to sound like a whine. You are both so incredibly kind. I just meant that you seem to find good things from this situation we are in. I find that so hard to do. I know it could be worse and I am so grateful it is not. But my life before... Sigh...I miss my life before... It was wonderful. I had a job which I lost and a home which we had to sell. I was finishing up my PhD eventually and had job offers galore. Then I was diagnosed and everything came crashing down.

Hugs to you all.

Lesley

i think we all miss our lives before the big "C". i know i do. i also don't think you sounded like a whine - just like we all do at times... :-)