Crossing the Finish Line

Back to the conclusion of our Kohttp://www.komencolumbus.org/men........We made it around the course, the entire 5K, together. I don't even remember 'posing' with Sally as we crossed the finish line, there was so much jubilation at that point. That is most of her family surrounding us. So much in our hearts. We saw families mourning a lost one, with photographs safety-pinned to t-shirts. We saw chemo sisters walking slowly with walkers. We saw baldness. We saw wigs. We saw funny hats. We saw hugs. We saw tears. We saw cheering. We saw it all. We crossed the finish line this year. That's a lot to celebrate in and of itself. That's a lot to soak up. Another year. For me, this is the year of my second diagnosis. The year that marks a second ring of survivorship. There are so many emotions. There are so many feelings. The weather was perfect. The support of our entire community was awe inspiring..... another record setting turnout. Our local newspaper, the Columbus Dispatch was printed on pink paper. It's good that we can come together, in support of one another. Each person's journey unique. Each person's journey their own set of triumphs, tragedies and turning points.

We each received our single pink rose just as the Survivor Ceremony was getting underway. We made it to the capitol steps just in time to hear legendary Chris Speilman begin his speech. He spoke of last year's race and knowing that it would be his wife Stephanie's final race, of her being pushed around the course in her wheel chair, and of their oldest child helping her out of the chair to take a step across the finish line. Poignant. Moving. Sobering. Heart wrenching. Deplorable. Triumphant. Chris, the football champion spoke of their journey together to the end. He promised that he would continue to dedicate his life & strength to the BC community gathered there together. He quoted scripture. He was amazingly pulled together. When I searched, I found that they, as a couple, have already raised over 6.5 million dollars toward research for a CURE.

Poignant doesn't quite capture the whole gamut of the feelings from the morning, but it's in the right direction. An awful lot of talent has been lost to this dis-ease. An awful lot of laughter and energy and love have been lost. An awful lot of creativity and enthusiasm have been stolen. A lot of hearts have been broken. Sobbering. Stunning. Searching for a CURE.