A Few of my Sistahs

Here's this year's t-shirt. Once I got started on writing the names, I just kept going -- and going -- and going. The design of this year's shirt left some pretty high priced real estate available on the back. Trust me, I did not in any way make a planned or exhaustive list of people to include. These are just a few of the names on the threads that I frequent at BCO and a few names of my dear survivor friends IRL (in real life) are sprinkled in the list as well. If anyone reads this and would still like to have their name added, or that of a family member, please just let me know, as there is additional room available and my Sharpie still has ink and I'm sure to have left out many. These are all women that I "talk" to via our web-based support group, or who have left me a private message there recently. Prayers to one & all. Thank goodness we have such a support system available to us. Thank you supporters of BCO.

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.

Saint and Faith

Yesterday was my first BC walk following the loss of my dear friend Pat, also known to many as Saint. It's been just 6 weeks since she left us here on earth, with an enormous gap in our hearts. I have traditionally written names of survivors on my official survivor t-shirt, while having the names of our angels written up around the shoulders. I just couldn't get myself started on listing names this year. I couldn't face moving Saint to the upper row -- with the angel choir.

I posted a brief post on FB with my lament. As often happens, there was a rally of support and having expressed my discomfort I was then able to get those names written. None the less my heart was very heavy to get the 'listing' underway. So often we hear comments at diagnosis, "Well that's the best cancer to get, no one dies from that anymore." A well intentioned sentiment, but one that is far from being accurate. Every year about 40,000 people's lives are cut short due to Breast Cancer and by far, most of those are women. Ah. I digress.

The FB posts said upbeat things like, "she'll be walking with you this year......"

I took those thoughts to mean metaphorically, as in, she'll be in your heart.

As we were waiting for the walk to get underway, my new pal Sally was explaining my scarf to her family members. She pulled out a ribbon to show that folks had written messages on these many ribbons. Lo and behold. Out of the three or four hundred choices, Sally pulled out THE very one that someone in Louisiana had 'unknowingly' written: Saints -- Faith -- Courage -- Love. I was amazed. I seriously couldn't believe it. This was certainly beyond a coincidence. This was a "God-wink" for certain. Flooded with memories, thoughts, emotions.... the whole nine yards. I guess Saint would indeed be walking with me.

That's just the beginning of the story. We were about half way around our 5K when we heard drummers off in the distance. As we got closer one of their chaparones was standing there to wave us on with her encouragement. I couldn't believe her t-shirt. Look closely, above, it reads: "SAINTS," with actual angel wings!!!!

Then I saw their sign. Then I saw the THANK YOU sign. Wowwowow. Seriously. I took a few pictures with my heart spinning. We gradually moved on with the crowd, with me watching back over my shoulder. Before I knew it there was a bearded gentleman reaching out his hand to shake mine. His t-shirt was also fitting: "Keep the FAITH."

Saint & Faith. Faith & Saint. Peanut butter & jelly. Jelly & peanut butter. She really was there with me. I just had to be on the lookout for the signs along the way.

Thunder Alley

When you're walking the Komen in Columbus, you know that you're nearing the finish line when you start to hear the roar of "Thunder Alley." It's always my favorite portion of the entire morning. I don't think that it's my imagination, but it seems like this year the number of motorcycles lining the sidewalks had swelled significantly from previous years. I'll keep my ears open for an official total report. The bikers rev their bikes and take turns shaking hands with the survivors. It gets me every time. This year they were lining both sides of the street -- on both sidewalks. There were motorcycles everywhere!! THUNDER ALLEY indeed. (****Joyce I missed you this year. I know you were at Family Fun Day. We must coordinate calendars further ahead next year.)

Favorite Images

Some things are better left unsaid.

Just savor the fun that was had by all.

Komen Kaleidoscope

The word PINK and the word CURE together.

My favorite image of the day.

It's time to move beyond awareness & move toward a CURE.

The balloons, the festooned trash cans and trees,

even the pile of pink cones,

the stash of survivor swag bags,

or sidewalk chalked pink ribbon....

The LOVE for our Mommy--

Each puts a catch in my throat, even on my 4th Komen.

We'd paint the world pink, if it meant progress toward

a CURE!!

Team January Komen

It's spring! It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, it's a beautiful day for a 5K!! My surgery was in January and on BCO we have a 'thread' -- actually a family of survivors, who all shared January Surgeries & BC as common denominators. We have come to love one another & have cheered and encouraged the progress & the set-backs of each one on the team. I think there are about 40 names on our list from around the country.

How amazing to find Sally, is my actual neighbor -- just down the street. We live in neighboring suburbs. Reynoldsburg for me, Pickerington for her. The movie theatre is just about half way between our houses. Too small a world!!!!!!!!! We figured this out several months ago. With my travels all over the eastern seaboard, we hadn't met before this morning. Just as soon as I was getting my car parked my phone was whizzing with a text. They were already on site. We met at the "Survivor Palooza's" pink tent!! I can't imagine how? But some how, she managed to recognize me from pictures. So here we are getting acquainted. The last picture in the series is her happy family. It was fun to act as their photographer. It was great to join their 'team' for the walk. Go TEAM JANUARY!!

Concluding Komen Memories

In the twenty-six months since my diagnosis, I have walked in four BC events: 3 Komen and 1 Strides Against BC by the American Cancer Society. I'm committed to continue my walking until a cure is found. Who is that caped crusader? Do you wonder?? He's the reason that I can function and walk into the future. Thank you dear heart for your continuous support and encouragement.

That last picture is the back of my t-shirt, with just a few of the women's names whose stories have touched my heart over the past couple of years. The majority of names are the 'nicks' used by survivors at heaven-sent BCO (http://www.breastcancer.org/) I walk to honor those whom I've met in real life & those who continue to inspire me over the web: chatters, beachies, escapees, house cleaners, cuties and prayer partners united together in support & friendship.

[***I appologize for all those whose names do not appear on my shirt. I started the writing at 5:24 this morning and eventually we had to leave to get downtown. LOL. Your stories are all held in my heart.]

The Grand Finale

Some of you know how much I like big endings!! Well picture all of the survivors mounting the back stairs into the State House and meeting in the enormous rotunda for a pep talk from fellow survivors..... repeating the word of our choice in that echo chamber: hope, believe, family, cure, hope, friends, treatment, hope, believe, hope, cure, hope, hope. Then we emerged together down the steps to the waiting cheers of the crowd -- taking our places on bleachers and steps to honor each other and our families. What a conclusion.