WE’RE GONNA LOVE YOU THROUGH IT

Hello there. A couple of weeks ago a woman by the name of Heather Von St. James contacted me asking if I’d do a blog post about cancer survival. Cancer touches far too many lives and, therefore, Heather was hoping bloggers might help by calling attention to all cancer survivors for their strength, stories and triumphs. June 5th was National Cancer Survivors Day and Heather, a 10 year survivor of a very rare form of cancer called mesothelioma, now spends her time advocating for those touched by mesothelioma and educating people on the dangers of asbestos. Please check out her blog by clicking here where you can read her story and learn a great deal about mesothelioma and cancer survival.

I wasn’t able to pull a blog post together in time for National Cancer Survivors Day, but I did do a little research and found that according to the American Cancer Society, in 2016 there will be an estimated 1.7 million new cancer cases diagnosed, and almost 600,000 people will die from various forms of cancer in the U.S. alone.  We all have friends or relatives affected by cancer, thus you have probably thought more than a few times as I have that there but for the grace of God go I.

Being contacted by Heather to write about cancer survival got me to thinking first about the people I have loved who lost their battles with cancer. Once such person was my dear friend Liz.

When I lived in Orange County my next door neighbor Liz and I would take an early morning walk around the golf course 5 days a week. We would meet before dawn in an effort to be home before our kids woke up and needed help getting ready for school. I cherished that time with Liz. Not only were we getting exercise, we were enhancing our mental health as well. Liz and I talked about everything, and after several years of walking and talking I think I came to know Liz better than most, as she did me. I missed her when we moved up to Lake Arrowhead, as Liz was funny and feisty, sweet and adorable. Shortly after we moved away Liz found out she had ovarian cancer. She fought a really hard and brave battle for several years, never losing her zest for life and her will to live. Although she cannot join the ranks of  “Cancer Survivors”, she should be celebrated for her very valiant efforts at survival.

Liz was one of those people that everyone loved. She had a battalion of friends and family that supported her through her battle. I do believe there truly is healing power when family and community rally around cancer victims as they fight for their lives. The community at Public School 22 in Graniteville, New York rallied around fourth grade teacher, Adriana Lopez, as she began the fight of her life against breast cancer. I understand that after a hard fought battle she is now cancer free. Watch this touching video tribute, but find a box of tissue first.

Earlier this week a 16-year-old cancer survivor stunned the audience of America’s Got Talent with her rendition of Rachel Platten’s, “Fight Song”. It earned her a Golden Buzzer from Simon Cowell!

So to all those people out there fighting a battle against cancer, stay tough, stay strong, and stay alive!

We’re Gonna Love You Through It!

Express Yourself!

No blog post is truly complete without a word from you. I’d be so delighted if you’d leave a comment below. 

All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Unless otherwise credited, all photos are the original property of Celia Becker @ www.AfterOrangeCounty.com and may not be reproduced without specific permission.