Tuesday, September 15, 2009

An Anniversary, A Remembrance, A Request

It was one year ago, on Monday, September 15th, 2008, at about 2:00 pm that I spoke with a woman from Huntsman Cancer Institute on the phone who answered to my cheery request, "So, do you have good news for me?" "No, I am very sorry, but I don't. Your tests came back positive, you have breast cancer. Two types...." So began the year of amazement for me.

My hours and days and months which followed have hosted a conglomeration of tears, well wishes, prayers, lifting activities, laughs, kindnesses, sacrifices; so many emotions and experiences! I hope someday to be able to chronicle in a meaninful way the love, support, strength, faith, humor, and goodness you have all shared with me throughout this last year; so that others, when wondering what to do for someone they know who is faced with a similar diagnosis, or who faces challenging times of any kind, can look to the example of my people for direction...for indeed, it is you, dear ones, who have set a standard higher than any I could have ever imagined. I honor you.

In order to celebrate my anniversary, I would like to invite you all to join with me in an activity which will infuse your goodness in new directions--you have kindly focused on me for the last 12 months, now I would invite you to extend those endeavors to another who is either a survivor, a care-giver, or a relative of someone who did not win against cancer. The request is this: send a note, place a call, or pay a visit to these folks today, let them know why you are thrilled that they are around, or what influence for good that they have had in your lives. You have overwhelmed me with your expressions of love throughout the last year; it would please me to no end for you to continue to extend this same remarkable love to someone else. I hope that you will celebrate every September 15th, a day which has become in someways my new birthday, with me by doing what you do so AMAZINGLY well...loving others.