A week ago, last Friday night, we attended the Relay For Life: Cancer walk in Marshall. We have attended this event in the past when we have been in town, but we all felt it was definitely something we didn't want to miss this year. The stands were full and all of the people on the floor in purple were the survivors there to celebrate. Their shirts said, "Had it, fought it, survived it."
Grandma came with us. I really don't know how to explain all of the emotions that are experienced at this event. It is difficult...I lost my Grandpa to cancer and this is how this event first became personally significant in my life. And recently taken on even more significance. When you watch someone suffering from cancer and especially when it is hurting the ones you love.... you really loathe it and in so many ways you feel helpless in its path!
The unique experience about this event is all of the people coming together in order to remember the ones we have lost, support one another, encourage each other, celebrate in the lives that have been able to fight it, and somehow you try so hard to find some hope in whatever reason you have for attending. These girls just got done donating their hair.
Karsyn loves pushing Grandma Ruth around, although we aren't ready just to let her go on her own. I don't think Grandma would appreciate it. Karsyn loves to hang out with her Great Grandma. In fact that night she wanted to have a sleep over all by herself with Grandma.
It is such a humbling, sobering, and life altering experience to walk around and see all of the bags that represent those lives that have been effected by cancer.
These are the survivors taking their first walk around the arena in order to kick off the night. I think it was somewhat impossible to find a dry eye in the place.
These are the moments that have helped define who I am as a person. I hope they help Kaydree and Karsyn realize just how much life is truly a gift each and every day. I hope that each of us remember that....how grateful we should be, when we are healthy and how much our prayers are needed for those who are not. I hope they also realize how much they are connected to their family, even the ones they didn't get to meet here on this earth.
It is such a humbling, sobering, and life altering experience to walk around and see all of the bags that represent those lives that have been effected by cancer.
These are the moments that have helped define who I am as a person. I hope they help Kaydree and Karsyn realize just how much life is truly a gift each and every day. I hope that each of us remember that....how grateful we should be, when we are healthy and how much our prayers are needed for those who are not. I hope they also realize how much they are connected to their family, even the ones they didn't get to meet here on this earth.
No comments:
Post a Comment